Windows XP has been giving us a good appearance in almost its appearances, including Search sidebar. On Windows XP’s search facility, you’ll assisted by an animated dog. Sure, it’s an interactive way to guiding us to find a file or folder. Unfortunately, it eats your computer resources. And if you’re using a computer with minimum specs, that animation will slow your screen down.

As you know, Windows XP’s Search has a standard appearance like this below.

And if you feel if the animation is too heavy to ‘act’ on your computer, just disable it and bring your Search menu to classic search.

1. Open Registry Editor by click Start -> Run, enter regedit and then press Enter key.
2. Drive to this registry path: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ CabinetState.
   
3. Create a new String value in CabinetState key, by right click on CabinetState key, and choose New -> String value menu.
   
4. Replace the original value name to Use Search Asst.
   
5. Give its value data by double click it, enter string no (case sensitive) as its value and then click OK
   
6. Then you’ll have the appearance like this.
   
7. Close Registry Editor.
8. Then open your search menu by click Start -> Search or press Windows key + F keys.
   

To bring back to its standard appearance, just remove Use Search Asst value or give it value data yes.
(article no: 0156)