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Search can't find a file?

Discussion in 'Windows Vista' started by MikeB, Jun 9, 2009.

  1. MikeB

    MikeB Guest

    I have a file in my appdata folder that I'd like to check and see if
    duplicates exist in other (sub) folders. I copy the filename exactly
    and then paste it in the search box on the start button. Vista says
    there are no such files. Meanwhile I'm looking at at least one copy of
    the file in another window?

    How can I search my entire harddrive for a file since the old XP
    search seems to have been removed?

    Thanks
     
  2. pacinitaly

    pacinitaly Guest

  3. Jim

    Jim Guest

    On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 02:57:47 -0700 (PDT), MikeB <MPBrede@gmail.com>
    wrote:

    >I have a file in my appdata folder that I'd like to check and see if
    >duplicates exist in other (sub) folders. I copy the filename exactly
    >and then paste it in the search box on the start button. Vista says
    >there are no such files. Meanwhile I'm looking at at least one copy of
    >the file in another window?
    >
    >How can I search my entire harddrive for a file since the old XP
    >search seems to have been removed?
    >
    >Thanks


    Try using
    http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
    much better .
     
  4. Buy Mythicsoft's commercial Search: "FileLocator Pro".
    You can still use their FREE "Agent ransack" but usually free things aren't
    perfect + its development stopped in 2003.

    Funny thing old AgentRansacl is still better than WindowsVista MOROnic
    SEARCH that fails to the left and to the right, a couple of Microsoft moron
    MVP's on this Newsgroups will try to convince you it works.
    It doesn't. They imagine I enter search queries improperly, they don't even
    know who I am and ho wi've been working with computer databases.

    Although I find it a bit suspicious you couldn't find a filename, which
    Vista seems to handle not too bad, it does find everything I expected.

    What makes me angry is search by file CONTENTS, I create test files and
    WIndowsXP finds them all, Vista misses a file or two and there's no logic in
    what it misses.
    Sometimes it doesn't like to find old files, sometimes it misses a file
    freshly created, it doesn't like binaris, hexadecimals/hash, technical
    files.

    But sure it finds music and video... what rubbish. This is not a business
    operating system.
    So get Mythicsoft's, and just accept the fact with Vista you have to BUY a
    lot of tools that were supposed to be part of OS as it was in WindowsXP and
    2000NT before it.
     
  5. Buy Mythicsoft's commercial Search: "FileLocator Pro".
    You can still use their FREE "Agent ransack" but usually free things aren't
    perfect + its development stopped in 2003.

    Funny thing old AgentRansacl is still better than WindowsVista MOROnic
    SEARCH that fails to the left and to the right, a couple of Microsoft moron
    MVP's on this Newsgroups will try to convince you it works.
    It doesn't. They imagine I enter search queries improperly, they don't even
    know who I am and ho wi've been working with computer databases.

    Although I find it a bit suspicious you couldn't find a filename, which
    Vista seems to handle not too bad, it does find everything I expected.

    What makes me angry is search by file CONTENTS, I create test files and
    WIndowsXP finds them all, Vista misses a file or two and there's no logic in
    what it misses.
    Sometimes it doesn't like to find old files, sometimes it misses a file
    freshly created, it doesn't like binaris, hexadecimals/hash, technical
    files.

    But sure it finds music and video... what rubbish. This is not a business
    operating system.
    So get Mythicsoft's, and just accept the fact with Vista you have to BUY a
    lot of tools that were supposed to be part of OS as it was in WindowsXP and
    2000NT before it.
     
  6. Retroman

    Retroman Guest

    On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 02:57:47 -0700 (PDT), MikeB <MPBrede@gmail.com> wrote:

    >I have a file in my appdata folder that I'd like to check and see if
    >duplicates exist in other (sub) folders. I copy the filename exactly
    >and then paste it in the search box on the start button. Vista says
    >there are no such files. Meanwhile I'm looking at at least one copy of
    >the file in another window?
    >
    >How can I search my entire harddrive for a file since the old XP
    >search seems to have been removed?


