Windows 7 search doesn't find things

I'll start out by saying that I don't like Windows 7 search. I liked "Search for files named . . ." or "Search for files containing text . . ." but as usual no one asked me.

My problem is one that I've had since I upgraded to Win 7. I have my user folders on E: and I set a junction to point C:\Users\Barnabas to E:\Users\Barnabas. Pretty simple. If I reference C:\Users\Barnabas\xyx.doc the file E:\Users\Barnabas\xyx.doc opens. Way cool.

The problem is that for some reason this confused Windows search.

Let's say I open up my desktop user folder and select Documents. I know that I have a file called Dogs.doc but I don't remember which folder it is in. So I put Dogs.doc into "Search" and hit go. No files found. However, if I open "My Computer" and navigate to E:\System\Users\Baranbas and do the same search, the file is found.

Does anyone know of a fix for this problem. I know that I can use another search tool like FileSearchEX but MS was nice enough to put that Search box on nearly every window, I feel like I should take advantage of it.

BarnabasSackett said:

I'll start out by saying that I don't like Windows 7 search. I liked "Search for files named . . ." or "Search for files containing text . . ." but as usual no one asked me.

My problem is one that I've had since I upgraded to Win 7. I have my user folders on E: and I set a junction to point C:\Users\Barnabas to E:\Users\Barnabas. Pretty simple. If I reference C:\Users\Barnabas\xyx.doc the file E:\Users\Barnabas\xyx.doc opens. Way cool.

The problem is that for some reason this confused Windows search.

Let's say I open up my desktop user folder and select Documents. I know that I have a file called Dogs.doc but I don't remember which folder it is in. So I put Dogs.doc into "Search" and hit go. No files found. However, if I open "My Computer" and navigate to E:\System\Users\Baranbas and do the same search, the file is found.

Does anyone know of a fix for this problem. I know that I can use another search tool like FileSearchEX but MS was nice enough to put that Search box on nearly every window, I feel like I should take advantage of it.

I don't use Windows 7 search because it is kludgy. A good replacement is Agent Ransack from Mythicsoft. It's free and can be downloaded from;

http://www.mythicsoft.com/page.aspx?type=agentransack&page=home

Obviously, it's your choice to use it or not.

HTH

I'll take a look at AgentRansack. However, I'd really like to know why Windows Search doesn't find my files following the junction. I'd also like to know why they screwed with a search function that worked pretty well.

I'm pretty sure that I know the answer to that second question already. The average user was probably confused by it.

I may have mentioned this before but I teach an adult ed class that is computer related. These people are supposed to have a bit of computer knowledge when they show up but I'm always surprised by how little they know. My students range in age from 30 to 70 and most used or currently use a computer at work. They aren't programmers or network engineers but you would think that they would know the basics.

90% of them don't know how to copy and paste. One person told me that if he wanted to send something that he found online to a friend, he would print it out and then type it in his email program. If I say, "Open Internet Explorer and go to XYZ.com" 50% have no clue what I mean.

It reminds me of the average driver who has no idea how his engine works or what ABS does and really doesn't care. I'm not a professional mechanic but I have a handle on most of what goes on with a car. Similarly, I don't know everything about Windows but I have a good handle on the basics and I can figure out the more complicated stuff albeit with help sometimes.

End of rant.

BarnabasSackett said:

I'll start out by saying that I don't like Windows 7 search. I liked "Search for files named ..." or "Search for files containing text ..." but as usual, no one asked me.

... SKIP ...

Does anyone know of a fix for this problem? I know that I can use another search tool like FileSearchEX but MS was nice enough to put that Search box on nearly every window, I feel like I should take advantage of it.

I feel the same way and use FileSearchEX because of this same issue. It could be that Microsoft is moving away from what they consider core OS features. Even though they include notepad, I still using Notepad2 for example. What you get for "free" is usually just a baseline. Microsoft is the highway, everyone else builds the cars.