How to search inside file contents on removable device?


  1. Dizzious
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, WinXP Pro x64
       New #1

    How to search inside file contents on removable device?


    How do I make Windows 7 search inside of file contents on a removable device?

    I have a flash drive with a few hundred spreadsheets on it, in .xls format. I need to search for words that are located inside of the spreadsheets. How do I do that?

    Note: I have set my indexing options to search the contents of .xls files - this flash drive is probably not indexed, as it is only occasionally plugged into this machine. I am looking for a way to make Win7 search inside of files without having to index the thing.
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  3. Brink
    Posts : 72,046
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #2

    Hello Dizzious, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    Sorry, but you will not be able to add removable locations to be included in the index anyway.

    An alternative, is to select the flash drive in Computer or Windows Explorer, and search it from there instead.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
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  4. Dizzious
    Posts : 7
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, WinXP Pro x64
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    I was not asking how to add removable devices to the index.... that would be silly. Read the last sentence of my first post

    Thanks for the link, though - it lead me here, which explains everything I wanted to know :)
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  6. Brink
    Posts : 72,046
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       New #4

    LOL, I know that. I was just letting you know that you couldn't even if you wanted to.

    I'm happy to hear that the other part helped you get it sorted though. :)
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