Windows Search Bug

[Antares]

I've got two word files on a network drive which are the sole occupants
of their subdirectory. Each contains the word "Smith" in the body but
not in the file name. Using Windows Explorer's search utility to
search the subfolder for files containing the text "Smith"/"smith"
comes up blank. The same is true for some other words I've tried,
though I noticed both files do appear if you search for the word "the".
Also, if I go into Word | File | Open | Tools | Search, specify that
same location, and search for "Smith" again, both files are found.

Has anyone else experienced this problem? Is this to be expected when
searching a non-indexed network drive?

 

[alanglloyd]

Windows Explorer Search needs what are called "filters" to search for
word in files. Obviously files which contain plain words and no
"control" characters can use a simple search. But more complex file
formats need special and more complex filters.

I would have thought the MS would have made sure that filters for Word
files were in an OS, but the filters may have got corrupted/missing. Or
the registry entr referencing the filters may have got corrupted.

Each file type key (ie in HKey_Classes_Root) of the file extension has
a key named "PersistentHandler" which holds the filter reference in the
"(Default)" value name for that key. In my XP registry this value name
has a value of "{98de59a0-d175-11cd-a7bd-00006b827d94}". This should
also be in your registry.

While I don't know what other filters may be I do know that one can
allocate the simple text file filter value of
"{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}" to any file extension
"PersistentHandler" key which are essentially text files (as I have
done to get searches for Delphi's .pas files).

In the above text ignore the double quotes around each quoted item when
entering them. As with all registry alterations, proceed at your own
risak with extreme care.

Alan Lloyd

 

[Guest]

Yes, thank you. I just assumed that without a PersistentHandler Windows
would not search those file types at all. Looking in HKEY_Classes_Root under
..txt I do see the PersistentHandler folder and key with the value you listed.
And while my Office extensions do have other subfolders and keys, none of
them have their PersistentHandler.

Thanks for your help,
Michael

 

[MichaelM]

No, unfortunately fixing the PersistentHandler keys did NOT solve the
problem. I even tried the search on another office machine which had
the correct registry keys from the start and it still did not find any
files containing the word Smith.

Any other ideas?