Windows 7 File Search Returns No Files (but They Exist)
Dec 11, 2011
Running Windows 7 (6.1, SP1, 64-bit).Previously, I was using WinXP file search in classic mode. Predictable, reliable results.I'm finding Windows 7 file searching to be unpredictable at best.I have dozens files of the form xName-<date>, where x is my first initial,Name is my last name, and <date> is the file date (e.g. - "mSmithCV-7jan09.doc").When I use the Windows 7 search to find "name:smith", no files are returned.Nor will "name:*smith*" return any files.The search does return the files if I specify "name:mSmith" (i.e. - the beginning of the filename),but I have no confidence that the search is returning ALL of the files.
Is there a classic search mode? Or a simple, cost-effective third-party file search utility? Or even a way to get Windows 7 to find all files whose filename contains (but does not begin with) a specified string?[I find Windows 7 to be better than XP in most respects, but I really can't believe that this search functionality made it out the door.
I have a folder with around 2000 files in it. I want to be able to copy certain files from this folder (normally around 40) and place them in a brand new folder, I want to be able to do this with nothing more than a txt file that has all the file names I need copying in it with every file name on a separate line.I receive around 10 new txt files each day so you can imagine how tedious it is searching through 2000 files, picking out the 40 I need, times a day everyday.To make things even more complicated, the txt files I receive don't always have the correct file names in them, maybe there's a misspelling or a word or two missing for some of the names. That's ok when I'm going through picking out the files I need to copy myself because I can normally tell which file is being requested, but I can't see it being so easy for a program or whatever to do, I'm guessing it'll need to have a search feature where it picks out the most likely file.I'd like it to be as automated as possible. I receive the txt file, make sure each file name is on a separate line then a program or script or whatever goes out and picks out the files (or most likely files for the name's that aren't exact matches) and copies them into a brand new folder (which I'd like to be the same name as the text file it's using to choose the files).
some specifics and pinpoint the differences (or maybe a good website) that would pinpoint the differences between the Windows 7 search and the outlook 2007 search? I know the outlook search searches through email but are there other difference I am overlooking between the two?
When trying to run ipconfig using the cmd it returns nothing. Also, when downloading large files my internet will stop working and then start working after a while. OS is Windows 7 Ultimate x64?
I just built my computer 2 days ago. It runs, but I am having trouble installing Windows 7.
1. When I successfully make a partition and start installing, the "Expanding files" section stays at 2% before eventually reading an error saying Windows cannot be installed because the files do not exist.
2. After 2 tries, a new problem arose: Windows can't get past the "Starting Windows" screen. However, when I detach the single internal hard drive, it can. I don't know what the boot combo in Bios is that will fix this or if its something else.
Specs:
CD Burner: LG CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS70 OEM - OEM Case: COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Hard Drive: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Monitor: SAMSUNG BX2231 Glossy Black 21.5" Full HD LED Backlight LCD Monitor Slim Design
how i can search for torrent files with windows 7 search function?when i look for my downloaded files (downloaded via µtorrent),then i can i only find my downloaded files,but no torrent files(the torrent file still exists in my µtorrent program,so i am sure i still have the torrent file).
I began having an issue with my laptops ATI Radeon graphics driver not working properly. It is fixed now, but the other issues I was having at the same time was not being able to view indexed files through the "search programs and files" and "windows explorer search" box. The screen goes blank or does not produce any results. Also, one of my downloaded software disk programs will not open--error. This particular program, Logos Bible software, index its files quite often. Even when I am not using the program. I also cannot change my desktop background to any picture except solid colors. I think my laptop has a corrupted file somewhere, or it is infected with malware.
I have been successfully using the Shortcuts button from the customized dropdown. However, I am having one problem with a specific app, WinRAR. I have the app's shortcut successfully loaded into the button's dropdown. When executed I get an error message that says proper pathway can't be found...Doesn't exist! And yet, as you can see below, Windows Explorer shows that WinRAR does exits in C:Program Files (x86)FF Shortcuts
My computer claims a file does not exist when I try to uninstall an unwanted program from my computer. How do I change this, so that I can uninstall an unwanted program?
I'm currently trying to find a solution to a situation with my PC. I am able to install programs (ex: Skype, etc), but when I reboot my machine or turn it off and back again, the program I just installed does not appear on my hard drive at all. Any files I save (Word Document, Excel, favorites from Internet Explorer) doesn't appear or retain when I reboot my machine. I suspected a virus attack so I ran a virus scan with AVG but it doesn't find any viruses or errors.
i use BitLord to download random stuff anyways the Downloads Folder Shows up like this : Now when i open Nero up it shows this Weird thing is if i hover over the folder from normal window it says the Downloads folder is only 800mb (as it is only showing me one item) yet from Nero it says the folder is over 9 Gigs. Im set as Owner of the folder and i have all permissions set for me however i am still unable to see these files outside of nero and i don't know why.When i go and try to change the permissions on the folders (the locked ones) windows says the files/folders doesn't exist...
I'm looking for the best way to have the option of searching all files that I specify, regardless of indexing or file extension or anything, for file contents. I know this will be slow - that's fine. I understand the indexing, limited extensions, etc... are all meant to speed up the search, which is great for most usage, but sometimes it just doesn't do what I need.
It seems that the search functionality in Windows 7 cannot be relied upon. For example, I have a folder with around 2000 files. Search indexing has been enabled for this folder for about 12 months, yet when I try a simple filename search it fails to locate files that I know exist. In explorer, I click in the search box and type "glebe" and hit enter. I know that there are seven filenames beginning with "glebe", plus two other filenames that contain the word "glebe". All files are more than six months old, and thus have had plenty of time to be indexed. It only finds two of the seven filenames beginning with "glebe", and none of the filenames containing "glebe". There does not appear to be any special feature of those two files that differentiates them from the others.
