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Open "I'm Feeling Lucky" Sites from Vista's Start Menu
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 12:00 AM on May 2, 2008
Amit at the Digital Inspiration blog has written up a how-to on launching web sites directly from Windows Vista's Start Search box (and therefore at the tap of a "Windows" key), using Google's "I'm Feeling Lucky" function to quickly bring up the first result of a search using your entry. The hack involves using the Group Policy editor (gpedit.msc), which is unfortunately available only in the Ultimate, Business, and Enterprise editions—unless, of course, one of our intrepid readers can point us toward enabling or unlocking that feature in the Home and Basic versions. Hit the link below for yet another way to make your Windows key into a full-fledged quick-launcher.
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The How-To Geek
Posted 12:16 AM 2/5/08
Here you go, the registry file:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\SearchExtensions]
"InternetExtensionName"="Don't Search, Just Take Me There"
"InternetExtensionAction"="http://www.google.com/search?btnI=I%27m+Feeling+Lucky&q=%w"
You can also just simply download the reghack file from this zip that also contains a removal hack file:
[www.howtogeek.com]
The How-To Geek
Jack
Posted 1:07 AM 2/5/08
@The How-To Geek: I figured there had to be a method not involving the GP Editor since the GP editor is basically just a registry editor anyway. Thanks for that info, I'll prolly add this to my Vista at home.
Jack
Tyrax
Posted 2:02 AM 2/5/08
If you guy like this, you need to check out Start++
[brandontools.com]
A Microsoft guy that works on the Windows Desktop Search team wrote it, so he knows that code better than anyone else.
Tyrax
The How-To Geek
Posted 4:18 AM 2/5/08
@Kevin Purdy: I think it took about 12 minutes... I had to zip up the files and upload them. =)
... actually I was already aware of the key, just took me a few minutes to put it together into an add/remove script.
I should have noted earlier that with the registry hack method you'll have to logout and back in for the change to take effect.
The How-To Geek
Kevin Purdy
Posted 3:56 AM 2/5/08
@The How-To Geek: And that was all of, what, 10 minutes to figure out for you? ;)
Kevin Purdy
techhead89
Posted 5:44 AM 2/5/08
yeah, that start++ recommended by Tryax is better.
techhead89
kftgr
Posted 8:28 AM 7/5/08
So...anyone have a way of getting gpedit to work on Home Premium?
I made the mistake of getting that and losing out on useful tools like gpedit and lusrmgr :(
kftgr