    Use Advanced Search and choose the option "include non-indexed hidden, and
    system files". By design, indexed searches ignore AppData folders because
    they may contain temp files that would bog down the indexer.

    Doug M. in NJ
     
  7. Tae Song

    Tae Song Guest

    "MikeB" <MPBrede@gmail.com> wrote in message
    news:3328c9ea-3443-42e3-9254-0803a13586c5@k2g2000yql.googlegroups.com...
    > I have a file in my appdata folder that I'd like to check and see if
    > duplicates exist in other (sub) folders. I copy the filename exactly
    > and then paste it in the search box on the start button. Vista says
    > there are no such files. Meanwhile I'm looking at at least one copy of
    > the file in another window?
    >
    > How can I search my entire harddrive for a file since the old XP
    > search seems to have been removed?
    >
    > Thanks



    Open Explorer
    Files Tools -> Folder Options -> Search Tab

    Under "How to search" grouping
    Select Don't use the Index when searching the file system (might be slow)

    Hit Apply Button


    Some useful filters

    ext:dll (list all files with extension dll)
    ext:-dll (exclude from list all files with extension dll)

    size:>10KB (list files with size greater than 10KB)
    size:<100KB (list files with size less than 100KB)
    size:1KB..10KB (list files with size between 1Kb and 10KB)

    date: (created?)
    date:yesterday (list files from yesterday)
    date:<yesterday (list before yesterday?)
    date:>yesterday (list files after yesterday?)
    date:lastday (same as date:yesterday?)
    date:lastweek (find all files from previous week)
    date:lastmonth (find all files from previous month, it's June so all files
    from May)
    date:6/8/2009..6/9/2009 (list files with date between 6/8/2009 and 6/9/2009)
    date:6/8/09..6/9/09 (same as above)

    datemodified: (same syntax as date)

    More information on Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax
    http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/technicalresources/advquery.mspx


    Then there is always good ole command prompt...

    dir *.dll /s /p
     
  8. MikeB

    MikeB Guest

    On Jun 9, 10:18 am, "Tae Song" <tae_s...@hotmail.com> wrote:
    > "MikeB" <MPBr...@gmail.com> wrote in message
    >
    > news:3328c9ea-3443-42e3-9254-0803a13586c5@k2g2000yql.googlegroups.com...
    >
    > > I have a file in my appdata folder that I'd like to check and see if
    > > duplicates exist in other (sub) folders.  I copy the filename exactly
    > > and then paste it in the search box on the start button. Vista says
    > > there are no such files. Meanwhile I'm looking at at least one copy of
    > > the file in another window?

    >
    > > How can I search my entire harddrive for a file since the old XP
    > > search seems to have been removed?

    >
    > > Thanks

    >
    > Open Explorer
    > Files Tools -> Folder Options -> Search Tab
    >
    > Under "How to search" grouping
    >    Select Don't use the Index when searching the file system (might be slow)
    >
    > Hit Apply Button
    >
    > Some useful filters
    >
    > ext:dll (list all files with extension dll)
    > ext:-dll (exclude from list all files with extension dll)
    >
    > size:>10KB (list files with size greater than 10KB)
    > size:<100KB (list files with size less than 100KB)
    > size:1KB..10KB (list files with size between 1Kb and 10KB)
    >
    > date: (created?)
    > date:yesterday (list files from yesterday)
    > date:<yesterday (list before yesterday?)
    > date:>yesterday (list files after yesterday?)
    > date:lastday (same as date:yesterday?)
    > date:lastweek (find all files from previous week)
    > date:lastmonth (find all files from previous month, it's June so all files
    > from May)
    > date:6/8/2009..6/9/2009 (list files with date between 6/8/2009 and 6/9/2009)
    > date:6/8/09..6/9/09 (same as above)
    >
    > datemodified: (same syntax as date)
    >
    > More information on Windows Search Advanced Query Syntaxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/tec...
    >
    > Then there is always good ole command prompt...
    >
    > dir *.dll /s /p


    Thank you. I'd much rather figure out how to use the supplied stuff in
    Vista then fork over even more $$ for yet another piece of software.

