Simple file name search

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  1. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #21

    It's personal preference but I typically use filename (or part name) searches.

    Windows 7 has 2 search engines (1) Indexed searching (2) A "GREP" style search.
    Many people (not everyone) have problems with Windows index search (see Microsoft Answers forum for more robust discussion).

    As far as I am aware:
    If you search from the root eg C:\ using the top right search box you do an exhaustive grep style search. Guaranteed to find a filename but a bit slow for some.
    I have disabled indexing for "Users" and search at the user or subfolder level. It's relatively quick and exhaustive.

    A Word of Warning: (with reference to an earlier post in the thread) I have "Search Everything". It is VERY fast but very powerful and can give some access reserved for the hidden administrator. It needs to be carefully configured for general user use in my opinion. I wouldn't let any other user of my computer near it.

    One day I might get around to trying some Registry fixes to solve my indexed searching issue. McAfee Total Protection 2010 has been recently identified as a major culprit in indexed search problems.
    Last edited by mjf; 10 Oct 2010 at 18:38.
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  2. Posts : 1
    64 bit windows 7 pro
       #22

    You can do a simple name or partial name search


    You can do a simple name or partial name search by going to Organize>Folder and search options, and under the search tab click find partial matches. if you have a file called C6798T and you only remember the numbers and not the letters then type *6798 and it will come up with anything with those four numbers in it. If you just start typing C67 it will come up with anything with those first 3 characters.
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  3. Posts : 2,578
    Vista 64 bit and 32 bit (SP2)
       #23

    Vista allows you to search files names only as shown below in the two search options. Has Windows 7 changed these options? If not, these are two alternate ways of searching file names only.

    Go into Windows Explorer.
    Click Organize, then select: Folder and search options.
    Click Search, and in the "What to Search" section, select either:
    1. "Always search file names only" OR
    2. "In indexed locations search filenames and contents. In NONindexed locations search file names only."
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  4. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #24

    Imperfect1 said:
    Vista allows you to search files names only as shown below in the two search options. Has Windows 7 changed these options? If not, these are two alternate ways of searching file names only.

    Go into Windows Explorer.
    Click Organize, then select: Folder and search options.
    Click Search, and in the "What to Search" section, select either:
    1. "Always search file names only" OR
    2. "In indexed locations search filenames and contents. In NONindexed locations search file names only."
    I believe this is the case when Windows index search is working correctly. Unfortunately Windows search does not work for some people, many of whom are technically able to try "fixes".
    A solution is to use better third party software.
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  5. Posts : 1
    Windows 7 Ultimate
       #25

    Imperfect1 said:
    Vista allows you to search files names only as shown below in the two search options. Has Windows 7 changed these options? If not, these are two alternate ways of searching file names only.

    Go into Windows Explorer.
    Click Organize, then select: Folder and search options.
    Click Search, and in the "What to Search" section, select either:
    1. "Always search file names only" OR
    2. "In indexed locations search filenames and contents. In NONindexed locations search file names only."
    My Win7 Windows Explorer offers these two selections:

    1. "In indexed locations, search file names and contents. In non-indexed locations, search file names only."
    2. "Always search file names and contents (this might take several minutes)"

    So it looks like if you want to search file names only in an indexed location, you have to use the "filename: name" syntax in the search box.
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  6. Posts : 258
    Win 7 Ultimate x64
       #26

    This might help ???

    I use "Agent Ransack", a free 64 bit Windows 7 file searcher - not only is it free but it's really, really fast and lets you choose the drive or path to search.

    I Always use Ransack when I'm searching for files. Reminds me of XP's search.

    You can download it for free at
    Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility
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  7. mjf
    Posts : 5,969
    Windows 7x64 Home Premium SP1
       #27

    I use "Agent Ransack" all the time. I've been plugging it on this forum like I own the company. It's great.
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  8. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       #28

    I searched this morning for a .jpg. I knew only the number in the file name. You can't very well check for content with a photograph. Although I later found the photo by accident, the Windows 7 search did not find it. The file name was DSC_2742, and I was searching for 2742. After I removed the underscore, the search found both DSC_2742 (which no longer existed) and DSC 2742. Libraries drive me crazy too. Why is MS always being such a tyrant dictator? It is difficult to find anything good about Windows 7.
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  9. Posts : 2,752
    Windows 7 Pro x64 (1), Win7 Pro X64 (2)
       #29

    In passing, you might investigate two very nice "search folders and files" replacements for Windows Search:

    (1) Search My Files which is an "on demand" search tool, where you define your search criteria each time you want to do a search. It also allows search based on text or binary file contents, not just file names (with expected wildcards, etc.).

    (2) Everything (which I believe was mentioned earlier in this thread) is an always-running tool which builds an index of every folder/file on your system (subject to setup configuration options), with the index continuously updated any time a new file is created, deleted, or modified. It thus supports "instant" file name search (including the expected wildcards, etc.) as you type what you're looking for, based on this always up-to-date index.


    I think you'll find both of these products much more user-friendly and intuitive than Windows Search. Furthermore, Search My Files can do things that Windows Search cannot do, because of its extensive optional search criteria variables.
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  10. Posts : 4
    Windows 7
       #30

    Thank you, will do!
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