Windows Search in Windows 7

[Melissa]

I am just wondering after going through the forums thoroughly - I am very confused.

I am only a new starter in trying to search the different items and some of my files are not coming in the search.

I am just wondering if the properties of some of the folders or files would change (such as read only and sharing) would affect if they do not come up in the search.

I have tried indexing. I have tried unhiding files.

I have tried everything prior to coming to here.

I also wish to include most of the files on my external hard drives - some files come up - some do not.

If someone could assist an old person like me - thank you

 

[Neutron16]

Welcome to SF Melissa!

Please check out this post and especially first link in it.

For external hard drivers I would use some 3rd party search tools like XSearch - Search files on your computer
It does not have indexing. And since it is a good old classic, it shouldn't let you down.

 

[Melissa]

How do you include everything in a search

How do you include everything in a search and how do you know it is working.

I also have some external hard drives and some files are missed.

I just need basic instructions as I am not that computer savvy

Thank you for this forum

 

[Kari]

Hi Melissa, welcome to the Seven Forums.

Please give us some more information, an example what you are searching for instance pictures from last holiuday on external drive E: or a video you know you have it but do not know on which drive called Party.

Kari

 

[Sir George]

How do you include everything in a search and how do you know it is working.

I also have some external hard drives and some files are missed.

I just need basic instructions as I am not that computer savvy

Thank you for this forum

I was never satisfied with the built-in Windows 7 search feature; I use Agent Ransack software instead. You can download the free version from the following site;

Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility

The above choice is a personal preference and there are many users that have no issue with the built-in search.

HTH

 

[Melissa]

Errors in indexing and Windows 7 searches

I am currently having issues with indexing and now receiving advice that my 500GB Hard Drive requires formatting before I can use it - I have never had any issues prior to re-indexing.

I am also submitting what I mean by the properties of the folders and if that may be affecting the search.

I am trying to incorporate all hard drives that can be included.

My Hard Drive which is E: - that is the one that keeps on coming up that it requires formatting. But I do not wish to loose any information.

I hope that my screenshots are alright.

I just wish to know that I have the right properties with all the sharing etc.

I have used the portable hard drives on a couple machines - so a couple of documents may have sharing issues. I am not too sure

 

[Kari]

It looks you have some issues with your E: drive. Before getting to your search issue we need to solve it.

Please tell is this E: drive an internal hard drive or external?

Kari

 

[Melissa]

It is an external hard dive. I am very sorry for not clarifying.

I am new to asking for virtual assistance.

 

[Kari]

OK, thank you.

Occasionally these read / write issues with an external drive can be caused by a problematic connection, malfunctioning USB port or cable. However, mostly it is because of a hardware failure. My recommendation for that would be to backup all data located on that drive, format it and try again. If it still gives the same error message, I would use the drive as shotgun practice target and buy a new one.

Back to your search issue. Could you please do a test and tell us how it went? If it's OK for you, here's what I would like you to do. It looks complicated but it really is a simple test, you'll manage it without problems:

• Create a new folder on both E: and F:. The name of the folder is not important, you can leave them having the default New Folder name
• Open Notepad, type thisisatest ("this is a test" written without spaces, we need a text string that is most probably not found on your PC)
• Save this file with name SearchTest on both of your newly created folders, E:\New Folder and F:\New folder
• Open Windows Explorer in Computer view showing all your drives:
  .
  
  .
• Type ext:txt content:thisisatest (exactly as written here!)on search field (highlighted in above screenshot) and hit Enter (ext:txt means search is looking for files with extension txt, which is the default Notepad extension, and content:thisisatest means search should only look for those txt files that contain a text string thisisatest)
• Tell us if your search found both SearchTest files, the one on E: and one on F:
  .
  

This test tells us if your non-indexed location search is working as it should, and if your search is also set to search file content. Let's go further after this simple test.

Kari

 

[Layback Bear]

I might be way off base but this is what I do.
1. Windows Explorer and on the left side select the drive you want to search and tick on it.
2. In the upper right hand Search type in you search (in my case ins).
3. Select Computer, Enter. If it's not indexed it will inform you but still do the search.

 

[Melissa]

WMDC and reindexing still - search problem

I am still struggling along and I am not very happy that I have lost all my Contacts from WMDC that I extracted from my old phone - exported to Outlook and Gmail - then I have x 4 the contacts - a lot of double up's. I just kept changing my SIM Card and re uploaded the data.
Looked at phone today and noticed that I have lost most of the data after the sync.
Don't know what to do.
It is a large volume that I require indexing - so I will get back to you lovely people - no more messing around with stuff you dont know what you are doing with.

I am just getting my head around the age of everything not being controlled by a cable - hence upgrading my data to a third party.

Thank you.

I also wish to search the data in the documents - how do you do that?

I moved the below pics from My Pictures folder and left this mess ---

 

[Layback Bear]

Okay I'm lost. We went from a 500 gig external hard drive you had problems with indexing and doing a search to a card reader and a cell phone.

 

[4wd]

How do you include everything in a search and how do you know it is working.

