How to Restore the Default AutoSearch Search Page

• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 4.0, 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.

SUMMARY

This article describes how to restore the default AutoSearch search page if it has been changed by your Internet service provider (ISP).

MORE INFORMATION

With AutoSearch, you can conduct a search directly from the Address box in Internet Explorer by typing "go," "find," or "?" (without quotation marks), followed by the topic you want. A random search engine is used to perform your search.

ISPs can use the Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit (IEAK) to change the AutoSearch search page. If your ISP changes the AutoSearch search page, you may be unable to reliably conduct searches using the Address box in Internet Explorer.

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 back to the default search page, follow these steps:

1. Quit Internet Explorer.

2. Use Registry Editor to set the Default value to a data value of "http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s" (without quotation marks) under the following registry key:

         HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl
   

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