Windows 7: how do i search for files.

i recently bought a new pc with windows 7. i am used to xp and so cant for the life of me work out how to search for a file on external hdd that i cant find. ive tried start> seach. but its not searching for files.

Hello Jfoldbar, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You could use OPTION TWO in the tutorial below to search for a file on the opened external HDD in Windows Explorer.

Search in Windows 7

You would have to have the external HDD added to the index for it to show search results for it if you wanted to search from the Start Menu.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Just open the external hard drive and look for your file. If you put it there you should know the name of it.

how do i add hdd to index?

addram, i have 14 tb of external hdd files. a few days ago i noticed i couldnt find about 500gb of them. this still includes hundred of files and millions of places to look. the xp i had before was easy, it would search them in a jiffy by just typing in name to search bar. but i notice its not so easy on 7

You need to improve your search parameters.

This Microsoft article offers good advice, which if used in conjunction with Brink's tutorial should help you.

Advanced tips for searching in Windows

You say there are millions of places to look and I suspect that's part of the problem.

Have you considered trying to simplify your folder tree so as to reduce the number of places Windows has to look?

I'll refrain from expressing opinions on Windows 7 search. Some alternatives that works out of the box and digs up anything, anywhere, always: Agent Ransack & the search in Free Commander.

what does this mean?




seavixen32. ive never actually counted how many. but my wife could delete 1000 movies off my hdd and i wouldnt even notice cause theres so many

this is cut and past from tutorial.



Adding search filters

Search filters are a new feature in Windows 7 that make searching for files by their properties (such as by author or by file size) much easier.

To add a search filter to your search

Open the folder, library, or drive that you want to search.

Click in the search box, and then click a search filter (for example, Date taken: in the Pictures library).



problem is, there is no search box.


xp was so simple, why did they have to complicate it?

Clicking on the link in my post above can help show how to.

Could you post a screenshot showing this please to help see what it may be?

It means exactly what it says.

Windows Search works pretty well if you care to devote the time necessary to ascend its learning curve.

If you don't, alternatives include the above mentioned and Everything, from voidtools.com.