Am I missing something or is windows 7 search Awfull?

[CalypsoArt]

I know I have post this before, but I can't believe that this is truly the windows search. I must be doing something wrong?

This is a daily experience. I am in Windows Explorer, and a search for a file I know is maybe one subfolder below my current and it finds nothing. Sometimes I have several copies and it finds nothing. I've had it re-index or whatever and still no go. someone recommended Everything. This search program works flawlessly. What is up with windows search? Way back when I could search using wildcards and find exactly what I wanted it seems Vista's search was bad and 7 doesn't have one.

It has to be me. Where am I messing up?

 

[Jacee]

You might find explorer++ more useful Explorer++ - A small and fast file manager for Windows

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Those who use Windows Search will probably tell you that you haven't taken the time to learn the proper syntax.

It's up to you to decide whether to learn the proper syntax or just use another program such as Everything.

 

[merkat106]

I know I have post this before, but I can't believe that this is truly the windows search. I must be doing something wrong?

This is a daily experience. I am in Windows Explorer, and a search for a file I know is maybe one subfolder below my current and it finds nothing. Sometimes I have several copies and it finds nothing. I've had it re-index or whatever and still no go. someone recommended Everything. This search program works flawlessly. What is up with windows search? Way back when I could search using wildcards and find exactly what I wanted it seems Vista's search was bad and 7 doesn't have one.

It has to be me. Where am I messing up?

I agree.

Unless you know exactly what syntax will get you results. The use of wildcards does work. Use one of those third-party tools suggested above

 

[Airbot]

Might check out some of the tutorials on it. May give you some better outcomes.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129437-windows-search-configure-use.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/117952-search-have-more-accurate-search-results.html

 

[CalypsoArt]

I know I have post this before, but I can't believe that this is truly the windows search. I must be doing something wrong?

This is a daily experience. I am in Windows Explorer, and a search for a file I know is maybe one subfolder below my current and it finds nothing. Sometimes I have several copies and it finds nothing. I've had it re-index or whatever and still no go. someone recommended Everything. This search program works flawlessly. What is up with windows search? Way back when I could search using wildcards and find exactly what I wanted it seems Vista's search was bad and 7 doesn't have one.

It has to be me. Where am I messing up?

I agree.

Unless you know exactly what syntax will get you results. The use of wildcards does work. Use one of those third-party tools suggested above

But it's not just the use of wildcards. Just general search. Today I typed Logo. I have so many files named logo, or with logo in them. In XP it would have returned them all. In 7 I get NOTHING. With Everything, I get everything. Seriously!

 

[sygnus21]

Check out the links Airbot posted and see if they help.

Let us know. Thanks.

 

[unifex]

My experience is that Windows 7 search just looks into the index by default. Therefore typing your query into the search box in the start menu might actually return no results - if the folders containing the files in question are not indexed. However, it then gives you a chance to search for more results and look exactly where you want to look. At this point I think the old algorithm kicks in and it slowly finds what you need. So it takes a bit to get used to. I would read the tutorials that Airbot suggested, try it our and see if this Windows search satisfies you. If not, there are always third-party solutions.

 

[Colonel Travis]

Can't stand Windows search either, which is why I've used the Everything search engine for a few years.

 

[James Colbert]

One factor that may be an issue is this:

even if you have the locations in question selected for Indexing, a change of permissions can throw a wrench in the works. For example, if you've changed permissions on a folder so that only you (user x) can access or change the files (meaning that no other permissions are listed), it will not index. You must add 'System' back to permissions so that the folder may be indexed.

There is no notification that search will 'break' under these circumstances, but firsthand experience verifies it here. This may not be your problem, but worth checking.

James

 

[bassfisher6522]

I just did a test using explorer and the search bar in the start menu. In both cases I got 12 hits, searching the word "logo". You might have some sort of file/registry corruption. Do you have indexing turned on?

 

[DeaconFrost]

I'm also starting to think these issues are due to system mucking. If people started following the "leave it alone" mantra, things that are supposed to work, normally will. Windows Search is FAR improved after past versions. I use the search several times daily. As an exmaple, I will often search for a file that I can't remember if it is an e-mail or if I saved it somewhere else. Doesn't matter...search will find it each and every time.

 

[sygnus21]

One factor that may be an issue is this:

even if you have the locations in question selected for Indexing, a change of permissions can throw a wrench in the works. For example, if you've changed permissions on a folder so that only you (user x) can access or change the files (meaning that no other permissions are listed), it will not index. You must add 'System' back to permissions so that the folder may be indexed.

There is no notification that search will 'break' under these circumstances, but firsthand experience verifies it here. This may not be your problem, but worth checking.

James

Darn good point. I have to remember that. +1