    Mike
     
  9. +Bob+

    +Bob+ Guest

    On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 09:51:24 -0700 (PDT), MikeB <MPBrede@gmail.com>
    wrote:

    >Thank you. I'd much rather figure out how to use the supplied stuff in
    >Vista then fork over even more $$ for yet another piece of software.
    >
    >Mike


    Agent Ransack is free. So are some of the others. You should note the
    links now as Vista search sucks - you'll be back at this problem
    again.
     
  10. Nil

    Nil Guest

    On 09 Jun 2009, "Mark Levitski" <SS@nyc.rr.com> wrote in
    microsoft.public.windows.vista.general:

    > But I agree for many tasksk Ransack is OK. Heck, for many
    > searches even Vista is OK.
    > Unfortunately the kind of technical searches I conduct are no
    > match for Vista's search engine.


    Do you use FileLocator Pro? If so, maybe you can answer a couple of
    questions about it for me...

    I like Agent Ransack, it searches are quick and thorough, but one thing
    really annoys me about it that I hope FileLocator is better about. When
    I search for a file, I often want to work on other files in it's
    folder. I depend on the Windows search option to Open Containing
    Folder. Ransack has no way of doing it that I can see, unless the
    search result is a folder itself, in which case you can right-click and
    choose Explore.

    So, does FileLocator Pro have a way to open the folder a file it has
    found resides in?
     
  11. pacinitaly

    pacinitaly Guest

    MikeB;1062113 Wrote:
    > On Jun 9, 10:18*am, "Tae Song" <tae_s...@xxxxxx> wrote:> > >
    > > > "MikeB" <MPBr...@xxxxxx> wrote in message
    > > >
    > > > news:3328c9ea-3443-42e3-9254-0803a13586c5@xxxxxx
    > > >> > > > >
    > > > > > I have a file in my appdata folder that I'd like to check and see
    > > > if
    > > > > > duplicates exist in other (sub) folders. *I copy the filename
    > > > exactly
    > > > > > and then paste it in the search box on the start button. Vista says
    > > > > > there are no such files. Meanwhile I'm looking at at least one copy
    > > > of
    > > > > > the file in another window?> > > >
    > > >
    > > >> > > > >
    > > > > > Thanks> > > >
    > > >
    > > > Open Explorer
    > > > Files Tools -> Folder Options -> Search Tab
    > > >
    > > > Under "How to search" grouping
    > > > * *Select Don't use the Index when searching the file system

    > > (might be slow)
    > > >
    > > > Hit Apply Button
    > > >
    > > > Some useful filters
    > > >
    > > > ext:dll (list all files with extension dll)
    > > > ext:-dll (exclude from list all files with extension dll)
    > > >
    > > > size:>10KB (list files with size greater than 10KB)
    > > > size:<100KB (list files with size less than 100KB)
    > > > size:1KB..10KB (list files with size between 1Kb and 10KB)
    > > >
    > > > date: (created?)
    > > > date:yesterday (list files from yesterday)
    > > > date:<yesterday (list before yesterday?)
    > > > date:>yesterday (list files after yesterday?)
    > > > date:lastday (same as date:yesterday?)
    > > > date:lastweek (find all files from previous week)
    > > > date:lastmonth (find all files from previous month, it's June so

    > > all files
    > > > from May)
    > > > date:6/8/2009..6/9/2009 (list files with date between 6/8/2009

    > > and 6/9/2009)
    > > > date:6/8/09..6/9/09 (same as above)
    > > >
    > > > datemodified: (same syntax as date)
    > > >
    > > > More information on Windows Search Advanced Query

    > > Syntaxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/tec...
    > > >
    > > > Then there is always good ole command prompt...
    > > >
    > > > dir *.dll /s /p > >

