Useless search functionality? What am I doing wrong?

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  1. Posts : 15
    Windows Home Premium 64 bit
       #11

    dlcampbe said:
    mdmogren said:
    I'd blame yourself, it works for the rest of us OOTB :)
    It doesn't work for me.
    I have a program that doesn't show up anywhere until I download and open a file that requires the missing program to open, and there it is!

    I'm still looking.........
    OK, I found it, the program was in the Windows.old folder, I copied it to the Windows folder and now things are fine.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 20
    Win 7 Ultimate 32&64
       #12

    ignatzatsonic said:
    Try another search tool.

    I gave up on Windows built in search capabilities. Clunky, slow, inaccurate, etc, and has been for a long time.

    Best I have found is "Everything", from voidtools.com.

    It's free.

    Works fine on Windows 7, very fast. It re-indexes your drive every time it starts.

    I have turned off Windows indexing on all drives.

    Here is a sample search window. I searched for "word.exe" on all drives and these results came up in less than one second:
    I have just dowloaded this tool and I have to say it is brilliant. I won't be using windows search again.
    Thanks for the tip ignatzatsonic
    Last edited by alan5573; 29 Oct 2009 at 14:01. Reason: typo
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,528
    Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       #13

    Sadly "Everything" does not search file contents and that is the most important feature for me. Not that windows search does that great a job at it either, but to not do it at all is a non starter [edit]IMHO[/edit].
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,326
    Windows 7 Ultimate RTM (Technet)
       #14

    It is a VERY bad idea to index the entire C drive. It's no wonder search isn't working.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       #15

    It is a VERY bad idea to index the entire C drive. It's no wonder search isn't working.
    I got it working OK now. It's just that I search the program files folder, and system files etc, reasonably regularly. I'm not bothered about performance (I have a nice new i5). Why is indexing C bad? Does it slow down searches. Thanks.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 5,642
    Windows 10 Pro (x64)
       #16

    michael123 said:
    ...Why is indexing C bad? Does it slow down searches. Thanks.
    It takes longer to finish the index.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 23
    Win7 Home Premium 64-bit
       #17

    Try removing the desired folder from its "library."
    I was having the same problem trying to find documents. It would only show up if I clicked on "see more results".
    Then I came across this thread Start menu search and I got it working again.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1
    Windows 7
       #18

    Windows 7 Search have many many problems


    chev65 said:
    I'd rather blame the default folder and files options. Can the noobs please refrain from making such lame statements.

    I don't have any problems finding folders that I created because I know right where they are at. But the search feature should be able to find user created folders and files without having to "fix" it.

    This setting seems to have an effect, you can see where it will only search file names but not the contents unless you choose the bottom one.
    Hi to everyone!!

    Well, I find the windows search very faulty, vague and buggy...

    - It usually skips some folder (specially those folders created on my previous windows xp) which are the main target of my search, because the new ones I already know where they are.

    - It persist to search by file-name and contents (sometimes is good) but the most of time it brings a junk of search results that has nothing to do whit my search criteria. Why they didn't give the OPTION to search by contents OR not?

    - The so mentioned indexing is to me, one of the biggest bug of windows 7.. I found that for some reason My 100 gb (c: ) Partition was suddenly crying for LOW DISK SPACE, well I know I do many things on my computer and I download many things but I usually save it on my (F: ) partition. Deleted some files (400 mb) until I have the time to check what is so big in (c: ). But less than 1 hr latter LOW DISK SPACE again.

    Doing some research with the task manager, I found a file that is constantly written (second by second - unstoppable) When I go to the path of the file, it has almost 17 GB (and growing)

    Take a guess..... yes!!!! you are right!!!! That is the FAMOUS windows search index file...

    So, now and then, there is just a question that comes to my head:

    WHAT WHERE THEY REALLY THINKING????????
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 18
    win7 pro 32 bit
       #19

    Very old thread but problem persists.

    I've only been using win7 for the best part of the last year and though I knew I was crippled by it's search function I didn't realise just how much I was crippled until I installed 'Everything' and ran it.

    Christ! For the first time a quick, accurate look at what I've got in an easily viewable format.

    A fervent 'thankyou' to that guy 'ignatz..' or whatever for the clue about 'Everything'.

    :)
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 37
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Win 8.1, Win 10 preview, ubuntu14
       #20

    +1 on "search everything"

    Sadly, Windows 10 search functionality still sucks
      My Computer


 
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