I also have some external hard drives and some files are missed.

I just need basic instructions as I am not that computer savvy

Thank you for this forum

I was never satisfied with the built-in Windows 7 search feature; I use Agent Ransack software instead. You can download the free version from the following site;

Agent Ransack - Free File Searching Utility

The above choice is a personal preference and there are many users that have no issue with the built-in search.

HTH

Good advice, am a long time Agent Ransack user, always succeeds in all cases were w7 search fails, zero hassle, zero questions.

Try working out a fix for the w7 search, but if you need to find the files now, try Agent R. and dig them up. Good luck.

 

[Melissa]

I have am sorry I got all excited about getting assistance - will post a separate forum for the WMDC - I am lost myself.

I will just stick to the search - my computer is still rebuilding the index

I will try and observe the rules of the forum

 

[Sir George]

I am still struggling along and I am not very happy that I have lost all my Contacts from WMDC that I extracted from my old phone - exported to Outlook and Gmail - then I have x 4 the contacts - a lot of double up's. I just kept changing my SIM Card and re uploaded the data.
Looked at phone today and noticed that I have lost most of the data after the sync.
Don't know what to do.
It is a large volume that I require indexing - so I will get back to you lovely people - no more messing around with stuff you dont know what you are doing with.

I am just getting my head around the age of everything not being controlled by a cable - hence upgrading my data to a third party.

Thank you.

I also wish to search the data in the documents - how do you do that?

I moved the below pics from My Pictures folder and left this mess ---

Hi again,

I don't use the Windows 7 search, as already mentioned, but using Agent Ransack I can search the entire hard drive for any document with the word "dog". See image below.



That search took 3 seconds to complete.

 

[Kari]

Melissa, Windows Search finds everything when it is used correctly. Its user interface is absolutely the simplest, a text box in your Windows Explorer window. It's easy to use and flexible. The fact that some users have not learned it and will not know how to use it and instead of explaining it to you are offering some third party tools with their own learning curve does not mean Windows Search does not work.

We are here to help you, so please do not hesitate to ask. There is absolutely no need to download and install something when native Windows tools are making a better job.

Here's a good tutorial to read: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129437-windows-search-configure-use.html

Kari

 

[Sir George]

Melissa, Windows Search finds everything when it is used correctly. Its user interface is absolutely the simplest, a text box in your Windows Explorer window. It's easy to use and flexible. The fact that some users have not learned it and will not know how to use it and instead of explaining it to you are offering some third party tools with their own learning curve does not mean Windows Search does not work.

We are here to help you, so please do not hesitate to ask. There is absolutely no need to download and install something when native Windows tools are making a better job.

Here's a good tutorial to read: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/129437-windows-search-configure-use.html

Kari

OUCH! Did you read my other post, #5, in this thread where I stated; "The above choice is a personal preference and there are many users that have no issue with the built-in search."

 

[Kari]

Yes, I have read your post. And then?

Our fellow member Melissa is asking how to do something with Windows Search, and of course our job is to try to provide a simple but functioning answer. Things become more complicated when we start getting these "Don't use it, download this" posts, to confuse OP even more.

Windows Search is simple, flexible and easy to use. I mean what I have said several times around Seven Forums: for some users it seems to be too difficult to learn, too complicated, and these users therefore need some help in form of third party tools. I do not believe Melissa belongs to this group, it looks to me she can easily understand what we are telling and instructions given, so in my opinion she does not need third party help in a task which is so easily done by native Windows tools.

Kari

 

[Sir George]

Yes, I have read your post. And then?

Our fellow member Melissa is asking how to do something with Windows Search, and of course our job is to try to provide a simple but functioning answer. Things become more complicated when we start getting these "Don't use it, download this" posts, to confuse OP even more.

Windows Search is simple, flexible and easy to use. I mean what I have said several times around Seven Forums: for some users it seems to be too difficult to learn, too complicated, and these users therefore need some help in form of third party tools. I do not believe Melissa belongs to this group, it looks to me she can easily understand what we are telling and instructions given, so in my opinion she does not need third party help in a task which is so easily done by native Windows tools.

Kari

OK, thanks for explaining your point of view.

There is a very good article on the How-To Geek web site regarding Windows 7's advanced search features which may be a good reference for those interested in using the built-in feature. You can view it at;

Learn How to Use Windows 7′s Advanced Search Operators - How-To Geek

After reading the article, please read the comments. You will see there is a mix of those who like it and those who don't. My suggestion regarding a 3rd party option is to provide the "don't like" with an alternative and not try to limit them to a "Hobson's Choice". That's my point of view.

 

[Melissa]

Trouble with searching Windows 7

I am currently still having issues with my portable hard drive - but I am still having the issues with the search.

I am not too sure after seeing the posts on here whether or not to go to a third party search or just keep it simple first of all.

I put a few names into documents and they did not come up either.

I will try reindexing and thank everyone for there assistance.

What is the best way. I am going from memory in some cases - and that causes me issues.

I will rebuild the index again and post again.

I think it is the sharing