How to Change the Default AutoSearch Search Page

ID: Q198279

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01, 4.01 Service Pack 1 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01, 4.01 Service Pack 1 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Windows 98

SUMMARY

This article describes how to change the default AutoSearch search page without having to install the Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK).

MORE INFORMATION

The AutoSearch feature enables you to conduct a search directly from the Address box in Internet Explorer or the Address toolbar in Windows 98 and Windows 2000 by typing "go," "find," or "?" (without quotation marks), followed by the topic you want. For example, typing "? mountain bikes" (without quotation marks) automatically searches the Internet for information about mountain bikes.

By default, Windows uses a random search engine to perform your search. If you want to specify a particular search engine, you can do so by using the IEAK or by editing the registry.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

To change the AutoSearch search page to a specific search page, follow these steps:

1. Quit Internet Explorer.

2. Using Registry Editor, change the default value of the following

   registry key

      HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl

   to one of the following values:

    - To specify Metacrawler as the default search page, change the
      default value to "http://www.metacrawler.com/crawler?general=%s"
      (without quotation marks).

    - To specify AltaVista as the default search page, change the default
      value to "http://www.altavista.com/cgi-bin/query?q=%s" (without
      quotation marks).

    - To specify HotBot as the default search page, change the default
      value to "http://hotbot.com/?MT=%s" (without quotation marks).

    - To specify Infoseek as the default search page, change the default
      value to "http://www.infoseek.com/Titles?qt=%s" (without quotation
      marks).

    - To specify Excite as the default search page, change the default
      value to "http://search.excite.com/search.gw?search=%s" (without
      quotation marks).

    - To specify Lycos as the default search page, change the default
      value to "http://www.lycos.com/cgi-bin/pursuit?query=%s" (without
      quotation marks).

    - To specify Magellan as the default search page, change the default
      value to "http://www.mckinley.com/searcher.cgi?query=%s" (without
      quotation marks).

    - To specify Ask Jeeves as the default search page, change the default
      value to "http://askjeeves.com/AskJeeves.asp=%s" (without
      quotation marks).

3. Quit Registry Editor, and then start Internet Explorer.

For information about how to restore the default AutoSearch search page, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q179402
   TITLE     : How to Restore the Default AutoSearch Search Page

For additional information about how to conduct searches using Internet Explorer, click Contents And Index on the Help menu in Internet Explorer, click the Index tab, type "autosearch" (without quotation marks), and then double-click the "AutoSearch" topic.

Additional query words: 5.0 5.00

Keywords          : kbenv msiew95 msient win98 msiew98 
Version           : WINDOWS:
Platform          : WINDOWS
Issue type        : kbhowto

Last Reviewed: March 18, 1999