Backup IE7 Search Providers - Restore Internet Explorer 7 Search

Backing Up and Restoring Internet Explorer Search Providers

For users of Internet Explorer who utilize custom search providers within their search box, a method for backing up and restoring this list can be quite valuable. While the topic may seem niche, a comprehensive approach to data preservation is always beneficial. As a frequent Firefox user, the personal list of search providers is relatively short, but many users may have significantly more entries.

Manual Registry Backup

Individuals comfortable with editing the Windows Registry can directly back up the search provider list. Access the Registry Editor by typing 'regedit.exe' into the Start Menu search field.

Navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

Right-click on the SearchScopes key and select the 'Export' option. Assign a descriptive filename and choose a suitable location to save the registry backup file.

Restoring the list on another computer is straightforward; simply double-click the saved .reg file.

Command Line Backup

Alternatively, the reg.exe command-line tool provides a method for backing up the registry key. This can be executed directly in a Command Prompt window or incorporated into a batch file for automated backups.

The command to export the key is as follows:

reg export "HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes" searchbackup.reg

This command creates a file named 'searchbackup.reg' containing the search provider list. This file can then be used to restore the settings on another system.

With these methods, the process of safeguarding your Internet Explorer search provider configurations is complete.