Search in Windows 7

How to Search in Windows 7​

   Information

This will show you how to do a Search and Advanced Search for files and folders in Windows 7 through the Start Menu and Windows Explorer.

   Note

Before doing a search in Windows 7, you should make sure that you have set your Search Options for the What to search, How to search, and When searching non-indexed locations settings. If you have the index enabled (it is by default), then you should also have any locations and file types added to be indexed so they will be included in the search results when doing a search. If the files have been recently changed, then the index may not have finshed updating yet and you will need to manually rebuild the index to force it to update now.

To be able to search in libraries, the Windows Search service needs to be Started and set to Automatic. Libraries require it's included folders to also be added to the index to be tracked properly even though they will still open properly.

   Tip

For some advanced searching techniques, see:

• How to Configure and Fully Utilize Windows 7 Search
• Advanced tips for searching in Windows
• Advanced Query Syntax (Windows)
• Find a file or folder
• Finding your files - Help & How-to - Microsoft Windows

OPTION ONE

Search in the Start Menu

   Note

You can use the search box line in the Start menu to find files, folders, programs, and e‑mail messages stored on your computer. When searching from the Start menu, only files that have been indexed will appear in search results.

You can also adjust these settings below in the Customize Start Menu settings for what is to be included in the search from the Start Menu Search box.

1. Open the Start Menu, and type a word or part of a word for what you want to search for in the Search box. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: As you type, items that match your text will appear on the Start menu. The search is based on text in the file name, text in the file, tags, and other file properties.

2. You will now see the search results for what you search for. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You can also click on the See more results link to see more search results in a Windows Explorer window like in OPTION TWO below.

3. You can now just click on a search result to open it. (See screenshot above)

OPTION TWO

Search in Windows Explorer

NOTE: This will allow you to do a search for any item from within a selected drive or folder location of your choice in Windows Explorer.
1. Press the F3 key or Windows Key + F keys. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: This Search Results window gives you the same search results as the Start Menu in OPTION ONE.

A) Go to step 3.
OR

2. Open Windows Explorer, and navigate to where (ex: drive or folder) you want to search in and open it.
NOTE: When searching a drive or folder in Windows Explorer, Windows only searches from within the currently opened drive or folder location and its subfolders. Windows does not search outside this search path.

3. Type a word or part of a word for what you want to search for in the Search box at the top right corner in Windows Explorer. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: As you type, the contents of the folder or library are filtered to reflect each successive character you type. When you see the file that you want, stop typing. You will also see the word you type in highlighted in the search results.

   Tip

Using Search Filters



NOTE: If you're searching for a file based on one or more of its properties (such as a tag or the date the file was last modified), you can use search filters to specify the property in your search.

• Click in the Search box, and select a listed search filter that you want to add to narrow the search results with.
• Depending on the search filter selected, choose a value to be used for this search filter.
  
  
• You can repeat these steps to add more search filters to build complex searches on multiple properties. Each time that you click a search filter or value, the search filter terms are automatically added to the search box.

Using Search Again In


NOTE: If you can't find what you're looking for in the search results from this current Windows Explorer location, then you can expand the search to include different locations.

• After doing a search, scroll to the bottom of the search results list. Under Search again in, do one of the following:
  • Click Libraries to search across every library.
  • Click Computer to search across your entire computer. This is the way to search for files that aren't indexed (such as system or program files). However, be aware that the search will be slower.
  • Click Custom to search specific locations.
  • Click Internet to search online, using your default web browser and your default search provider.

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Change or Restore the Default Windows 7 Search Options
• How to Add or Remove Windows 7 Index Locations
• How to Add or Remove a File Type from the Windows 7 Index
• How to Rebuild the Windows 7 Index
• Windows 7 OpenSearch Federation Providers
• How to Pin Libraries to Search and See More Results in Start Menu
• How to Pin Search Connectors to Search and See More Results in Start Menu
• How to Add or Remove "See more results" Link in Start Menu Search Box
• How to Add Search Internet Link to the Windows 7 Start Menu Search Box
• How to Turn Windows 7 Search On or Off
• How to Create a Search Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Save a Search in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable Windows 7 Explorer Recent Search Box Suggestions
• How to Change the Size of the Windows 7 Explorer Address and Search Bar
• How to Edit or Reset Windows 7 Explorer Recent Search Box Suggestions
• How to Create a Search and Indexing Troubleshoot Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Add, Change, or Remove File Details Properties in Windows 7
• How to Enable or Disable the Search Index in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Have More Accurate Search Results in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Search in Internet Explorer 9
• How to Configure and Fully Utilize Windows 7 Search
• How to Create a Shortcut to Search the Web for a File/Folder Name from Windows Explorer
• How to Add "Search" to "My Computer" Context Menu in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Add "Search" to Context Menu in Windows 7 and Windows 8
• How to Change the Action "When typing into list view" in Windows File Explorer
• How to Use Windows Search Filters and Operators to get better Search Results in Windows 7

 

[zzz2496]

Shawn, Troubleshooting doesn't show anything - the search pane in search options under Folder options are also at default. sfc /scannow did find something, and requested me to restart - and I did. After restart I tried searching "Computer" again, it's still not searching... If I search in a volume or a folder, the search will execute normally. Does this has to do with I'm mounting a volume in a folder?

zzz2496

 

[Brink]

I just tested search with a drive mounted as a folder on my system and didn't have a issue with search on it from any location.

