Give me the old Search !!

[hubmus]

I'm sure that for some people, the new search in Win7 is fine, but I'm really at a loss as to why the old method (I came from XP) wasn't also offered as a User-choice.

Anyway- I want to find a SPECIFIC file. I want Windows to search for it and tell me where it resides ! (just like the search in XP). I don't want to keep guessing and trying this and guessing again ant trying that. I'm looking for,say *xyz.ext " and I don't know where it is. For goodness sake, just find it ! You know, like, just sit a wait, watching the little dog sniff and bark, and come up with it.

Cant I still do this? (I'll even give up the dog)

 

[James Colbert]

Search does have its problems ( a search of these forums will bring back many hits), but learning the ins and outs (including AQS syntax) will go a long way toward improving your experience. These links should get you up to speed:

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

Mastering Windows Search using Advanced Query Syntax

Become a Windows Search ninja with Advanced Query Syntax | Ed Bott's Windows Expertise

Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax

You don't have to learn all of the AQS syntax, but it will be helpful to learn what terms will produce the results you want.


James

 

[pacinitaly]

The Windows Blog


my fav programs

Locate32 Web Site - Screenshots

Super Finder 1.5.3.0 Download, Review, Softwares & Apps

 

[hubmus]

I am the searcher. I DON'T know where a file is. In fact, I know VERY little
about it. Maybe all I know is it has the letters "xyz" somewhere in the
the name.
I want Windows to do the work, not me.

None of these tutorials seem to get it. If this were Windows XP, I would
be able to type in *xyz.* and the search would do the rest. It would give
me a long list of ALL the files containing "xyz" in any way shape or form.
IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! Why mess with a good thing?

Isn't there a way to do this now, in Windows 7?
If not, what a shame !

 

[MacGyvr]

I am the searcher. I DON'T know where a file is. In fact, I know VERY little
about it. Maybe all I know is it has the letters "xyz" somewhere in the
the name.
I want Windows to do the work, not me.

None of these tutorials seem to get it. If this were Windows XP, I would
be able to type in *xyz.* and the search would do the rest. It would give
me a long list of ALL the files containing "xyz" in any way shape or form.
IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! Why mess with a good thing?

Isn't there a way to do this now, in Windows 7?
If not, what a shame !

This has been discussed to the point that there isn't much more to say about it. You either get it and like it or you don't and got back to XP or use a third party solution. Search the board here for all the discussions about it rather than bringing up the same questions that have been asked hundreds of times before.

 

[pacinitaly]

I am the searcher. I DON'T know where a file is. In fact, I know VERY little
about it. Maybe all I know is it has the letters "xyz" somewhere in the
the name.
I want Windows to do the work, not me.

None of these tutorials seem to get it. If this were Windows XP, I would
be able to type in *xyz.* and the search would do the rest. It would give
me a long list of ALL the files containing "xyz" in any way shape or form.
IT WAS WONDERFUL!!! Why mess with a good thing?

Isn't there a way to do this now, in Windows 7?
If not, what a shame !

read my post again

 

[hubmus]

To McGyvr: Are you really reading these posts to be helpful, or do you just enjoy being negative? Why would you even spend time responding to horrible me?

 

[MacGyvr]

To McGyvr: Are you really reading these posts to be helpful, or do you just enjoy being negative? Why would you even spend time responding to horrible me?

Valuable time is wasted by asking questions that have been asked over and over and over and over again. The search thing has been done to death, resurrected and done to death again.

Even on the main page of this forum, right now, there is another thread on the very same topic.

 

[DeaconFrost]

To McGyvr: Are you really reading these posts to be helpful, or do you just enjoy being negative? Why would you even spend time responding to horrible me?

The problem always comes down to one of two things....either the person doesn't know how to use the search, or they mucked around with tweaks and settings that shouldn't be changed. The search works wonderfully, and was one of the main reasons I rolled it out to my company, so they could find all the files and documents they have and never bothered to organize. I love the fact I can search for a person's name, and it will either find it in a document, or in an e-mail I had....it is such a time saver.

 

[RealPetChicken]

I don't see the problem. i can search for files easily, it will bring up emails, and folders. Maybe adding more directories to your search settings?

 

[James Colbert]

To McGyvr: Are you really reading these posts to be helpful, or do you just enjoy being negative? Why would you even spend time responding to horrible me?

Apologies, and welcome to the forums. Please don't believe that this is the usual reception new posters receive. Questions on search seem to be a hot button for some.

Best not to take what some of these posters have said personally :shock:. You can ignore them simply by clicking on their name and choosing that option if you so wish.