    >
    > Thank you. I'd much rather figure out how to use the supplied stuff
    > in
    > Vista then fork over even more $$ for yet another piece of software.
    >
    > Mike


    what I offered is FREE and works great


    --
    pacinitaly

    ASCII stupid question, Get A Stupid ANSI
     
  12. Mike

    Mike Guest

    "Mark Levitski" <SS@nyc.rr.com> wrote in message
    news:eEML9DU6JHA.5756@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
    > If yuou find spare $40 AND if your career depends on computer, spend that
    > small amount and get FileLocator Pro from the same Mythicsoft.
    >
    > You know the problem with AgentRansack?
    > it's old, development stopped in 2003.
    > You get what you pay for, and something free is bound to be less than
    > perfect....
    >
    > But I agree for many tasksk Ransack is OK. Heck, for many searches even
    > Vista is OK.
    > Unfortunately the kind of technical searches I conduct are no match for
    > Vista's search engine.


    Like searching for your brain, or parents?
    --

    Don't pick a fight with an old man.
    If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.
     
  13. If yuou find spare $40 AND if your career depends on computer, spend that
    small amount and get FileLocator Pro from the same Mythicsoft.

    You know the problem with AgentRansack?
    it's old, development stopped in 2003.
    You get what you pay for, and something free is bound to be less than
    perfect....

    But I agree for many tasksk Ransack is OK. Heck, for many searches even
    Vista is OK.
    Unfortunately the kind of technical searches I conduct are no match for
    Vista's search engine.
     
  14. Retroman

    Retroman Guest

    Re: Re: Search can't find a file?

    On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 16:49:00 -0500, "Mark Levitski" <SS@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

    >Unfortunately the kind of technical searches I conduct are no match for
    >Vista's search engine.


    What version of Windows Search are you using? To find out, go to Control
    Panel - Programs - Programs and Features - Installed Updates, then scroll
    down to the end of the list and verify that "Windows Search 4.0" is shown.
    If not, download it from Microsoft. Early versions of Vista used version
    3, which had some problems.

    I've been using WS 4 for two years and my experience is the opposite of
    yours. I find that it supports complex queries and that it works very
    well indeed, after I learned the new syntax. Could you please supply some
    example queries that fail?

    Also, are the searches that fail indexed searches? Does the problem
    happen with all folders or just certain ones? If the latter, which ones?
    Is the problem with content searches or with filename searches or both?

    Doug M. in NJ
     
  15. Tae Song

    Tae Song Guest

    "Tae Song" <tae_song@hotmail.com> wrote in message
    news:849F7001-B8EA-4B0A-BEDC-9A338353EEBC@microsoft.com...
    >
    > "MikeB" <MPBrede@gmail.com> wrote in message
    > news:3328c9ea-3443-42e3-9254-0803a13586c5@k2g2000yql.googlegroups.com...
    >> I have a file in my appdata folder that I'd like to check and see if
    >> duplicates exist in other (sub) folders. I copy the filename exactly
    >> and then paste it in the search box on the start button. Vista says
    >> there are no such files. Meanwhile I'm looking at at least one copy of
    >> the file in another window?
    >>
    >> How can I search my entire harddrive for a file since the old XP
    >> search seems to have been removed?
    >>
    >> Thanks

    >
    >
    > Open Explorer
    > Files Tools -> Folder Options -> Search Tab
    >
    > Under "How to search" grouping
    > Select Don't use the Index when searching the file system (might be
    > slow)
    >


    Also...

    On this tab...

    Under "When searching non-indexed locations" grouping
    Select Include system directories

    Otherwise Search will not find DLL, OCX and other system type files located
    under Windows directory.