Try the search again with your search options set like this to see if it may help.

 

[yousaf465]

Rebuilding the index did the task. I have found what I was looking for.

How do we can login in as admin in cmd. Even though I'm the only user of this pc but when I type

"sfc /scannow" in cmd it says login as admin

 

[Brink]

Yousaf, that's great news.

You would right click on the command prompt shortcut and click on "Run as administrator" to do so.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

 

[zzz2496]

Hmm... still not searching, Shawn.

I already reindex everything (took me almost 2 days to reindex). I'll reindex everything again...
Thanks for the help though I'll keep you posted...

zzz2496

 

[Jeffs]

Why is it when I do my search, and my results are shown, the locations the files are in are not shown? In the attached example I was looking for a duplicate file, which search found, but it doesn't show where the files are. I had to right click each one and go to properties to find their location.

On your example searches, the file path is shown. Why isn't mine? I can't find any settings to control this (or don't know where they are).

Thanks

 

[zzz2496]

Why is it when I do my search, and my results are shown, the locations the files are in are not shown? In the attached example I was looking for a duplicate file, which search found, but it doesn't show where the files are. I had to right click each one and go to properties to find their location.

On your example searches, the file path is shown. Why isn't mine? I can't find any settings to control this (or don't know where they are).

Thanks

Change the View mode, Jeffs... Use "Details" mode.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...rangement-change-windows-explorer-window.html

zz2496

 

[Jeffs]

OK! That works. That was simple enough, yet it's still not the same as the example shown in this thread when in "Content" view. Does Content view only selectively display paths?

Thanks,

J

 

[ERC]

How do I search a key word AND date range AND file type all together in windows 7, i.e. like was doable in XP?

I find I can do date ranges, and file types or key word and file type simultaneously without problem but have not been able to add the key word to the string t and get it to work

 

[Brink]

Hello Erc,

You should be able to enter the keyword that you want to search for first, then click on a search filter (es: Date modifies) and set it, click in the search box to see the available search filters again, and repeat with any other search filters (ex: Size) you wish to be used. The links in the yellow TIP box at the top of the tutorial can help show you some advanced search techniques that you can use to help you more with this as well.


Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[HairyScot]

XP had a search option to find all files of a paticular type, eg all video (avi, wmv, etc), how can one do this in Windows 7?

 

[Kari]

Hello HairyScot, welcome to the Seven Forums.

In Windows Explorer, click an empty search field. It gives a mini menu, showing your three last searches and some search filters:



Click Kind and choose the file type you want to search, for instance Video or Movie to search all videos:



You can also type the file type, if you want to. Typing Kind: txt finds all files with .txt extension, Kind: doc all .doc extensions, Kind: wmv all wmv videos etc:



Please notice: if you type just the extension or string, without Kind:, Windows Search finds not only the files with that extension, but also the files that contain that string and files with filename beginning with that string. An example: typing just for instance avi to search field instead of Kind: avi would show you all these files:

• All files with extension .avi
• All files with filename beginning with avi, for instance Aviation.exe, Avi_versus_wmv.doc etc
• All files which contain the string avi, for instance a Notepad .txt file where the content, the text contains the word Aviation

Hope this helps.

Kari

 

[HairyScot]

Thanks Kari

 

[Kari]

You are welcome. Don't know about you, but in my opinion Windows 7 Search is much more than XP Search ever was. You can combine search criteria in so many ways there's nothing the search does not find.

I like it.

Kari

 

[HairyScot]

Only recently upgraded from Vista but I like what I see so far.
I am sure I will find lots more to appreciate.

 

[techno489]

How do I make Windoes 7 search work the same as Windows Xp search.
I hate how when I do a search that Windoes 7 also searches the content
of files as well. I only want search to find file names ONLY
any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Brink]

Hello Techno, and welcome to Seven Forums.

To have searches like this, you can set your search options like this below, then you will also need to disable the search index by disabling the Windows Search service.



Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[techno489]

Now we are talking

Now thats how I like to search.
none of this crap of showing every files that has something to do with
the word "the" and only show files & folders with the word "the"
as part of the file or folder name.

easy fix when you know how.

I miss the Start>Search option Windows XP has.

Thanks heaps for your help.

Sorry about the late reply, Only just got around to doing it...

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Techno. I'm happy to hear that is what you were wanting.

 

[williest]

I need help

My search doesn't work at all. I could go to a folder and looking at a file type the same of that file in the search and I get the no results notification. I've searched all over for a solution, maybe someone here can help