A Windows 7 search alternative ?

[James Colbert]

If you want to capture a snip of a menu, such as the Start menu, follow these steps:

1. Open Snipping Tool by clicking the Start button
   
   , clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, and then clicking Snipping Tool.
2. After you open Snipping Tool, press ESC, and then open the menu that you want to capture.
3. Press CTRL+PRINT SCREEN.
4. Click the arrow next to the New button, select a snip type from the menu, and then use your mouse or tablet pen to capture the menu.

Copied and pasted from a Win7 Tut.

Thanks for the tip, Mitchell. I think I could find that very useful.

James

 

[James Colbert]

Posting back with an update (it’s been a long week!):

I did add all partitions and drives to Indexing and allowed 24 hrs. for the index to rebuild. The results were that the start menu did find the file NOHSC_menu.pdf it couldn’t find before, and found it quickly. However, a search from Computer still failed to find the file at all.


Given that Everything and other 3rd party search engines are able to find files on my 12 partition system in fractions of seconds, it doesn't seem unreasonable to expect that Win 7 search should be able to do the same thing. OK, Everything searches only filenames, but if content searches are too intense under some circumstances, it seems like a filename only (win 7) search could be implemented first, searching for content afterward, especially given the speed with which Everything finds a filename.


But I believe that the problem with Win search is more complicated than a simple search priority implementation. The searches I initiate from Computer inevitably find nothing and will continue ‘looking’ for hours if allowed, or simply return a result of 0 items found. The searches from Start Menu are finding files it didn’t before, but it still misses some.


Summary:

1) Start Menu searches are hit and miss. It will find some of the most obscure files containing the search criteria, yet miss what should be obvious (and multiple) hits. Indexing all partitions does seem to make a bit of difference, but not enough to really rely on.
2) Computer searches are pointless. Results in the GROD almost every time.
3) A partition search in WE will sometimes (about 1/2 to 3/4) turn up correct results, but only if I use a filter i.e., name: (full or partial filename).

As has been surmised, multiple partitions does seem to be the wrench in the works here, although 3rd party (filename search) tools seem to have no problem returning lightning quick, accurate results. Perhaps the fact that Win7 search also looks at content is a factor as well. It would be interesting to know if others having problems also have multiple partitions. No answers here, merely an update to the question.

James

Edit: Library searching is also problematic, in fact, even searching in the Pictures library returns absolutely no results, even when using the exact filename with or without the 'name:' filter. Nothing. I'm determined to wring the most I can out of search and will be researching as time peremits. One thing is certain...Win7 search has big problems for some people. Whether this issue is confined only to those with multiple partitions or also impacts systems for other reasons remains to be seen.

Sorry for the longwinded posts!

James

 

[karlsnooks]

I also find Everything Search Engine very useful.

It's very fast and efficient - without requiring masses of indexing - it's only for filenames. tho.

Others like Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility - to search for file contents

Now you've got me curious. I'll go take a look at them.

Am presently using a PowerShell script I wrote but certainly that's not a solution for everybody.

 

[mjf]

I have recommended "Agent Ransack" before on this forum. It is also mentioned in the Free Programs list.
I cannot recommend it highly enough. Search Everything is powerful (perhaps overly so) and fast but is not, in my opinion, a fully functional search engine.

"Agent Ransack" is non indexed, fast, highly capable, small footprint (free) search engine.
It can do complex Boolean content searches as well as date range, time, size etc.
As a simple example I searched approx 1GB of PDF files for the obscure content 12x13" it found the one file containing it in 3 places in approx 2 min.
Usual searches sub second/seconds range.

I tried it as a substitute because of the problems I had with Windows indexed search. "Agent Ransack" is now my search engine of choice.

 

[jh2oman]

I need to search on non-indexed server drives, often for file content. It crashes 80% of the time, and the other 20% is incomplete (does not find the file). To get around this I have to go into XP-Mode and I use search companion -- works like a charm.
In searching my C-drive, or even specific folders, Win 7 Search does not find the simplest things. I have been using Win 7 now for 5 months -- this search is the worst ever! I'd rather have the old search I think I had in Norton Utlities in the late 80's or early 90's!
MS needs to come clean on this -- as the Editor said a few posts above, a lot of people are having real problems with this. For goodness sake, FIX IT!!!!!

 

[pacinitaly]

I need to search on non-indexed server drives, often for file content. It crashes 80% of the time, and the other 20% is incomplete (does not find the file). To get around this I have to go into XP-Mode and I use search companion -- works like a charm.
In searching my C-drive, or even specific folders, Win 7 Search does not find the simplest things. I have been using Win 7 now for 5 months -- this search is the worst ever! I'd rather have the old search I think I had in Norton Utlities in the late 80's or early 90's!
MS needs to come clean on this -- as the Editor said a few posts above, a lot of people are having real problems with this. For goodness sake, FIX IT!!!!!

agree!

check my post above

 

[Hopalong X]

This may help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129437-windows-search-configure-use.html

 

[jh2oman]

It should not have to be that complicated. Just give me back the search from XP.

