Explorer Find File Tool Not searching Text - XP Home edition

[Guest]

Hi - I have XP 2002 Service Pack 2 - new install on a new home computer.

When I use file search in windows Explorer the text I put in the "a word or
phrase in the file" box is searched for in the filename, but not in the file
itself.

The usual behavior is for windows to look in the file for matching text. I
am searching standard ascii text files for plain text words like "treatment
services". I know files exist that should match. Explorer _does_ use the
text in searching the file names, so "Treatment Services.DOC" would be found,
but not a file with the text actually in the file.

I can't find any options or settings that control this behavior.

 

[Mark L. Ferguson]

There is a workaround to change the default search behavior.

Search will usually only look for text inside of files with a registered filetype association

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*]
@="{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

 

[Sharon F]

Hi - I have XP 2002 Service Pack 2 - new install on a new home computer.

When I use file search in windows Explorer the text I put in the "a word or
phrase in the file" box is searched for in the filename, but not in the file
itself.

The usual behavior is for windows to look in the file for matching text. I
am searching standard ascii text files for plain text words like "treatment
services". I know files exist that should match. Explorer _does_ use the
text in searching the file names, so "Treatment Services.DOC" would be found,
but not a file with the text actually in the file.

I can't find any options or settings that control this behavior.

XP search is not very good for these types of searches. Personally, I
prefer using an alternative find tool, FileLocator Pro by
www.mythicsoft.com The program is shareware. They also have a freeware
find, Agent Ransack, that also can search for text strings.