Windows 7: Is there a way to perform a category search like in XP?

I'm new and searched the forum for the following and could not find anything close, so here goes:
In XP I was able to do a search by general category such as music or pictures and would get all the different types of files, such as "tiff", "jpg", for picture search etc. Is there a similar function in Seven?
Thanks in advance.

type .jpg in the search box .... is that what you mean?

No, not really. In XP, using "advanced", I can search 3 categories: "Pictures and Photos", "Music", and "Video". The search then return all the file types for stored music or photos.
Thanks.

You are looking for "kind:" type that into the search box and it will give you a whole list of selections. A lot more than was possible in XP. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro.../advquery.mspx

I was wondering about this myself.

I miss the old XP search too.. I tried pasting "kind:" with or without quotes into the search box and all it does is open up a command prompt window.

I use XP search to find recent files.. or files by date..

I haven't looked at the link yet.. i'll do that now.

EDit: I looked at the page.. you mean to tell me it's only command prompt based, and I have to learn/memorize all the search commands to use it?.. No easy GUI? like in XP.. or am i missing something.. If thats the case.. that really sucks.. I also notice you can "get it now" downlo0ad this.. er.. this is not the same as the search built into windows but a seperate app??

Edit: Oh I see.. the download is offered for XP and Vista.. it is the same as comes with Win 7.

EDIT:
Oh I see.. I found more info here,http://windows7news.com/2009/06/30/f...dows-7-search/

After you type Kind: <-- then you type the type of file you want like docs so it would be kind: docs

I still think this sucks compared to the way XP did it.

You can follow logicearth's solution by using kind:= filters. But the best method is to use the Library feature of Windows 7. By doing so you can more easily manage your music, pictures and documents. The start menu search results are categorized by libraries.

If you need to find recently modified files, just click on the search box and click on the "date modified: " filter. Then you can specify the date range.

The library feature only works if you actually have put these files in the library right? I like to put files for different things all over my drive depending on where I need them.. they will not always be in the Library.

I wonder if someone made a 3rd party search app to replace the win 7 app.. I will look.. I hated the new WordPad, so I was able to transfer the old XP wordpad.exe to Win 7 and it works Great.

A lot of the commands have context sensitive information, for example typing out "date" a drop down appears with a calendar for specific dates as well as a list of predefined values. Adding a few limiting values like < or > you can create a range. So yes there is a GUI, it is all integrated into the search box and context sensitive.

No, you can add folders from any location on your computer to the libraries. This, in fact, is the real point of libraries. Just open the specific library, e.g, the Documents library, and click on "Include Location" . From there, you can add/remove folders from libraries.

Here's an advice to manage files very efficiently: Add all your documents, music, pictures and video to the libraries. They will then be automatically indexed. After that whenever you need to find something on your computer, just type anything you remember about that file in the Start Search box. Within a fraction of a second, you will find your results. This is so efficient that I have almost stopped using Windows Explorer.

Wow.. I have to actually add these files to the library.. Even though I really don't want them there.. just to be able to search them easier.. seems like a lot of work to me.. I would much rather have the old search tool back.. much easier, and less demanding...

Why don't Windows recognize the files types for those things and put shortcuts to them in the library (for indexing purposes) instead without making me have to move the files?

I am glad you like the system, and it works great for you.. it would drive me nuts having to do that.. Plus there are times i don't want avi's or music files in the library.. they are in other folders for a reason.. How dare Microsoft presume to tell me where to put my files then tell me it wont search for them like I want Search to unless I comply with Microsofts silly rules.

For now, I have been going to C drive in Explorer and searching my whole drive from there.