Search for ALL files in XP, regardless of extension

Windows XP has a stupendously aggravating behavior when first installed when it comes to searching files. For some reason, out of the box Windows XP only searches files that match a certain set of file extensions. While for many people that set is enough, it can drive you crazy to do a search for a file that you know exists based on the contents in the file, and get no results. If you've ever been bit by this shortcoming in Windows, there is a way to turn off the filtering "feature" using the Windows GUI. But, there is an easier way, download this .reg file from Chris Sells, a very well-known Windows developer has dozens of useful stuff on his site. run The reg file on your system and voila - file searching works as you would expect it would.