    > Hit Apply Button
    >
    >
    > Some useful filters
    >
    > ext:dll (list all files with extension dll)
    > ext:-dll (exclude from list all files with extension dll)
    >
    > size:>10KB (list files with size greater than 10KB)
    > size:<100KB (list files with size less than 100KB)
    > size:1KB..10KB (list files with size between 1Kb and 10KB)
    >
    > date: (created?)
    > date:yesterday (list files from yesterday)
    > date:<yesterday (list before yesterday?)
    > date:>yesterday (list files after yesterday?)
    > date:lastday (same as date:yesterday?)
    > date:lastweek (find all files from previous week)
    > date:lastmonth (find all files from previous month, it's June so all files
    > from May)
    > date:6/8/2009..6/9/2009 (list files with date between 6/8/2009 and
    > 6/9/2009)
    > date:6/8/09..6/9/09 (same as above)
    >
    > datemodified: (same syntax as date)
    >
    > More information on Windows Search Advanced Query Syntax
    > http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/technicalresources/advquery.mspx
    >
    >
    > Then there is always good ole command prompt...
    >
    > dir *.dll /s /p
     
  16. Re: Re: Search can't find a file?

    There's no entry for WIndowsSearch - any version.
    I will see if it's available as standalone and why didn't show up on
    autoupdate list.
     
  17. Re: Re: Search can't find a file?

    Indexing is off and this's been my habit since the day Indexing even
    appeared in OS.
    Hence I confugured Vista search to seacrch nonindexed locations, etc... look
    I am pretty good at computers. Don't even suspect my settings, I can spend
    a week in front of this laptop, pretty presistent.

    However Search4 you mentioned is news to me, certain things aren't listed on
    autoupdate list, I am still disallowed SP1 service pack.
    However having read about worsening problems SP1 was supposed to fix, e.g.
    local file copy, I am not evene interested.

    I really stopped caring today.
    I am getting old wasting a life on this crap.

    So it will hump along until Windows7 and we will remember this Windows
    version as something as bad as Windows3.0
    remember Win3.1 was an emergency answer to Win3.0 disaster?

    WindowsXP was so good it backfired - now people compare every new Windows to
    WInXP.
    XP srands for EXPERIENCE & excellence.
    Vista stands to hasta La Vista crapware.
     
  18. Retroman

    Retroman Guest

    Re: Re: Re: Search can't find a file?

    On Tue, 9 Jun 2009 23:45:57 -0500, "Mark Levitski" <SS@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

    >Indexing is off and this's been my habit since the day Indexing even
    >appeared in OS.
    >Hence I confugured Vista search to seacrch nonindexed locations, etc... look
    >I am pretty good at computers. Don't even suspect my settings, I can spend
    >a week in front of this laptop, pretty presistent.
    >
    >However Search4 you mentioned is news to me, certain things aren't listed on
    >autoupdate list, I am still disallowed SP1 service pack.
    >However having read about worsening problems SP1 was supposed to fix, e.g.
    >local file copy, I am not evene interested.


    Don't believe everything you read, SP1 works just fine and is well
    worthwhile. If you are being not offered SP1, it usually means that you
    have a driver that is incompatible with the SP1 installer. In most cases,
    the solution is to simply uninstall that driver temporarily, after which
    SP1 will be offered. After installing SP1, reboot and reinstall the
    driver. But first check with the company that provided the original
    driver, since they may have an update for Vista or special instructions
    for Vista users.
    >
    >I really stopped caring today.
    >I am getting old wasting a life on this crap.
    >
    >So it will hump along until Windows7 and we will remember this Windows
    >version as something as bad as Windows3.0
    >remember Win3.1 was an emergency answer to Win3.0 disaster?
    >
    >WindowsXP was so good it backfired - now people compare every new Windows to
    >WInXP.
    >XP srands for EXPERIENCE & excellence.
    >Vista stands to hasta La Vista crapware.


    Mark, the version of Vista that you are using is two years old!
    Complaining about bugs that were fixed years ago is just wasting everyones
    time. It's your responsibility to put your PC into a condition where it
    can accept OS upgrades. Since you say that you are "pretty good at
    computers", that should be easy.

    Doug M. in NJ
     

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