Searching file contents?

Hi all!

I reformatted my PC and now I'm unable to get windows built-in search to "work" again. I want to be able to search inside the (hundreds of) files using specific keywords (and to actually search the files, with no indexing bullshit). I know this is possible because I managed to make it work before, but I just can't remember how I did that.

Turning on "Always search file names and contents (this might take several minutes)" under folder options seems no to do anything at all (but I've kept it selected anyway).

Then I tried disabling indexing via computer management -> services and apps -> services -> windows search -> disable (and rebuilding the index), but that doesn't seem to accomplish what I'm after either.

Any suggestions?

Throwing a wild card in doesn't help to search from inside the files. I believe this must be handled through the settings or even hacks somehow, but I can't remember how I did it the last time.

mitchell65 said:

But it does come up with the same result as XP did when you chose "A word or phrase in the file".
So it just lists all the actual files that contain the word but did you want it to open the file, display the text and highlight the word? Did XP do this? Or have I got the wrong idea here?

Not for me it doesn't. It just doesn't find content. It seems just to search the file names, but with a wild card.

Do the files need to be indexed for a content search?

geeve420 said:

Is this what you are trying to do?

Windows 7 File Search Indexing Options

I don't recall ever following similar steps, but thanks, I'll look into it!

I've re-enabled indexing and indexed all the files I need to search. File type (.rtf) is supported by content search. Rebooted too. Still can't find contents, be it with * or without.

I apologise for the outburst, but it used to work with my old setup, dammit!

Where are the files located? On the system drive?

Hot damn, that's it! I can search fine on partition C (system), but partition D proves to make the content search defunct! It's indexed and everything!

Any solutions?