Startup program entry details:

Windows Desktop Search (WindowsSearch.exe)

Not required or not recommended - typically infrequently used tasks that can be started manually if necessary

For further information on how to identify and disable startup programs please visit the Introduction page.

Description:

System Tray access to Windows Desktop Search for XP from Microsoft - which adds additional search options including a search box on the Taskbar. On earlier versions this entry also runs the indexing function at startup which indexes files and e-mails items so you can quickly find words and phrases (replaced by a service in later versions). Disabling this entry does not affect the normal operation and indexing will occur when you next perform a search. Also included in versions of the MSN Search Toolbar which included Windows Desktop Search

Startup information:

Windows Desktop Search

Common/User Startup (Start → All Programs → Startup)

• Shortcut location (XP): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Windows Desktop Search.lnk
• Shortcut location (Vista/7): N/A
• Target: "C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe" /startup

MSConfig (Start → Run → msconfig → Startup)

• Startup Item (XP): Windows Desktop Search
• Startup Item (Vista/7): N/A
• Command: "C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe" /startup

Windows Defender (Start → All Programs → Windows Defender → Tools → Software Explorer)

• Name:
  • Microsoft Windows Desktop Search System Tray → version 3.01
  • Microsoft Windows Desktop Search Tool Tray Admin → version 2.5 & 2.6.6
• Link Command: C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe /startup

HijackThis (HJT) log examples:

O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Programas\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Programmi\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Archivos de programa\Windows Desktop Search\WindowsSearch.exe

MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search

Common/User Startup (Start → All Programs → Startup)

• Shortcut location (XP): C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\Windows Desktop Search.lnk
• Shortcut location (Vista/7): N/A
• Target: C:\Program Files\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\[version]\en-us\bin\WindowsSearch.exe /startup

MSConfig (Start → Run → msconfig → Startup)

• Startup Item (XP): Windows Desktop Search
• Startup Item (Vista/7): N/A
• Command: C:\PROGRA~1\MSNTOO~1\DS\[version]\en-us\bin\WINDOW~3.EXE /startup

Windows Defender (Start → All Programs → Windows Defender → Tools → Software Explorer)

• Name: MSN Search Toolbar
• Link Command: C:\Program Files\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\[version]\en-us\bin\WindowsSearch.exe /startup

HijackThis (HJT) log examples:

O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\02.05.0001.1119\en-us\bin\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\02.02.0000.1007\en-us\bin\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\02.05.0000.1082\en-us\bin\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Program Files\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS2.05.0001.1119\en-us\bin\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Programmi\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\02.05.0001.1119\it-it\bin\WindowsSearch.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Windows Desktop Search.lnk = C:\Arquivos de programas\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\02.05.0001.1119\pt-br\bin\WindowsSearch.exe

Other information:

• File location:
  • Windows Desktop Search
    • %ProgramFiles%\Windows Desktop Search
  • MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search
    • %ProgramFiles%\MSN Toolbar Suite\DS\[version]\en-us\bin
• File properties "Description":
  • Version 3.01
    • Windows Desktop Search System Tray
  • Version 2.5, 2.6.6 & MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search
    • Windows Desktop Search Tool Tray Admin
• Purpose: Search utility
• Program disable option:
  • Version 3.01
    • None
  • Version 2.5, 2.6.6 & MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search
    • Left-click on tray icon → Desktop Search Options... → Indexing → deselect "Automatically run Windows Desktop Search when I log on to Windows (recommended)"
• Shortcut(s) available: Start Menu
• Vendor/Publisher: Microsoft Corporation
• Product(s): Windows Desktop Search, MSN Search Toolbar with Windows Desktop Search
• Tested: Yes

Note:

• %ProgramFiles% - refers to the Program Files folder; typically the path is C:\Program Files

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