| Windows 7: Search for particular file content |
09 Sep 2009
|
#1 | | Windows 7 Enterprise (Chinese-Simplified) |
Search for particular file content hi there,
Is there anybody who knows how to search content in any type of file(I tried but it only applies to text files and emails) in Windows 7? I don't wanna download or setup another software to do this but just using integrated one if any. | My System Specs |
| System Manufacturer/Model Number Dell XPS 1530 OS Windows 7 Enterprise (Chinese-Simplified) CPU Intel Core2 Duo T9300 Motherboard Intel i965PM Memory 2GB Graphics Card Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT Sound Card Sigmatel Monitor(s) Displays Dell 15.4" Hard Drives ST 160G 7200RPM 8M |
09 Sep 2009
|
#2 | | Windows 7 Home Premium x64 - Mac OS X 10.6.4 x64 North Carolina, United States of America |
if your talking about searching for a particular file type than yes
ex. I want to search for all the mp3s I have
solution: Open up start and type *.mp3... | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Compal JFT02 (Custom Build Laptop) OS Windows 7 Home Premium x64 - Mac OS X 10.6.4 x64 CPU Intel Core 2 Duo T9300 2.5 GHz Motherboard JFT02 Memory 4GB Kingston DDR2-800 Graphics Card NVIDIA Geforce 8600M GT (512MB Model) Sound Card Realtek HD Audio Monitor(s) Displays WUXGA Standard Laptop Display Screen Resolution 1680*1050 Keyboard Standard Laptop 105 Key-Keyboard Mouse Synaptics Touchpad PSU Standard Laptop Power Supply Case Standard Laptop Case Cooling Standard Laptop Cooling Hard Drives Toshiba 320GB 5400RPM Laptop HD Internet Speed Verizion Online DSL 3360/864 kbs (dl/up) |
21 Jan 2010
|
#3 | | |
Search file contents I didn't see any answers to this question so here is one: How to Make Windows 7 Search File Contents: 6 steps - wikiHow
That being said, it still doesn't search file contents of extensions that I have changed to search the contents as in the above page. In fact, when I create a text file that has the contents that I am searching for, it still doesn't work. Same goes for a word doc or an html document. This is insane, the search within file contents option worked just fine in XP. | My System Specs | | OS Windows 7 Professional |
30 Mar 2010
|
#4 | | |
I do agree: I'm really disappointed on 7: I miss -among a lot of other things- the feature of searching files by content.
(It is incredibly surprising how after so much time and the Vista fiasco, still basic things like this have just been removed. Not to talk about non refreshing the content of a Window after you have just moved a file.
Amazing !!!
Definitely I'm moving to Linux or Mac.) | My System Specs | | |
04 Apr 2010
|
#5 | | |
So that is no such "search" function as the previous one in XP? I am so disappointed with this! | My System Specs | | |
04 Apr 2010
|
#6 | | Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1 Cornwall UK |

Quote: Originally Posted by kenouyang So that is no such "search" function as the previous one in XP? I am so disappointed with this! If you say exactly what you want to do, I'm sure one of the members will provide the route to success, just ask! | My System Specs | | OS Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 7601 Multiprocessor Free Service Pack 1 CPU Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz Motherboard ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. P8H77-M Memory 8.00 GB Graphics Card Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 Sound Card On Board Monitor(s) Displays Dell 24" Hard Drives (1) INTEL SSDSC2CT180A3 ATA Device (2) ST500DM002-1BD142 ATA Device (3) WDC WD3200AAKS-75L9A0 ATA Device (4) Generic- Compact Flash USB Device (5) Generic- MS/MS-Pro USB Device (6) Generic- SD/MMC USB Device (7) Generic- SM/xD-Picture USB Internet Speed 20Mb |
04 Apr 2010
|
#7 | | Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86 |
Heres a method posted on Search inside files does not work by a user called CTN222.
"Using windows explorer; from the left side select the folder you want to search.
Then in the upper right hand corner (search box) enter what you would like to search for, lets say "test"
At first windows will search for all files that have "test" as part of the file name, but if you
SCROLL to the bottom of the search results you can see the following:
Search again in:
Libraries / Computer / Custom / Internet / File Contents
Click on File Contents and it will perform a search within the files for the keyword "test"." | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Too many to describe... OS Windows 7 x64 pro/ Windows 7 x86 Pro/ XP SP3 x86 |
04 May 2010
|
#8 | | Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1 x 2 Australia |
I would like to be able to search any type of text file in a folder and sub folders for a specific string and have the files containg the string highlighted (and the string). I think the requests above want a similar capability. The method pointed to by Bill2 apparently only works for the following.
".php text file is not supported by Windows Search.
Supported: doc, dot, htm, html, mht, one, rtf, txt, xml"
I want to be able to search whole directories/folders of software source files with extensions like (*.c, *.f95, etc) for specific strings.
Do I simply need to tell Windows to add extensions to it's list? | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Own build (+ Recased Acer Aspire x1800) OS Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1 x 2 CPU Intel i7 2600k Motherboard ASUS P8Z68 Deluxe Memory G.Skill Ripjaws (DDR3-1600) 2x4GB Graphics Card Nvidia GeForce GTS 450; Intel HD Graphics 3000(GT2+) Monitor(s) Displays Dell Ultrasharp IPS panel U2311H, Samsung SyncMaster P2350 Screen Resolution 1920x1080 Keyboard Logitech MK520 (wireless) Mouse Logitech MK520 PSU Seasonic M12II 520W Case Lian Li Lancool PC-K60 Cooling Case: 1x120mm, 3x140mm CPU: Hyper 212+ Hard Drives Crucial M4 128GB (000F), Seagates 1TB Barracuda ST31000528AS + Internet Speed 6-7 Mbps Antivirus Norton NIS, Malwarebytes on 2 (MSE on 3rd PC) Browser FireFox Other Info Audio: Logitech Z523 2.1 |
05 May 2010
|
#9 | | |

Quote: Originally Posted by mjf I would like to be able to search any type of text file in a folder and sub folders for a specific string and have the files containg the string highlighted (and the string). I think the requests above want a similar capability. The method pointed to by Bill2 apparently only works for the following.
".php text file is not supported by Windows Search.
Supported: doc, dot, htm, html, mht, one, rtf, txt, xml"
I want to be able to search whole directories/folders of software source files with extensions like (*.c, *.f95, etc) for specific strings.
Do I simply need to tell Windows to add extensions to it's list? First of all, you should index the folder in which the file is located. Then type "indexing" in Start Search Box, and open Indexing Options > Advanced. Go to the "file types" tab. Now find the extension you are looking for, for example, *.c and select "Index properties and file contents" under "How should this file be indexed?". | My System Specs | | |
05 May 2010
|
#10 | | |
Open folder options, go to the search tab look for "What to search" and pick "Always search files names and contents" be warned that this will slow down searches. | My System Specs | | System Manufacturer/Model Number Alienware Aurora ALX R4 OS Windows 7 x64 (SP1) CPU Intel Core i7-3930K (3.2GHz, Turbo 4GHz) Motherboard Alienware Aurora-R4 x79 Memory 4x Samsung 4GB PC3-12800 DDR3 (16GB 1600MHz) Graphics Card Nvidia Geforce GTX 690 (Stock) Sound Card RealTek Integrated Audio Monitor(s) Displays Dell UltraSharp U3011 Screen Resolution 2560x1600 Other Info Dell Inspiron Mini 10v (Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz; 1GB; Windows 7 Ultimate) Search for particular file content problems? All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:58 PM. | |