Solved Windows Search yielding No Results after changing Users Location

[Kari]

Right click that Axialis (folder or file), select Properties, take screenshot, post it here.

I mean this window:



I want to see properties window of that Axialis thing you do not find.

Kari

 

[Rookie2]

It's not only that Axialis folder what I can't find. I can't find anything through the libraries (but If I search in computer>local disk for example, search will work and find them) including files, folders, music, photos, shortcuts, hidden folders and everything else. Nothing can be found on the libraries.

 

[Kari]

OK, and now one more screenshot:

Open Windows Explorer in Computer view. Type this to Search field:

type:="File folder" name:Axialis

Post the screenshot as this one here below, showing that A) you really search on whole computer and B) you use the search term I gave you (important parts highlighted):



Please, no explanations without the screenshot!

Kari

 

[Rookie2]

 

[Kari]

View attachment 255275

OK, and what was your problem? The folder can be found as we can clearly see from your screenshot. Your Windows Search works as it should work.

In the very beginning of this thread I asked you to do something:

However before you try this you could try a bit modified search. I noticed that the thing you used as an example is a folder. Try to search folders by typing this to Explorer search field:

type:="File folder" name:Axialis

A few posts later I repeated my request, and you told you did try but it did not work:

Did you try searching as I asked you to do in my first post:

However before you try this you could try a bit modified search. I noticed that the thing you used as an example is a folder. Try to search folders by typing this to Explorer search field:

type:="File folder" name:Axialis

The modified search didn't work

I've already said it didn't work!

But now when I asked the same thing the third time, only difference being I asked you to show a screenshot, now it suddenly works!

OK, and now one more screenshot:

Open Windows Explorer in Computer view. Type this to Search field:

type:="File folder" name:Axialis

Post the screenshot as this one here below, showing that A) you really search on whole computer and B) you use the search term I gave you (important parts highlighted):

View attachment 255272

Please, no explanations without the screenshot!

Kari

It's a strange world!

Anyway, your Windows Search seems to work just fine so please mark this thread solved.

Kari

 

[Rookie2]

No. Search (including your modified search) works only on computer, but Not on the libraries.
When you asked me to use the modified search and I told you it gave me no results it was because I was looking on the libraries. The last time it worked because I was simply searching on the whole computer (which is slower). The issue is that: The search works when you use it directly (e.g. in the disk partition) but not in the libraries. This is not solved yet.

 

[Kari]

In which library should the Axialis folder be? Documents?

 

[Rookie2]

Yes, in documents.

 

[Kari]

OK, please do this now:

Open Explorer in Libraries view. Right click Documents library, post screenshot:

 

[Rookie2]

 

[Kari]

OK.

And now, with screenshot please: Open Explorer in Libraries view, use the same search string:

type:="File folder" name:Axialis

Please post screenshot with results.

 

[Rookie2]

 

[Kari]

OK, that must be an indexing error, you might have accidentally removed Documents from indexing.

Please click Start, type Indexing Options and hit Enter. Post the screenshot of your Indexing Options.

 

[Rookie2]

Hey there's something wrong here, isn't it? I wasn't like that before! I'm gonna delete that entry and add C:/

What do you say?

 

[Layback Bear]

This is a very good thread. Keep going I'm learning.

 

[Kari]

Yeah, your index is totally screwed.

Let's start with adding Users to index. Tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/17854-index-locations-add-remove.html

 

[Kari]

This is a very good thread. Keep going I'm learning.

Me too.

I totally ignored the fact that when he moved his Users folders back from that not recommended drive A:, the index basically had to get screwed; it simply could not survive.

Again one reason why I use the environment variable method for moving Users, index does not have to know where the Users folder is and I can move it every day to a new location if I want to, index staying always intact.

 

[Layback Bear]

Well I also read this.

The index will not include search results from any drive or partition with the A and B drive letters, even if you add their location to the index. This is because the A and B drive letters are reserved for floppy drives. Since a floppy drive is considered to be a removable device, it will not be indexed. Even if this is a hard drive you assigned with the A or B drive letter, it will still be treated the same.
Just as you recommended.

 

[Kari]

Yes, that's what I said earlier: A & B are reserved for removable storage. Windows does not index removable storage. Ergo, this is where OP's problem began.

The issue got carried further to "new" setup when he finally moved Users back from A: to C:, index could no longer repair itself.

Two things have been proved:

1. Drive letters A and B may not be used for HD partitions
2. Windows Search works as intended

Kari

 

[Kari]

By the way, while waiting OP to re-index I thought this would be a good place and time to explain a bit more how to fine tune Windows Search using the search string used in this thread as an example.

We have asked OP to search his missing folder using the string Exact_Object_Type Partial_object_name:

[B][COLOR="DarkRed"]type:="File folder"[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR="DarkGreen"]name:Axialis[/COLOR][/B]

The difference between exact and partial is the = sign. When OP searched for a folder name:Axialis the search found all folders where Axialis is A) name of the folder and B) part of the folder name.

We can modify that search to Exact_Object_Type Exact_object_name simply by adding one = sign:

[B][COLOR="DarkRed"]type:="File folder"[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR="DarkGreen"]name:=Axialis[/COLOR][/B]

Examples

Try this search:

[B][COLOR="DarkRed"]type:="File folder"[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR="DarkGreen"]name:Docu[/COLOR][/B]

It finds all folders with folder name Docu or partial folder name Docu so it will for instance find Documents and My Documents:



Now edit the search to search exact match Docu:

[B][COLOR="DarkRed"]type:="File folder"[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR="DarkGreen"]name:=Docu[/COLOR][/B]

As it only finds exact matches, folders named Docu, it finds nothing on my computer:



Now let's search for folders with partial folder name Documents:

[B][COLOR="DarkRed"]type:="File folder"[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR="DarkGreen"]name:Documents[/COLOR][/B]

This search finds for instance Documents and My Documents:



And last, let's search for exact folder name Documents:

[B][COLOR="DarkRed"]type:="File folder"[/COLOR][/B] [B][COLOR="DarkGreen"]name:=Documents[/COLOR][/B]

You noticed how the My Documents are filtered from our last search for now we are searching an exact match:



That's the power of one single = sign !

Kari