XP/2003: Search Through Files of Unknown Types Too

Contributed by MickeyMouse May 3, 2006  
Tagged: Windows

By default the latest microsoft operating systems only search through files of known filetypes. This registry hack will allow you to search through every file on your computer.

As a programmer I name files crazy things all the time. Often I would like Microsoft Search to search through these files too. Currently, by default, Microsoft Search ignores filetypes that it doesn’t recognize.

This registry hack will tell Microsoft Search to search through files of unknown file types as well.

Now remember, this will slow down your search! This causes the search to include many more files from your system. Only use it if you really need it.

1. Click Start
2. Click Run
3. type regedit in the runbox and hit ENTER
4. Browse to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex

5. Double check on the key when you find it
6. Change the value to 1

If you want to switch it back, just change this value to 0.