Add Wikipedia, Google, Yahoo to Vista start menu instant search

For years we all are using search feature in windows that only searches for files and folders on your local computer. There is also an option to Search the Internet, but this option will use the default search engine provided in your Internet Explorer. But now in Window Vista you can search wikipedia, yahoo, Google et cetera right through the Instant Search menu without going typing the address in internet explorer which will save your time by a considerable amount.

Like Google Wikipedia has become a household name. Even I use both of them very frequently and if you want to add an option to Search Wikipedia to your Windows Vista Start Menu Instant Search Box, follow the simple steps listed below.

Navigate to Start > Run and Type gpedit.msc in the search bar and hit enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Instant Search > Custom Instant Search Internet Search Provider policy setting. Click on Properties, to open its Properties box. Enable the policy setting by selecting Enabled.

You will notice two boxes to type.
Type Search Wikipedia in the first one where it is mentioned as “The string or dll Source…’ as shown in screenshot below.

Type http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%w , in the second one where it is mentioned as “The URL to use…’

Click Apply > OK. And then restart your computer to see your Wikipedia search option available on Windows Vista Start Menu Instant Search Box. Type a keyword say “Bill Gates” and click on Search Wikipedia, your browser will open with Wikipedia results pertaining to Bill Gates.

If you want to apply the changed policy setting immediately, open command prompt (start>Run>cmd and hit enter)Type gpupdate/force and hit Enter.

To add Google instead from Vista‘s Start Menu Search Box, copy-paste the following url

http://www.google.com/search?q=%w

To add Yahoo instead from Vista‘s Start Menu Search Box, copy-paste the following url instead:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%w

Via [winvistaclub]. 

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Tagged as: Vista, Window Vista Support, Windows OS