Clear Window Search History through the Registry

• 1). Open the Registry Editor. The file is located at C:\WINDOWS\regedit.exe. Or (if you're using Windows XP) you can click "Start," click "Run," type "regedit" in the field box, then click "OK." If you're using Windows 7, you can click "Start," type "regedit" in the search box, then hit "Enter" on your keyboard.
  
  
• 2). Navigate to the following registry key in Windows XP: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Search Assistant\ACMru\5603. In the right-side window pane, right-click on the name value of the search term you would like to clear from your Windows search history and select "Delete" from the shortcut menu. DO NOT delete the "Default" value. If necessary, open the "5604," "5647," and "5001" folders in the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Search Assistant \ACMru" key and perform the same operations.
  
  
• 3). Go to the following registry key in Windows 7: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\WordWheelQuery. In the right-side window pane, right-click on "MRUListEx" and select "Delete" from the shortcut menu.
  
  

Delete Individual Search Terms from the Search Box in Windows XP

• 1). Access the Windows search companion. If you're using the default Start menu, click "Start," and select "Search." When you're using the classic start menu, click "Start," point to "Search," and select "For Files or Folders."
  
  
• 2). Begin typing the search term you would like to clear from your Windows search history in the "All or part of the file name" box. Highlight the term when it appears in the popup autocomplete box, then press "Delete" on your keyboard. To systematically delete all of the terms saved in your Windows XP search history using this method, go through all of the letters of the alphabet. For example, type "A" in the "All or part of the file name" box to bring up all the search terms saved in your Windows search history beginning with the letter A. Delete each of the terms. Then type "B" in the "All or part of the file name" box to bring up all the search terms saved in your Windows search history beginning with the letter B. Delete all of these saved search terms, and continue on with this pattern until you have completed the entire alphabet.
  
  
• 3). Repeat this process for the saved search terms entered in the "A word or phrase in the file" field.
  
  

Delete Individual Search Terms from the Search Box in Windows 7

• 1). Launch Windows Explorer. Click "Start," point to "All Programs," point to "Accessories" and select "Explorer." The search box is in the upper-right corner of the Explorer window.
  
  
• 2). Begin typing the search term you would like to clear from your Windows search history in the search box.
  
  
• 3). Highlight the term when it appears in the popup auto-complete box, then press "Delete" on your keyboard.