In windows XP, when you install instant search, it automatically changes your explorer default search companion to Windows Desktop Search pane. Windows desktop search pane has always a little link on the bottom called "click here to use search companion", with a little doggy down there (; that will bring up the default search pane. However it might get very annoying pretty quickly and also, since it will bring up a new window, the browsing history will be gone. So long story short, If you want to restore default search, simply start run "regedit" and change this value HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search\DS\ShowStartSearchBan d to 0