 

[DeaconFrost]

MS needs to come clean on this -- as the Editor said a few posts above, a lot of people are having real problems with this. For goodness sake, FIX IT!!!!!

I can't believe I still have to ask this, but why does Microsoft have to come clean one something that works for 99.9% of the people who try it? Instead of randomly pointing fingers, why not try to find out what makes your system different than most others?

I have 6 drives mapped to different server on my current work computer, and 4 mapped at home to my WHS box. I can use the built-in search on any of those locations, and aside from the expected delay, every search works fine and returns what I am looking for.

I'll say it one more time, for logic's sake......find out what the problem is, rather than just instantly assume the problem is with Microsoft. If everyone had this problem, it would be called a bug, and Microsoft would be on the hook to fix it. Common sense, people. Common sense.

 

[logicearth]

I did add all partitions and drives to Indexing and allowed 24 hrs. for the index to rebuild. The results were that the start menu did find the file NOHSC_menu.pdf it couldn’t find before, and found it quickly. However, a search from Computer still failed to find the file at all.

A whole lot of lateness, but...

When you do the search from "Computer" it doesn't use the index. Instead it goes down the file system tree doing a filename match only. So if you have a lot of drives/data then it will take a while.

Using it from the start menu or Win+F Search then it will use the index.

 

[Buddahfan]

Hello, I am looking for a 3rd party search tool wich is about similar to Windows XP search tool.

It should be able to open with the Ctrl+F key in the Explorer.

Thanks for the help and sorry for the mistakes (I'm not English)

There is something called check everything download it here. Everything Search Engine

Good luck

Ken

Searched for "Glary" in Everything Search and Windows Explorer search C Drive.

Only difference is GlaryInitialize is showing up in Everything Search but not showing up in the Windows search

Name: GlaryInitialize
Path: C:Windows\System32\Tasks
Size: blank
Date Modified: blank

I then opened C:\Windows\System32 and searched for "Glary". Nothing showed up.

Everything is faster even with Windows being indexed and also appears to be more comprehensive in its searches as its name "Everything" would lead one to believe.

Evidently Everything searches for more than just files.

 

[mjf]

I also find Everything Search Engine very useful.

It's very fast and efficient - without requiring masses of indexing - it's only for filenames. tho.

Others like Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility - to search for file contents

The horse I keep flogging is going to die one day.
These two complement each other and form the basis of my search toolkit.
"Everything" mainly for administration/computer manage activities.
"Agent Ransack/File Locator Lite" Day to day file/contents searches.

 

[pacinitaly]

I also find Everything Search Engine very useful.

It's very fast and efficient - without requiring masses of indexing - it's only for filenames. tho.

Others like Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility - to search for file contents

The horse I keep flogging is going to die one day.
These two complement each other and form the basis of my search toolkit.
"Everything" mainly for administration/computer manage activities.
"Agent Ransack/File Locator Lite" Day to day file/contents searches.

mjf, try to supply links for the others

 

[jh2oman]

[QUOTE
I'll say it one more time, for logic's sake......find out what the problem is, rather than just instantly assume the problem is with Microsoft. If everyone had this problem, it would be called a bug, and Microsoft would be on the hook to fix it. Common sense, people. Common sense.[/QUOTE]

Instantly? Use your own common sense. I'm not some bloody hoser with 1800 posts on this board, I came here as a last resort to find a solution. I've spent days (over the past 5 months) looking for a solution, and bottom line, it just does not work. Content based searches across my network crash or give wrong results! In XP Mode they do not. P-O-S!

 

[James Colbert]

I did add all partitions and drives to Indexing and allowed 24 hrs. for the index to rebuild. The results were that the start menu did find the file NOHSC_menu.pdf it couldn’t find before, and found it quickly. However, a search from Computer still failed to find the file at all.

A whole lot of lateness, but...

When you do the search from "Computer" it doesn't use the index. Instead it goes down the file system tree doing a filename match only. So if you have a lot of drives/data then it will take a while.

Using it from the start menu or Win+F Search then it will use the index.

WinKey+F is perfectly useless here. GROD for as long as I care to watch. However, tweaks in the setup here and there and further education on the AQS syntax has provided much better results. A search from Computer actually works pretty well now. Not perfect, but improved and quick enough for me to be content. WinKey+F is benched. No point in wasting time.

James

 

[mjf]

Hello, I am looking for a 3rd party search tool wich is about similar to Windows XP search tool.

It should be able to open with the Ctrl+F key in the Explorer.

Thanks for the help and sorry for the mistakes (I'm not English)

I also find Everything Search Engine very useful.

It's very fast and efficient - without requiring masses of indexing - it's only for filenames. tho.

Others like Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility - to search for file contents

The horse I keep flogging is going to die one day.
These two complement each other and form the basis of my search toolkit.
"Everything" mainly for administration/computer manage activities.
"Agent Ransack/File Locator Lite" Day to day file/contents searches.

mjf, try to supply links for the others

pacinitaly i'm not sure what your last question means. I can recommend the two applications linked above.
As to the OP's specific question Agent Ransack now marketed as FileLocator Lite meets his requirements (and then some I would say). Other third party suggestions are included in the thread.
The question has been answered and it's now up to the OP to try them and see what best suits his/her needs.
To get the (much superior) ctrl F or F3 simply select the configuration setting shown below

 

[mikedl]

Needless to say (but I'm still gonna say it ), a GUI search would be best in Win 7 ala Win XP. One of the most frequently asked questions on this board deals with the search function in Win 7.