In addition, if I created a file a few hours ago and then try to locate it, there does not appear to be any guarantee that the file will be found. Thus the search is of no use at all; if I can't be certain that every file is found every time I search, I can't be certain that I'm not corrupting my data when I manipulate the files that the search does find because I may be leaving files unedited that must be edited. As the delay between a file being created, renamed or deleted and that change being indexed cannot be predicted by the user, even if the index did work correctly, I cannot be sure of how long to wait before the results become reliable. Therefore, even if the search system could be relied upon to deliver the correct results, this undeterminable delay renders it unusable.
I have tried reindexing the folder, which does not fix the problem but does provide a set of search results that are different, yet equally unreliable. I have tried this on several hundred computers running Windows 7 with identical resultsdditionally, the indexing service causes my computer to grind the hard disk for a large periods at random intervals, making my work inefficient. If I want to search for a file I am happy for the hard disk to be accessed to the extent that the file is located, but I don't want my ability to work efficiently to be impeded by indexing millions of files that I'm statistically unlikely to ever search for.
I have followed the instructions to search for files in Windows 7 but have found the process very slow and the results bring up lots of irrelevant files. Find a file or folder. By comparison the search companion on XP was much faster and got more relevant results based on file name. If that didn't work there was the option of searching for text within the file. For example I know inside a folder there is a sub folder with the file I am looking for and I know part of the name. Is there a way to make Win 7 search for results based only on the file name? In most cases that would be a lot simpler. Otherwise win 7 will look in the contents of the file which is a time waster.
I have this absolute annoying issue with my Windows 7 Home Premium. If I leave my computer on for roughly an hour I will go and attempt to either rename a file or search a file in the normal os search menu. The second I type one letter the os locks up and I am forced to end the explorer.exe process. I have recently reformatted my computer no more than 4 months ago and prior to that I was given the same problem. I heard and read in select online searches this has to do with shell extensions of some sort
Why are certain details, such as Frame Height, allowed in Windows Explorer when looking in a specific folder, but are missing when searching the contents of the same folder?For example, I'm inside a folder (in details view) of video files and ask Explorer to show details of Frame Height. It will show that for certain file types. But when I search for one of the files by name, the Frame Height will be blank for the same file it just showed me the info for.
If I create a file called simon.txt in say C:ew docs and hit windows key and 'F' why when I type the file name into the search does it not come up. surely searching is a basic function?It worked fine on XP. I don't understand why it changed - speed I suppose.I have tried reindexing and rebuild and all that but still is this not basic?
The initial Win7 install to now (about 9 mo), search worked fine and I love it, but I may have done something that broke it. Searches appear to only find stuff on C and then only system related stuff. None of my files/folders and nothing on any of my 3 drives. For example, it finds my Desktop folder but no contents. I went into the Indexing tool and enabled all drives and did a re-index with no improvement. I can't find any settings that control where it searches.
My windows search is not showing up .rar files as its results (I think I remember them showing up before), I checked the folder options and index options but both search for compressed files and indexing .rar is checked
In WinXP, using the standard Windows search, I could search for a filename, and if it was found in a Zip file, that would be shown in the search results. In Win 7 (even after changing search options to search ZIP files) it usually does not find the filename in a Zip file. Occasionally it finds it in one Zip file, but I know it is in several and need to see all of them to find the one I want. I have indexed the drive being searched.
it seems to me that Windows 7 search only works for arguments which occur in the front part of a long filename (less than 100 char's total without path).
Whenever I look for a string in the SAME filename that occurs at the end of the filename, Windows 7 search desn't seem to find anything.
I was looking for a file when I noticed it was gone. I fired up the Windows search engine and Search Everything, both of which said the file was still there. When I try to open the search result in any media player, it says the file could not be found.I already restarted my system, but both search engines still say the file exists. Is the file still there? I cannot find it with Undelete Plus, but it did find a lot of files that were recently deleted.
when I click start button and enter any file/folder name for search in the space provided at 'Search Programs and files' , no results are displayed. The following error message appears:"Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file.You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item"My system configuration is as follows:Tech Support Guy System Info Utility version 1.0.0.2OS Version: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, Service Pack 1, 64 bitProcessor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2450M CPU @ 2.50GHz, Intel64 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7Processor Count: 4RAM: 6038 MbGraphics Card: Intel(R) HD Graphics Family, -1268 MbHard Drives: C: Total - 368707 MB, Free - 287334 MB; G: Total - 174999 MB, Free -51405 MB; H: Total - 151588 MB, Free - 144960 MB;Motherboard: Dell Inc., 05TM8C Antivirus: Microsoft Security Essentials, Updated and Enabled
I have my data on M drive, which is backed up with mozy. when i search for files on C:, it finds all the files on M and lists them. So it makes it hard to search for stuff on C?
I have windows 7 starter running on my pc and when I search for files or folders that are sure present on my PC or want to search for remaining files or residual folders after uninstalling programs in windows 7, the search function in Windows 7 finds no remaining files or residual folders (in the case of uninstalled programs or folders and files that are sure present on my pc), even when I search in "computer"(via windows explorer).
This happens with both indexing enabled and disabled.i enabled all of the search options(Really I enabled all of the options that are possible). I really need this because after a while my hdd will be full of unneeded files and folders.i also tried ccleaner but without success. If necessary with a different search tool, but preferably in windows 7 itself. I think it has nothing to do with indexing but I am not sure of that.
