One of these should fix this annoyance -

See Line #18 - Search opens when double clicking a folder
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Win XP Fixes, Search/Command Prompt Opens When Double Clicking a Folder.
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_d...older_open.htm

Search Companion Starts If You Double-Click a Folder
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];321186


"T.Poole" <TPoole@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:051DE50C-8F23-4B57-B40B-5274B670E5EB@microsoft.com...
> Somehow, my settings were changed so that when I double-click on a folder it
> opens up a search instead of opening the folder. I've tried going to "Folder
> Options" in control panel and going to the "file type" section and making
> explorer the default but then it opens them in seperate windows despite the
> option of having them open in the same window being clicked on the "general"
> tab. Does anyone know how to restore the default?