Vista mysteries- help!

I have two laptops each less than a year old and on one I can right- click
on a folder in Windows Explorer and then select "search" from the context
menu. The other machine, my "good" one, has a different set of options and
no "search". Is there some setting I'm missing to get the "search" to
appear? I've been over everything I can think of (I've been doing Windows
since 1988 at ver.3.1 so I usually don't miss much).

Question #2--- if I decide to go back to Windows XP do I buy a full version
or an upgrade? I already know about getting drivers for XP, I wonder why we
still need drivers, isn't everything supposed to be plug-n-pray? VBG

If I do re-install I plan to strip the hard drive if possible or can I
install an upgrade version with Vista still in there? I don't want to buy
the XP twice, or worse, have to try to return it.

It's little stuff like this that's really making me royally ticked-off with
Vista. That and the fact that every time there's an "upgrade" I have to go
back and reset all my folders that all seem to revert to columns that are
too narrow. This is by far, the most annoying and horrible version of
Windows yet. More than ever I wish Macs were more affordable.

Thanks for any help-
Adrian

Question 1:

I think this is the reg tweak you're after. Right-click search is removed
with SP1, but can be added back ....

;----------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\find]
"LegacyDisable"=-

;----------------------------------------------------------

Paste the above into a .reg file. Post back if that confuses you further.

Question 2.. Not sure if you're actually asking a question there or just
thinking aloud.

--
Jon


"Adrian Barri" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>I have two laptops each less than a year old and on one I can right- click
>on a folder in Windows Explorer and then select "search" from the context
>menu. The other machine, my "good" one, has a different set of options and
>no "search". Is there some setting I'm missing to get the "search" to
>appear? I've been over everything I can think of (I've been doing Windows
>since 1988 at ver.3.1 so I usually don't miss much).
>
> Question #2--- if I decide to go back to Windows XP do I buy a full
> version or an upgrade? I already know about getting drivers for XP, I
> wonder why we still need drivers, isn't everything supposed to be
> plug-n-pray? VBG
>
> If I do re-install I plan to strip the hard drive if possible or can I
> install an upgrade version with Vista still in there? I don't want to buy
> the XP twice, or worse, have to try to return it.
>
> It's little stuff like this that's really making me royally ticked-off
> with Vista. That and the fact that every time there's an "upgrade" I have
> to go back and reset all my folders that all seem to revert to columns
> that are too narrow. This is by far, the most annoying and horrible
> version of Windows yet. More than ever I wish Macs were more affordable.
>
> Thanks for any help-
> Adrian

To search for file or folder, begin typing a search term into the "search box"
located in the upper right corner. Vista will display your results as you type;
there is no need to press Enter. When you see your file in the file list,
double-click it to open it.

Yes, you will need a "Full Version" of Windows XP
if you want to reformat your drive and install XP.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience -
Windows Vista Enthusiast

---------------------------------------------------------------

"Adrian Barri" <> wrote in message news:%...
I have two laptops each less than a year old and on one I can right- click
on a folder in Windows Explorer and then select "search" from the context
menu. The other machine, my "good" one, has a different set of options and
no "search". Is there some setting I'm missing to get the "search" to
appear? I've been over everything I can think of (I've been doing Windows
since 1988 at ver.3.1 so I usually don't miss much).

Question #2--- if I decide to go back to Windows XP do I buy a full version
or an upgrade? I already know about getting drivers for XP, I wonder why we
still need drivers, isn't everything supposed to be plug-n-pray? VBG

If I do re-install I plan to strip the hard drive if possible or can I
install an upgrade version with Vista still in there? I don't want to buy
the XP twice, or worse, have to try to return it.

It's little stuff like this that's really making me royally ticked-off with
Vista. That and the fact that every time there's an "upgrade" I have to go
back and reset all my folders that all seem to revert to columns that are
too narrow. This is by far, the most annoying and horrible version of
Windows yet. More than ever I wish Macs were more affordable.

Thanks for any help-
Adrian

On Jun 23, 4:41*pm, "Adrian Barri" <aba...@verizon.net> wrote:
> I have two laptops each less than a year old and on one I can right- click
> on a folder in Windows Explorer and then select "search" from the context
> menu. The other machine, my "good" one, has a different set of options and
> no "search". Is there some setting I'm missing to get the "search" to
> appear? I've been over everything I can think of (I've been doing Windows
> since 1988 at ver.3.1 so I usually don't miss much).
>
> Question #2--- if I decide to go back to Windows XP do I buy a full version
> or an upgrade? I already know about getting drivers for XP, I wonder why we
> still need drivers, isn't everything supposed to be plug-n-pray? VBG
>
> If I do re-install I plan to strip the hard drive if possible or can I
> install an upgrade version with Vista still in there? I don't want to buy
> the XP twice, or worse, have to try to return it.
>
> It's little stuff like this that's really making me royally ticked-off with
> Vista. That and the fact that every time there's an "upgrade" I have to go
> back and reset all my folders that all seem to revert to columns that are
> too narrow. This is by far, the most annoying and horrible version of
> Windows yet. More than ever I wish Macs were more affordable.
>
> Thanks for any help-
> Adrian

