Solved F3 search sucks

[whs]

When I search via the F3 search window, the system does not find the item. When I use Start/Search, it finds it. And it was something simple, a picture from the Public Pictures folder.

Anybody have an explanation for that.

 

[Sub Styler]

When you search from start it searches everywhere, when you serch from F3 (or top right explorer) it searches only within the currently viewed location (Library by default) if you have the navigation pane enabled on the left, select the area you want to search there.

Although I just tested it and found it working for a picture in the public library.

 

[whs]

No, I did not search from an Explorer window. I searched from here:

 

[Sub Styler]

Ah, F3 from desktop not F3 from explorer, using this I can only find items saved on the desktop.

I suppose when you F3 from the desktop the search window opens with a "Start in: %Desktop%" shortcut switch.

I don't know how to modify that switch to another location.

 

[whs]

I guess you are right. The thing is useless for a general system wide search.

 

[Orbital Shark]

I always believed that F3 was to search within the current active window, be it Browser, Document, Explorer.

e.g. pressing F3 in FireFox gives the search box at the bottom of the browser

 

[Sub Styler]

Yes, using F3 in application will (if available) allow you to search for anything within that window, Regedit springs to mind for this one!

 

[Brink]

Hello Wolfgang,

Unfortunately, you will still need to select where you would like to search in the address bar. For a system wide search, you would need to select Computer in the address bar.

 

[whs]

Thanks Shawn, I will try that.

Update, that worked. It found more stuff than I was looking for, LOL.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

LOL, I hear that.

 

[janetb]

Win 7 Search

According to MS, [WIN + F3] with Explorer closed searches the entire computer.

I searched for WinApp2.ini with WIN + F3 with Expl closed, and in a split second, it said no results found. That's five drives.

I then searched from the upper right-hand box with Explorer open to C:, and it took 10 seconds (searching only one relatively small drive) to tell me no results found.

Any explanations why it takes Search sooooo much longer to search only ONE drive...?

I find all MS forums (including MS's "Answers") have lots of users complaining about the same thing and trying to help each other by guessing at solutions, but no bona fide answers from MS. Is there any place where one can get an answer from MS?????

 

[Brink]

Hello Janet,

The same F3 or WIN+F window is an explorer window, so explorer will not be closed with it open.

You will still need to select where you would like to search in the address bar, or it will search nowhere. That's why the search is so fast if you do not select a location to search in the address bar.


Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[janetb]

correction and clarification

1. CORRECTION: In my original post, replace [WIN + F3] with [WIN + F]. Everything else in the original post stands as is.


2. SHAWN: Obviously Explorer will not be closed after opening an Explorer window with WIN + F.........! The point is to type in WIN + F when Explorer is closed. If Explorer is open, it will only search the disk/folder to which it is open. If Explorer is closed, and then you type in Win + 3, it opens a search which does not have the navigation pane and is supposed to search the entire computer.

 

[Brink]

For every Windows 7 computer I used, it has never searched the entire computer by just pressing Win+F and doing a search with just the default "Search Results" in the address bar.

My only point is that you must select where you want to search in the address bar first, then you could select another more specific location in the navigation pane if you like. If you search with only the default "Search results" in the address bar, then it will only search the desktop.

Give it a play and see if you get the same.

That's all.

 

[janetb]

For every Windows 7 computer I used, it has never searched the entire computer by just pressing Win+F and doing a search with just the default "Search Results" in the address bar.

My only point is that you must select where you want to search in the address bar first, then you could select another more specific location in the navigation pane if you like. If you search with only the default "Search results" in the address bar, then it will only search the desktop.

Give it a play and see if you get the same.
View attachment 188410

Hmmm...mine always produces full-computer search results.......This 'hint' (Win + F) surfaces regularly in forums. I use it regularly because 1) I usually want to search the Computer, and 2) WIN + F is the only way I know of that you are offered a larger number of filters for your search ---you can just click on them, as opposed to having to know what they are as well as the proper form to type them in. Many people have complained that if you search from the upper right hand corner search box in WExplorer (as most people usually do), your only offered filters are 'Date Modified' and 'Size'. But if you use WIN + F, you get Kind, Type, etc. I have found all the above points to be true as regards my Win7 Search function (although for some reason, I have stopped getting the 'Kind' filter lately....). I always do full-computer searches this way.....

 

[Sub Styler]

Win+F with "search results" listed as the location returned results from my desktop only.

Subsequent attempts appear to include results from my whole Library (still with search results selected) I wondered if this was a recall of a previous search so I closed search, Searched X: from an Explorer window. Re-tried and only got results from my library so I can rule that theory out.