Windows 7: I need some help on searching for a specific .avi file

Thanks Kari for your posts. Even being a Windows Search person can learn more about Windows Search just like I have. Thank you.

You are welcome, Layback.

Windows Search on Seven and Eight has never failed me. I find everything I'm searching, fast and effortless, using this marvelous flexible search tool.

Now I want to see something from my sci-fi collection. Not Star Trek, though.
Search:
Kari

I have looked on my computer for
kind:video genre:sci-fi name:~!"Star Trek" Can't find it on my computer. Maybe it is behind the inviable black planet.

LOL!

Sci-Fi genre must not be a real one, that last search string & filters were to show how to leave something out from results.

Normally it is done with operator NOT, as for instance in kind:image name:Angie NOT name:Kari which would search for images with partial filename Angie, leaving however out files with partial filename Kari so it would find images like Angie in bath.jpg and Angie last Christmas.png but not a file Angie and Kari in bath.bmp

However, sometimes it is better to use operator ~! (tilde & exclamation mark). It can be connected to any filter known to Windows: kind:image name:~!Layback would find all images except those with partial filename Layback, or kind:image created:~!2011 would find all images except those made in year 2011 and so on.

Kari

Quote for Kari:

I does. Sorry to contradict an opinion with a fact. Clicking on any of the available options automatically generates "that kind of string".

I was not telling an opinion, I was telling a fact. However, your "facts" become more and more odd.

You are most probably using a modified Windows shell. The syntax kind = XXXXX is simply wrong. I am of course talking default, native command syntax in unmodified Windows.

For those reading this thread later, trying to fix a similar issue or learn something: Please do not let wrong advice, purposely given to advertise a third party solution to confuse you. Of course you will fail in your attempts to use Windows Search if you are using wrong command syntax.

You can test it yourself. Simply write kind:=folder to search field (equal sign not necessary, also kind:folder is OK). Notice how the search argument turns blue (default color) to mark correct syntax:



This search by the way finds all folders on search location, and because of the syntax being correct it should also open the drop down selection of possible search types ("kind").

Then try this wrong syntax 4wd is offering to "show" how bad Windows Search is, writing kind = folder to search field. You notice the text remains black because Windows does not recognize it as a search argument:



Nothing more to say.

Kari

Wonder if the OP expected all this when he started lol Anyway,

Wrong, 2 pc's, stock Ultimate & Home Pro.

Was mentioning windows is seen generating such a syntax automatically (as shown in the screenshots). Fact.

Now, why is it so? Ok, a clue: try ticking "use natural..." in Folder > Search.
You may not be familiar with the natural language setting and the way it has implications on the displayed search syntax.

Using the 'natural' setting may be seen as modfying windows or the search function, but not in my opinion, it's just an existing and available option.

Meanwhile, am happily finding everything needed, using Windows 7 for some kinds of search, and a dedicated search program at other times. Have a fine day, and let's hope the OP has found his avi's after all this lol

You get at least half a point there, I admit I have been talking about default Windows settings.

Seems I can also learn something new. I openly admit I have never used natural language search simply because Windows Search works for me perfectly "out-of-the-box", with default settings.

The syntax will in fact be written as you told when you switch to natural language search. I repeat: In this syntax issue 4wd was right if and when the natural language search is enabled. If it is disabled as is by default, the syntax does not work.

Interesting fact is that this natural language search makes the Windows Search even better!

Kari

Thank you + peace and understanding, and hope readers will find lots of stuff of interest in this thread.

Ok. I still haven't solved my problem, LOOL

I've tried what everyone was trying to say. First, the file is accessible via mplayer.exe through cmd.

Can anyone solve it? I still can't find the avi file