I'd like to at least *limit* XP phoning home ;)

XP Home, non-service pack with recent hot patches.

I'm currently going through the laborious process of figuring out all the svchost processes that are *listening* everywhere. I still have a problem though, every time I try a search in safe mode I get an error stating that I'm missing files.

The stupid little dog doesn't pop up and I can't do my search. I also wasn't able to disable the balloon crud under safe mode because none of the search panel shows up.

I finally ignore the mess.

I install kerio and what do you know - every time I execute a search (in user mode) explorer *goes somewhere*. Now, I don't want it to do that anymore, anyone else's explorer phoning out when they execute a search? If I'm missing a file I'd like to know which one so I can replace it (if explorer is just going out and getting it off the net). Well, now I guess I know why search doesn't work under safe mode - I'm not on the internet ;( Huh, very strange. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Yes..under windows XP windows explorer assumes you want to access internet based stuff in case you want to search for computers or people, or help..the last two items on the search list. I don't know Kerio, but Zone Alarm asks if you want to allow this ever or on a time to time basis..Kerio might have a similar setting. BTW, you can turn off the dog..I rank that up there with that stupid paper clip in office:D

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Originally posted by geoscomp
Yes..under windows XP windows explorer assumes you want to access internet based stuff in case you want to search for computers or people, or help..the last two items on the search list. I don't know Kerio, but Zone Alarm asks if you want to allow this ever or on a time to time basis..Kerio might have a similar setting. BTW, you can turn off the dog..I rank that up there with that stupid paper clip in office:D

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Thanks for the reply. I locked it out but that doesn't make me feel better. I would like to turn it off and/or be able to search in safe mode (uh, aren't we trying to *find* and fix problemlatic files and drivers under safe mode?). I've got the search back to standard format (no dog, etc.) already.

Have you turned off offline files and prevented xp from searching for any other files and folders?

in my computer, tools, folder options, uncheck automatically search for network folders and printers (remember xp considers the internet connection a network connection), then go to offline files tab and uncheck that.

Have you turned off PNP? www.grc.com for unpnp and an explanation... finally there is antispy.exe available from www.webattack.com to turn off other unwanteds easily. Both those progs are freeware.

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Originally posted by NooNoo
Have you turned off offline files and prevented xp from searching for any other files and folders?

in my computer, tools, folder options, uncheck automatically search for network folders and printers (remember xp considers the internet connection a network connection), then go to offline files tab and uncheck that.

Have you turned off PNP? www.grc.com for unpnp and an explanation... finally there is antispy.exe available from www.webattack.com to turn off other unwanteds easily. Both those progs are freeware.

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Ooohhh baby!, I can't wait to get home and try all that. Thanks, NooNoo.

btw, I already have uPnP dealt with but I'll check out webattack.

Mope, how did you get on with XPAntiSpy? (antispy.exe)

http://www.xp-antispy.de/ is the offical home (unless its a differant tool of course, im pretty sure its the same but not checked it yet).

I got antispy (thanks everyone) and turned off everything. My ciomputer is still trying to connect to something when I try to search; it's really starting to bother me. I don't remeber it doing this before (as in, the modem dialing if I'm not already online).

NooNoo, I unchecked "automatically search for network folders" but couldn't find the second part "then go to offline files tab and uncheck that." Where is the offline tab?

Thanks everyone.

I finally found this: Error Message: "A File That Is Required to Run Search Companion Cannot Be Found" and it seems to have fixed the problem.

I think the reasons listed for how the problem occurred are ridiculous (imho).

Sorry for not checking the knowledge base first - I haven't had good luck before. But now I have antispy :)

Thanks everyone!

Aaah - didn't realise you were getting an error message in the search....

Offline files - open my computer, tools, folder options, last tab.

My bad, NooNoo. I don't have that tab, though. I have: General, View, and File Types.

?