I like to know how Vista is the cause of you going back to XP Vista
fault ? No offense but why don't you actually try to leran to use
Vista . I just installed a week ago and I am starting to like it more
than my xp pro . Also you don't mention at all what problems you are
having with Vista . I really believe if you take the time to
understand Vista and learn abit about it you will like it like I now
do . Why not start with what problems you are having .

The two most common Search entries in Vista are at the bottom of the Start
Menu and at the right hand corner of desktop window. Plus, these Search
options have advance tools such as criterion searches. You can also customize
your Search options by opening any explorer windows choose Organize>Folder
and Search Options. You may want to go there and Restore Defaults and try the
Search options again.

To further tweak your Search Option go Control Panel>System and
Maintenance>Indexing Options.

There’s a lot I’m not even mentioning about the Vista Search. Go to Help and
Support and get the full story. In short, the Search function is superior to
XP’s.

As for the columns always changing: I have SP1, have updated my BIOS and
graphic card driver and my folder options (columns) are working fine. So, the
folder layouts do work.

My vista is about a year old.

Don’t give up. Vista has a lot to offer.

But if you want to swap Vista out for XP, you’ll need a full copy of XP and
a license for each machine. If you’re going to do that, I’d just sell the
Vista machine and buy an old XP machine. I have three XP's, but they’re not
for sale. XP rocks. And Vista rocks harder.

Oscar


"Adrian Barri" wrote:

> I have two laptops each less than a year old and on one I can right- click
> on a folder in Windows Explorer and then select "search" from the context
> menu. The other machine, my "good" one, has a different set of options and
> no "search". Is there some setting I'm missing to get the "search" to
> appear? I've been over everything I can think of (I've been doing Windows
> since 1988 at ver.3.1 so I usually don't miss much).
>
> Question #2--- if I decide to go back to Windows XP do I buy a full version
> or an upgrade? I already know about getting drivers for XP, I wonder why we
> still need drivers, isn't everything supposed to be plug-n-pray? VBG
>
> If I do re-install I plan to strip the hard drive if possible or can I
> install an upgrade version with Vista still in there? I don't want to buy
> the XP twice, or worse, have to try to return it.
>
> It's little stuff like this that's really making me royally ticked-off with
> Vista. That and the fact that every time there's an "upgrade" I have to go
> back and reset all my folders that all seem to revert to columns that are
> too narrow. This is by far, the most annoying and horrible version of
> Windows yet. More than ever I wish Macs were more affordable.
>
> Thanks for any help-
> Adrian
>
>

Question 2 has indeed been asked from the point of view of getting an answer
I think,although involving personal opinion.

"Jon" <> wrote in message
news:%...
Question 1:

I think this is the reg tweak you're after. Right-click search is removed
with SP1, but can be added back ....

;----------------------------------------------------------
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\find]
"LegacyDisable"=-

;----------------------------------------------------------

Paste the above into a .reg file. Post back if that confuses you further.

Question 2.. Not sure if you're actually asking a question there or just
thinking aloud.

--
Jon


"Adrian Barri" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>I have two laptops each less than a year old and on one I can right- click
>on a folder in Windows Explorer and then select "search" from the context
>menu. The other machine, my "good" one, has a different set of options and
>no "search". Is there some setting I'm missing to get the "search" to
>appear? I've been over everything I can think of (I've been doing Windows
>since 1988 at ver.3.1 so I usually don't miss much).
>
> Question #2--- if I decide to go back to Windows XP do I buy a full
> version or an upgrade? I already know about getting drivers for XP, I
> wonder why we still need drivers, isn't everything supposed to be
> plug-n-pray? VBG
>
> If I do re-install I plan to strip the hard drive if possible or can I
> install an upgrade version with Vista still in there? I don't want to buy
> the XP twice, or worse, have to try to return it.
>
> It's little stuff like this that's really making me royally ticked-off
> with Vista. That and the fact that every time there's an "upgrade" I have
> to go back and reset all my folders that all seem to revert to columns
> that are too narrow. This is by far, the most annoying and horrible
> version of Windows yet. More than ever I wish Macs were more affordable.
>
> Thanks for any help-
> Adrian