As to search, Many feel as you do, so you're not alone. You do have other choices. Many have opted to use 3rd party search tools (generally filename only search tools). These 3rd party tools are fast and efficient and may suit you better. A few choices that are widely recommended:

Everything Search -
Everything Search Engine

Agent Ransack -
Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility

Snowbird -
Snowbird - Download

That said, I do think it worth your time to investigate Win 7 Search (via links provided throughout this and other threads...check my earlier post for a few). It's not as simple as a filename only search engine, but it really is an excellent tool. Not perfect...certainly, it has it's issues, but I like it, and (after reading many articles and getting up to speed), have decided to 'keep it on' as my primary search engine.

The best advice I can give you is to educate yourself on Win 7, try it. Try out the 3rd party search tools. Then, use what works best for you.

Again, welcome to the forums!

James

 

[Cato]

I don't understand why Search is causing such an uproar. In Windows Explorer, click on Computer, then type in your search string in the search window. It will search every drive that you have.

I have 4 hard drives, and 10 partitions and the searches have always been really quick. Maybe I'm doing it wrong.

 

[MarkC0]

Cato, it's not specific. I understand doing easy searches works. Anything semi complicated is a huge hassle. There is no reason why in this day and age, there isn't a proper GUI setup where I can adjust settings to my liking. Instead Microsoft wants to play "God" mode as I call it. Google does the same crap now... please the main 95%, who cares if the 1 in 20 that do something more complicated than check e-mails and watch youtube are annoyed at the reduced features. It's simple; the clutter of these "extra" features turns non-savvy users off, thus it's more profitable for them to simply not include these features.

The same concept applies elsewhere... say, the news. Simplify things for the ignorant so they aren't overwhelmed and turn away from your product. It's sad.

I have a friend who is annoyingly avid that pirating is the only way to send a message to these companies; "keep it simple for them, let it be advanced for us, or we ain't payin'." I find it rather hard to defend against his point (I do disagree...) none the less when he asks me to search for something of a specific nature and I have to crawl onto a forum, only to learn it's not possible and that I need third party software in order to do the search I want to.

 

[SundRance]

I open a command window. Type CD \ to move to the root directlry. Type dir filename.EXT /s, or filename.* or something like that and hit ENTER. Make sure you add the /s switch - to search all directories. I've always used command to search for files so the new features in Windows 7 have never bothered me.

Best Wishes,
Rªnce

PS: I would echo James Colbert. Windows 7 is a great OS and if you want to get the most out of it, take the time to learn how to use some of the new features. You may have to modify your work flow, but I've found working with the tool rather than fighting it gives pretty good results.

 

[MarkC0]

I open a command window. Type CD \ to move to the root directlry. Type dir filename.EXT /s, or filename.* or something like that and hit ENTER. Make sure you add the /s switch - to search all directories. I've always used command to search for files so the new features in Windows 7 have never bothered me.

Best Wishes,
Rªnce

PS: I would echo James Colbert. Windows 7 is a great OS and if you want to get the most out of it, take the time to learn how to use some of the new features. You may have to modify your work flow, but I've found working with the tool rather than fighting it gives pretty good results.

It's a great OS that none the less constantly caters to the "herp derps" out there, leaving savvy users out to dry. It is open-ended in that I can just download third party software to do the trick for me. I disagree though that such is an excuse for their OS itself to not have these rather basic features.

The windows search does have it's limits independent of how much time you spend learning how to use it. Of course, everything is limited, however I expected more out of my OS' search function than it currently offers. I don't believe crawling into command prompt and having to figure out the proper commands is a feasible solution. Not under consideration that freeware software with a proper GUI, released by some dudes with spare time on their hands, can outperform -by a long shot- the search function offered with Win7.

Now, considering I actually want a GUI, why are the features of free third-party software made by 3 Swedish dudes in their spare time outperforming the features of priced software made by a corporation that profits nearly 25 billion dollars a year... primarily off the sales of their operating systems, the software that this search feature is included with and designed for.

How does this make sense? It's hard to ignore that sometimes .

 

[search53]

One of my first reactions to Win7 search was "I want my doggie back!!" I've adapted, and find the new search quite usable.

My ONE complaint is that the format of the search result isn't what I'd prefer. I'd rather see the ENTIRE file path, in it's correct order. What it shows (for me at least) is something like:

filename.ext Lastsubfolder (C:\root\subfolder\anothersub\yetanothersub)

I would much rather it display:

C:\root\subfolder\anothersub\yetanothersub\Lastsubfolder\filename.ext

 

[pacinitaly]

One of my first reactions to Win7 search was "I want my doggie back!!" I've adapted, and find the new search quite usable.

My ONE complaint is that the format of the search result isn't what I'd prefer. I'd rather see the ENTIRE file path, in it's correct order. What it shows (for me at least) is something like:

filename.ext Lastsubfolder (C:\root\subfolder\anothersub\yetanothersub)

I would much rather it display:

C:\root\subfolder\anothersub\yetanothersub\Lastsubfolder\filename.ext

yes yes yes !!!