How do you change search parameters?

[windsorlady]

Dell Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E7500 Computer
Inspirion 545s 00
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
6GB Memory
750GB Hard Drive

How do I change the parameters for the SEARCH feature of Windows7 ot include a flash drive that I have in a USB hub?

Thank you,

Windsorlady

 

[Anak]

Sorry that is not possible, see note: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/17854-index-locations-add-remove.html

Edit:

But, according to this it is possible, just make sure it is in the hub when you click on modify:

To add a new location to the index, click on the Modify button. Any network drive or external hard drive will show up in the list of possible locations. You can check off any drive or folder that you would like to include in the index.

Source: http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-7/windows-7-file-search-indexing-options/

 

[Britton30]

Or you can open the drive and type your search query in the Explorer window too.

 

[windsorlady]

Hum, this sounds great and I found where you reference, however, it only shows the C drive - no "I" drive or USB Disk. Where do I find that?

 

[Anak]

Hum, this sounds great and I found where you reference, however, it only shows the C drive - no "I" drive or USB Disk. Where do I find that?

My apologies for not simplifying my information. Lets see if I can make it easier to understand.

1.) You can go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items, and open Indexing Options to get ready, but make sure your 'I' drive is in the USB hub before you click on modify.

1a.) Or you can place your 'I' drive in the USB hub, then go to Control Panel\All Control Panel Items, and open Indexing Options.



2.) Click on Modify #1 shown in picture attachment.



3.) Click on 'Show all Locations' #2.
Your 'I' drive should show in the 'Change selected locations' box above. See Red arrow.

4.) Click on OK #3.

5.) Click on Close #4, to save changes.

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In Britton30's example:

Or you can open the drive and type your search query in the Explorer window too.

1.) Make sure your 'I' drive is in the USB hub.

2.) Open Windows Explorer.
If is not already pinned to your 'Taskbar' to the right of the 'Start Orb'. Click on the 'Start' Orb, and type or copy/paste this into the search box; Windows Explorer Click on Windows Explorer under Programs (1)



3.) Then type I: into the Windows Explorer Search box.



And the contents of 'I' should automatically show in the right hand viewing pane below the search box.

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In either case you must make sure your 'I' drive is in your USB hub, but Britton30's example may be better because in my example, once you plug in your 'I' drive 'Search' will try to index it, and I am not sure how long that would take or if you would be willing to wait that long.

In his you just plug in your 'I' drive, enter I: in the explorer search box, and the results would show much quicker.

You would have to experiment with either one to see which suits you best.

For more on 'Search' see: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/36599-search-windows-7-a.html
Don't forget to check the related tutorials below this tutorial.

​

 

[windsorlady]

Thanks for the explanation Anak --- this does help a lot. The first method is what I had tried originally and only the C: drive shows up -- this still is the case. I also tried Britton's method, and once again, only the C: drive shows up.

Perhaps it's not showing up because of something in the bootup ---- when I bootup, I cannot have the flash drive in the hub or it will not boot up. Once I boot up without it plugged in, it's fine and I then plug it in. Someone told me how to change it so it would boot up with the flash drive in the hub, but it's sort of above and beyond me, so I've opted to not do that.

Guess I'll keep search on the "I" drive like I have been -- rather than hunt ad peck, it's hunt and search. It's worked pretty good, just thought there might be an easier way.

Thanks again for your information and help. I appreciate you.

windsorlady

 

[Anak]

Your welcome windsorlady, my apologies that it did not work out for you, but if I come across anything that might help I will post back.

 

[Britton30]

You may have USB devices set 1st in the boot sequence, but with no bootmgr on the drive, it'll get "stuck".
If the I drive doesn't show when you click Computer, go to Control Panel|Folder Options. In the window that opens go to the View tab, scroll down a bit and tick the button to "Show hidden files folders and drives". Click Apply and exit.
Now with the I drive plugged in, click Computer from the Start button and it should show there now. Just double-click it and you'll find the search box in upper right as in Anak's example.