Search bar doesn't find program


  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #1

    Search bar doesn't find program


    Hello,
    my problem is simple, windows is installed on my first hard drive, i use the search bar a lot to launch programs to avoid filling my desktop with icons, and the search bar won't find some programs.

    For example, when i try to launch Eclipse (Which is not in the list of installed programs, it's an "unzip" installation), which files are located in my second hard drive, i launched it manually several times, but the search bar won't "quick access" it.

    So here's my question :
    Is there any way to manually index one program on windows 7 ?

    Edit : Or is there any way to select where windows searches for programs?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #2
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #3

    I think i found what i wanted, i added my second hard drive to the list of locations to index, and i'm rebuiding the index, i think that will do the trick.

    Thanks.

    P.S. : I am curious about something, does indexing affects only user searches, or it is used for other functionnalities?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,261
    Windows 7 Professional X64
       #4

    A program you might try - Everything Search Engine

    Just type in the name (or even part of it) and it will find it in seconds.

    I've got 6 hdds and this program is a lifesaver.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Search bar doesn't find program-everything-pic-6-9-14.jpg  
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  5. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #5

    Anselme said:
    I think i found what i wanted, i added my second hard drive to the list of locations to index, and i'm rebuiding the index, i think that will do the trick.

    Thanks.

    P.S. : I am curious about something, does indexing affects only user searches, or it is used for other functionnalities?
    Indexing is mainly only used to speed up searches across windows explorer and the start menu. It also indexes the properties of the file. IMHO using the index makes it much faster to access all your files. I cannot confirm how true that is though. But I notice drives I do not have indexed take a little longer to open then ones that are indexed. But it might just be me.

    From windows 7 built in help and support:

    What is the search index and how can I change it?
    Windows uses the index to perform very fast searches of the most common types of files on your computer. Instead of looking through your entire hard disk for a file name or property, Windows scans the index.

    If you're searching in locations that aren't indexed, the search might be slow because Windows must inspect each file in those locations during the search. You can add those locations to the index to speed up future searches. For more information, see Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions.

    To see the complete list of locations that are indexed, or to add locations to the index, open Indexing Options.

    Click to open Indexing Options.

    The indexed locations are displayed in the Index these locations list.

    Notes
    When you include a folder in a library, it's automatically added to the index. For more information, see Include folders in a library.

    For privacy reasons, only your own files are added to the index, and so by default, *Windows won't search files belonging to other users on your computer.
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  6. Posts : 6
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    The result is the following : my second hard drive is now well indexed.
    When i search for "eclipse" the first results are eclipse folders, so i have to type "eclipse.exe" to have the program in first choice in the search results, as a file, not as a program; and that search is quite slow...

    Is there a way to identify a .exe file as an installed program? So Windows search would find it more quickly and without having to type the extension.
      My Computer


 

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