Sure, one could learn the syntax; I'm a geek, I've learned it and I use it. One can also tweak the indexing options; I'm a geek, I've tweaked it for my needs.

The point is, this board has many people looking for help with Win 7. They are not all geeks like me and many of the other regular posters here.

The XP search was easy. It offered drop downs for file types, extensions, contents, size, date modified, location (one did not have to select the folder through explorer, one could select it from a drop down) et al, without remembering some arcane syntax methods. Welcome to the world of DOS. A Win 7 search GUI could expound, hierarchically, on the old XP search GUI with extra drop downs for the myriad of newly indexed values. It's too bad MS doesn't do this.

I'm mystified. This is not a small issue for the average user. All they want to do is find their files and get their work done. MS made that more difficult and less intuitive in Win 7.

It is too easy to dismiss others by simply saying "learn the new method" when others have been using the XP search method for almost 10 years now. I cannot imagine a GUI would be that difficult to put together. Again, it's too bad MS hasn't done it in Win 7.

I miss the cat ...

 

[Buddahfan]

This may help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129437-windows-search-configure-use.html

I looked at the link. It has over 5,500 words.

No doubt that Windows7 search is designed for computers with many many files on them, my guess is upwards of 1 million.

I checked my computer.

It has a paltry 113,500 files on them, 71,500 or 63% are in the c:windows\ directory chain.

The point is for users like myself who have under 50,000 or even double that amount of files on their computer Windows 7 Search Configuration and Use is more trouble than it is worth. Especially when there are third party search programs out there for free that do what I want, don't really need to be configured and on computers with the limited number of files that I have are lightning fast.

 

[Buddahfan]

MS needs to come clean on this -- as the Editor said a few posts above, a lot of people are having real problems with this. For goodness sake, FIX IT!!!!!

I can't believe I still have to ask this, but why does Microsoft have to come clean one something that works for 99.9% of the people who try it? Instead of randomly pointing fingers, why not try to find out what makes your system different than most others?

I have 6 drives mapped to different server on my current work computer, and 4 mapped at home to my WHS box. I can use the built-in search on any of those locations, and aside from the expected delay, every search works fine and returns what I am looking for.

I'll say it one more time, for logic's sake......find out what the problem is, rather than just instantly assume the problem is with Microsoft. If everyone had this problem, it would be called a bug, and Microsoft would be on the hook to fix it. Common sense, people. Common sense.

It is not always a case of there being a problem.

Many times it is a case of the proper match.

For example I use my computer for streaming videos off the Net, surfing the Net, playing some DVDs and Avi files, and doing a limited amount of Word Processing and Spreadsheet stuff.

I don't need a powerhouse computer and I don't need a powerhouse search engine that is overkill for my needs.

I am sure if I had 1 million files or whatever on my computer I would take the time learn the Windows Search capabilities and configure it to achieve my desired goals.

But my search needs are simple so I only need a simple search program that works quickly and effectively and does not take any time to learn and to configure.

You don't see any of the Indy car drivers on the regular streets driving their ethanol race cars, it would be great overkill for sitting in gridlock.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Instantly? Use your own common sense. I'm not some bloody hoser with 1800 posts on this board, I came here as a last resort to find a solution. I've spent days (over the past 5 months) looking for a solution, and bottom line, it just does not work. Content based searches across my network crash or give wrong results! In XP Mode they do not. P-O-S!

If it is a bug, aka Microsoft's fault, why would it work for just about everyone else? How about my users...all 30 of them who've been switched to Windows 7 Professional? We store everything on our servers, and I have taught all of them how to use the search so they can find files somewhere across the 150 GB of data we currently store. Not one person has complained of an issue...and these people complain about everything computer-related.

Common sense isn't always common, as demonstrated here. The longer you sit and blame Microsoft, the longer it will be until you decide to find the real culprit. I do sincerely hope you aren't ever a legal prosecutor or a detective.

But my search needs are simple so I only need a simple search program that works quickly and effectively and does not take any time to learn and to configure.

You've got it right in front of you. What does the power of the computer have to do with it? There isn't even a learning curve, because the syntax is either readily available, or part of common knowledge, as demonstrated in the previous thread in which a user bashed Microsoft (sound familair?) for not returning all of their .sol files....several pages worth of rants, until it was discovered the OP didn't know the simple and decades old syntax of *.sol to find them. Simply put...the search feature does exactly what it is instructed to do, and it is available on screen nearly everywhere.

If my users can learn how to use it effectively, than there's no excuse for anyone else not to. These are people who often call me at home at night asking how to undock their laptops from their docking stations, what cables they need for wireless internet, and what it means when they put their computers to sleep. Yes, those are true stories.