A Windows 7 search alternative ?

My problem with the Windows 7 Search is if I'm searching a large external hard drive, and then I need to sort by category, it just goes ahead and restarts the entire search by category. So if it took 5 minutes to find everything, it takes another 5 minutes. wtf.

Thanks a ton, mike

Here are a couple of other 3rd party searching apps that have been recommended by our posters:

NirSoft - Alternative to Windows Search For Files + Duplicates Search

Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility - 64 bit Windows 7 file searcher - very fast and lets you choose the drive or path to search, similar to XP's search. BUT Agent Ransack was designed as a power tool, and is not an aesthetically pleasing tool for amateurs.

Imperfect1 said:

BUT Agent Ransack was designed as a power tool, and is not an aesthetically pleasing tool for amateurs.

I find File Locator Lite (alias Agent Ransack) an absolutely great search tool that I use all the time and exlusively for general searches.
One of it's great features is that it is as powerful as you want but at the same time can definitely be used by an inexperienced user. You can start with the Wizard mode and move on from there. I find the user interface quite intuitive.

I think "Search Everything" is more of a power tool in my mind and best used as an administrative tool.

Just my perspective.

Does anyone in this forum use the command line search feature built into every version of windows?

Try where

Start >> run >> cmd

Type:

where c:\ *.*
or
where /?

This it will find all the files on your hard drive. Replace *.* with what your looking for and bam. You're done.

sonic720 said:

Does anyone in this forum use the command line search feature built into every version of windows?

Try where

Start >> run >> cmd

Type:

where c:\ *.*
or
where /?

This it will find all the files on your hard drive. Replace *.* with what your looking for and bam. You're done.

Yes - many people. (Although, I'm not one of them).

boohbah said:

The screenshot (poor quality...taken with camera in darkened room then imported and snipped, as snip tool would not work without start menu search 'going away')

james you ought to try "jing" its the best snipping tool i have come across,its free and has a whole host of other features including a keyboard shortcut , see snip.......

TechSmith | Jing, instant screenshots and screencasts, free tour page

Thanks for the pointer (and the consideration!), boohbah. I'll definitely check that out. I've beeen using the windows snip tool, but it is lacking in markup and commenting tools.

Are you using the free or paid version?