Fast, Powerful Search Utility Enables Hidden features

reghakr

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In a previous post I mentioned Powerdesk

It's File Finder feature leaves Windows Search in the dust.

You can search using wild cards, including multiple wild cards, such as lf*12*.dll. this will locate all occurrences of Lead Tools graphic viewers that require version 12.

My initial search took 2 minutes, the C:\winsxs folder taking the most amount of time.

The initial search is the slowest, but still far superior to Windows Search. This search went through two partitions containing 87,500 files and 5,700 folders. the subsequent search only took only 15 seconds

You can append file result searches

You can limit search by path or drives

You can search the internal contents of files

You can search by attributes

You can search by Date, Time, and Size

You can filter by any file type.

The right-click context menu after the search results are complete reveal the hidden CopyAsPath command, as well as the hidden SendTo options, such as:
Contacts
Desktop
Downloads
favorites
My Documents
My Music
My Pictures
My Videos
Saved Games
Searches

They were previously only available with a certain keyboard combination.

http://www.geocities.com/reghacker/F...dergeneral.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/reghacker/f...derdetails.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/reghacker/f...derdetails.jpg
 

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Cheap $399.00 E-Machine
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Windows 7 Pro & Vista Home Premium
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Athlon 64 3800+ (Orleans) 2.40GHz
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Winfast
Memory
2GB DDR2 RAM DIMM
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NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 512 MB memory HDMI out
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creative X-Fi Exteme 7..1 channel
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer V223W 22" widescreen DVI
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1680x1050
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WDC WD5 500GB
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OCZ 550 watt
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Dell
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18MB/s down - .72MB /s up
i just performed a similar search with Everything (ls*.dll) and it took me under a second. granted, it's from an index, but still, the indexing process takes less time than your search did! i could have narrowed it down with a regex search, but i don't know regex very well...

Everything doesn't do attribute or date or other advanced searches, so i combine it with SearchMyFiles from NirSoft, giving me a perfect combo - Everything for quick file finding, and SearchMyFiles for more advanced queries. both apps are tiny, portable, and amazingly fast.
 

My Computer My Computer

OS
7600 x86
CPU
Core 2 Duo e7200, 2.53 ghz
Motherboard
Micro-Star MS-7529
Memory
2x DDR2 PC5300 1gb, 667 mhz
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce 9500gt, 512mb
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LG Flatron w2234s
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Excelstor SATA-II 250gb 7200rpm, 8mb cache
PSU
CoolerMaster M520
Internet Speed
30/20 mbits
Everything is an excellent utility as well.

Also, Nirsoft has some of the best utilities available.

With all the options available with the File Finder feature, I still feel it's a better search utility, IMHO.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Cheap $399.00 E-Machine
OS
Windows 7 Pro & Vista Home Premium
CPU
Athlon 64 3800+ (Orleans) 2.40GHz
Motherboard
Winfast
Memory
2GB DDR2 RAM DIMM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 512 MB memory HDMI out
Sound Card
creative X-Fi Exteme 7..1 channel
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer V223W 22" widescreen DVI
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
WDC WD5 500GB
WDC WD25 250GB
PSU
OCZ 550 watt
Case
Gateway
Cooling
2 fans
Keyboard
Dell
Mouse
Sony Vaio
Internet Speed
18MB/s down - .72MB /s up
well i use Directory Opus which blows PowerDesk out of the water, so i think i'll stick with my search apps :D
 

My Computer My Computer

OS
7600 x86
CPU
Core 2 Duo e7200, 2.53 ghz
Motherboard
Micro-Star MS-7529
Memory
2x DDR2 PC5300 1gb, 667 mhz
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce 9500gt, 512mb
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LG Flatron w2234s
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Excelstor SATA-II 250gb 7200rpm, 8mb cache
PSU
CoolerMaster M520
Internet Speed
30/20 mbits

