# Annoying computer problem: Double clicking a folder opens "search"

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-computer-problem-double-clicking-a-folder-opens-search/391277
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [February 7, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-computer-problem-double-clicking-a-folder-opens-search/391277 "2007-02-07T22:04:29Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2007, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-computer-problem-double-clicking-a-folder-opens-search/391277/1 "2007-02-07T22:04:29Z")

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I’m not sure what has been changed but when I go to open a folder on the desktop, a double-click brings up the “Windows search” option with the stupid microsoft animated character.

Obviously, I want to go back to where the double click action opens the folder.

Any idea how to go back to how the folder usually was? This problem is really an annoying change.

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### Author: ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)
#### Post date: [February 7, 2007, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-computer-problem-double-clicking-a-folder-opens-search/391277/2 "2007-02-07T22:28:52Z")

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I managed to trigger that when I was deliberately trying to add a new right-click context action for folders in windows. Had to go futz around with the registry to fix it, so these instructions should only be followed by someone reasonably comfortable with the windows registry.

The important keys are [HKCR]\Folder\shell and [HKCR]\Directory\shell (HkeyClassesRoot.) Each of them should have a default string value of ‘none’ in lower case, I believe, and probably no other values.  
I hope that this helps out at least a bit

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### Author: ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2007, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-computer-problem-double-clicking-a-folder-opens-search/391277/3 "2007-02-10T01:06:30Z")

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No, that didn’t seem to work. What about freeware or trial programs? Are there any that would go through and correct this problem?

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### Author: ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-computer-problem-double-clicking-a-folder-opens-search/391277/4 "2007-02-10T17:55:20Z")

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Run the registry file on the right side of line 18 [here](http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm).

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### Author: ![SweetHomeColorado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d26b3c/32.png) [@SweetHomeColorado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetHomeColorado)
#### Post date: [February 10, 2007, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/annoying-computer-problem-double-clicking-a-folder-opens-search/391277/5 "2007-02-10T22:02:26Z")

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[QUOTE=yoyodyne]  
Run the registry file on the right side of line 18 [here](http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm).  
[/QUOTE]

For the Win!!

I could have used this website about three years ago. It’s now under my favorites. Much thanks…  
Just a note to everyone reading this: Check out that website if you have computer problems
