How To Search For Files Using File name Only In Windows 7

I have followed the instructions to search for files in Windows 7 but have found the process very slow and the results bring up lots of irrelevant files.

Find a file or folder

By comparison the search companion on XP was much faster and got more relevant results based on file name. If that didn't work there was the option of searching for text within the file.

For example I know inside a folder there is a sub folder with the file I am looking for and I know part of the name. Is there a way to make Win 7 search for results based only on the file name? In most cases that would be a lot simpler. Otherwise win 7 will look in the contents of the file which is a time waster.

Your thoughts woyuld be appreciated.

Kind Regards

Chris

Have you done any system tweaking to alter the default behavior? I see several people complain about the search function, but to be honest, it puts Windows XP's to shame. I use it often to find files by name, and it works beautifully.

I have all my drives index linked for faster searching. I am using Win 7 32 bit with a duo core E5500 2.8 Ghz x2 and 3 Gbt Ram. I have no idea if I did anything in the past that might change default search behaviour. I did install something that allows folders to be moved around instead of the default grid positions. I also installed a psd file icon viewer that required some registry changes. I can't think of anything else.

Kind Regards

Chris

If you want the XP style search back you might find this interesting:

Can I restore the XP style search to Windows 7? - Microsoft Answers

Can you explain the exact process and search strings you've used so far, the goal of the search, and the results you've gotten?

No need for anything complicated. Just type what you're looking for. If it's in the file name, those results will be returned first, above any results where your search term is inside the file.

This might help - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/41607-search-file-names-only.html#post402130

You can search by just about whatever you want, using search filters. If you want to search by name, just go to the search box and use the name: filter, like this:

name:epson

Click to expand...

Although listed as obsolete after Windows XP this page also states the filter "filename:" which also works but may be better. Many other filters listed as well.

And - http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/41607-search-file-names-only-2.html#post430861, READ FULL POST, don't recommend.

The setting is in Explorer, right click on drive properties, and under general tab, clear checkbox titled "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties".

However

Click to expand...

BTW by default W7 only searches contents in indexed locations and it is not recommended to index entire drives.

Thank you all for your comments. I have downloaded agent ransack recommended in one of the links and will try it out.

Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility

As an example of the problem I have been experiencing I might type in a simple expression in the search box like julia and end up with a never ending search with hundreds of irrelevant results including file types that have nothing to do with what I am searchihng for. I have no idea how to include filters in the search criteria. For example if I just want to search for jpg files or doc files what do I need to do?

Kind Regards

Chris

You don't need any third party software to do a search for documents with "julia" in the name.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/36599-search-windows-7-a.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129437-windows-search-configure-use.html

Thanks for your thoughts.

As an example using the Win 7 search utility I typed in Julia in the start menu and got 3655 results. Admittedly for some reason this time it was very fast and took about 10-15 seconds. However, 95% of of the 3655 search results did not have julia in the file name and it would have taken me a long time to find what I was looking for.

I tried the agent ransack utility and it took 4 and a half minutes and got 177 results and it was much easier to find what I was looking for.

Then I installed the Everything search utility and was blown away with its speed. The first time it ran it took about 10 to 15 seconds to do the initial search or index the drive or whatever. After that it ran like lightning. I typed in Julia and it searched my entire computer and got 119 results which was just what I was looking for in less than one second. I tried various other words and as soon as I had typed the last letter of the word all the results were there instantly. I am definitely keeping this programme.

I suspect though that I still need to learn how to get the best results from the Windows 7 search utility. I don't know if its possible to search using file name only or apply filters to the search.

Kind Regards

Chris

The links I provided tell you how to do what you're looking to do in Windows 7 search.

In short, by default you're probably set up to index both file name, contents, and properties. Therefore, the easiest way to search just based on the filename is "filename:Julia". This is explained in the second link I provided.

Chris Nicola said:

Thank you all for your comments. I have downloaded agent ransack recommended in one of the links and will try it out.

Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility

As an example of the problem I have been experiencing I might type in a simple expression in the search box like julia and end up with a never ending search with hundreds of irrelevant results including file types that have nothing to do with what I am searchihng for. I have no idea how to include filters in the search criteria. For example if I just want to search for jpg files or doc files what do I need to do?

Kind Regards

Chris

Click to expand...

I highly recommend Agent Ransack / FileLocator Lite. It is my default search engine & I use it all the time. It's unindexed, fast, and can do content string searches for a wide range of file formats. There is nothing wrong with 3rd party software if it does the job.

Nothing wrong with using third party software at all if it does the job. Just as you can check your oil by removing the filler cap and reaching in with a probe, it's just as easily done with the built-in tool for the job - the dipstick. Some just prefer using something else. While using a separate tool isn't necessarily right or wrong, it's good practice to at least inform people of the tool(s) already present that fulfill the particular task in question. Then, they can decide whether a third party tool is really needed. Just telling them to download another tool to perform the search doesn't help the OP figure out why his searches aren't working in Windows 7, as they're trying to do.

In this very simple case, Windows Search is more than capable enough of finding files just based on the filename. So, another tool isn't needed to perform this search, but may obviously still be used if preferred for ancillary reasons. It's just unfortunate that so often in threads involving search so many people are quick to refer third party software which doesn't actually address the OP's question or needs, rather it just serves the posters' own personal (and often incorrect) bias against the built-in search for whatever reasons.

I take your point, but as an example I still use Windows imaging while others absolutely hate it. I don't argue the point and say try a 3rd party app (eg. Macrium) and if you like it better then use it.

I personally had problems with Windows Search and think the 3rd party app I referred to is very reliable and has a very good user interface which can be used from novice to experienced user.

i for one absolutely love the windows 7 search feature, when i'm dj'ing live my software is full screen, if theres a file that i havent yet analysed i just tap the windows button, it jumps out of full screen for me to search. I guess its more downt to knowing exactly what you have on your computer and roughly where it is

Thanks for the help. I looked at this link ansd typed index in the start menu search to bring up the indexing options:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129437-windows-search-configure-use.html

However I still can't understand how to configure the search based on file name only. The modify button can change search locations. The advanced button can exclude some file types. The advanced button under file types has the option either to index properties only or index properties and file contents. At the moment its set to the default to index properties only and still does not search based on file name only. When I search for Julia with this setting 95% of the thousands of results results are not based on the file name only. Is there a solution?

Kind Regards

Chris

Using filters is easy. Try this type

filename:Julia

for all jpgs - *.jpg or ext:jpg

Also in a explorer window type kind:
then select a kind from the list

Duzzy, thanks for this tip. However I am not sure how to do this. I notice in a typical explorer window there is the option of typing the file name and the only filters that seem to be available are date modified and size, there does not seem to be any option to filter file types or searching by file name without the contents.

By typing index in the start/search box the indexing options come up and one can select file types there. Does one have to change the global indexing options, then go to explorer to search for jpg files, then after the search is over return the global indexing options back to default? There should be an easier way to do this.

Kind Regards

Chris

You can see more options (in the Libraries) if you expand the search box.

• Place the mouse pointer between the "Address Bar" and "Search Box".
• Press and hold the left mouse button.
• Drag the pointer to the left.

You should now see more options in the "Search Box" drop down option list.

Thanks for this. I tried but can still only see the two basic options of date modified and size. How would I add other filters to the list?

Kind Regards

Chris