My Computer My Computer

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self built
OS
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
CPU
Intel E8400 3GHz
Motherboard
Intel DX48BT2
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Kingston PC3-10700H 4Gb
Graphics Card(s)
XFX Radeon HD 5850 BlackEd.
Sound Card
Asus Xonar DG
Monitor(s) Displays
2x Samsung SM-T220HD 22"
Screen Resolution
1680x1050 on two monitors
Hard Drives
OCZ Vertex 2 120gb 3.5" (OS)
Seagate Momentus XT 500gb
Samsung F3 1Tb (games)
2x Samsung F1 1Tb
PSU
Thermaltake ToughPower 850w
Case
Thermaltake Armor
Cooling
Scythe Mugen II
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve USB
Mouse
Razer Diamondback 3G
Internet Speed
8128/443
well i use Directory Opus which blows Powerdesk out of the water, so i think i'll stick with my search apps :D

I also use an older version of Directory Opus (6.1) as well. Many powerful options with this program as well as adding shortcuts and creating new toolbars.

However, the search is much slower than Powerdesk's File Finder feature. Again, enabling the hidden features on the SendTo menu is a plus as well

swarfega,

I'll have to give Locate32 a try also as it looks promising. I see it's available in a 64-bit version as well.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Cheap $399.00 E-Machine
OS
Windows 7 Pro & Vista Home Premium
CPU
Athlon 64 3800+ (Orleans) 2.40GHz
Motherboard
Winfast
Memory
2GB DDR2 RAM DIMM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 512 MB memory HDMI out
Sound Card
creative X-Fi Exteme 7..1 channel
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer V223W 22" widescreen DVI
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
WDC WD5 500GB
WDC WD25 250GB
PSU
OCZ 550 watt
Case
Gateway
Cooling
2 fans
Keyboard
Dell
Mouse
Sony Vaio
Internet Speed
18MB/s down - .72MB /s up
yes, the built in search in Opus, while extremely powerful, is terribly slow. which is why i use other search apps.

i used to use Locate32 until i tried Everything. no comparison!
 

My Computer My Computer

OS
7600 x86
CPU
Core 2 Duo e7200, 2.53 ghz
Motherboard
Micro-Star MS-7529
Memory
2x DDR2 PC5300 1gb, 667 mhz
Graphics Card(s)
GeForce 9500gt, 512mb
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LG Flatron w2234s
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Excelstor SATA-II 250gb 7200rpm, 8mb cache
PSU
CoolerMaster M520
Internet Speed
30/20 mbits
  • Like
Reactions: t41
True,

When I first ran Everything, I was amazed at how fast it located every file on the system including my send hard drive and an attached 500 GB USB drive.
 

My Computer My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Cheap $399.00 E-Machine
OS
Windows 7 Pro & Vista Home Premium
CPU
Athlon 64 3800+ (Orleans) 2.40GHz
Motherboard
Winfast
Memory
2GB DDR2 RAM DIMM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT 512 MB memory HDMI out
Sound Card
creative X-Fi Exteme 7..1 channel
Monitor(s) Displays
Acer V223W 22" widescreen DVI
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
WDC WD5 500GB
WDC WD25 250GB
PSU
OCZ 550 watt
Case
Gateway
Cooling
2 fans
Keyboard
Dell
Mouse
Sony Vaio
Internet Speed
18MB/s down - .72MB /s up
  • Like
Reactions: t41
Thanks for info guys
Update: I am going with Search Everything - It seems to be able to find items in all of my five external drives as quickly as I can type - I love it!!
Like the other program for mxp pc for my business, but like the clean look of the default explorer for my windows 7 pc.

rep you both for the info, never crossed my mind to look for a different search program - had Grump, but i don't even have a need for such a program, or patience
 
Last edited:

My Computer My Computer

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dell optiplex - 2003
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windows7 7600 x86
CPU
itel pentium 4
Memory
3.00 GB
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diamond radion x1050
Sound Card
SoundMax
Monitor(s) Displays
dell 2408wfp dell e172fp
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1920 x 1200 1280 x 1024
Hard Drives
2 - 80 GB internals WD
1 - 01 TB ext
2 - 750 GB ext
1- 500 GB ext
all running on system no problems
Keyboard
old logitech cordless
Mouse
logitech wireless
Internet Speed
16 / 4
Other Info
networked into my sbs2003 server running sp1 still
it's a wonder I could even get windows 7 to connect to it
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