Search Never Finds Anything

  • Thread starter Thread starter Will Niccolls
  • Start date Start date
W

Will Niccolls

When using the Windows search program, I could look for a filename that is
clearly displayed in the window, and it won't find it. It never finds any
files. *.* never finds anything, in any folder.

Any suggestions?

Will Niccolls
 
Will said:
When using the Windows search program, I could look for a filename
that is
clearly displayed in the window, and it won't find it. It never
finds any
files. *.* never finds anything, in any folder.

Any suggestions?

Will Niccolls
Click to expand...

Much as I enjoy XP, its Search function leaves much to be desired. I
install the free Agent Ransack search program on all my Windows boxen.
Get it here:

http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

Malke
 
Hi Will,

If you are using indexing service, recent changes don't appear until the
Content Indexing Service (cisvc.exe) runs. If you're searching for files
that have been recently renamed, turn off indexing for a real-time search.

Precede searches for all or part of a filename with
@filename

Precede all word or phrase searches with the exclamation mark
!

!"word or phrase goes here"

@filename
or
#filename
or
!"word or phrase goes here"


followed by all or part of the filename you are looking for

and you must put it in the "A word or phrase in the file: input area

Wildcards * and/or ? are allowed:

xpsearch
xpsearch*
*xpsearch*
*xp?search*

More info: Why doesn't Search work?
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/top10faqs.htm

--
In memory of our dear friend, MVP Alex Nichol: http://www.dts-l.org/

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com
 
Kelly said:
Hi Will,

If you are using indexing service, recent changes don't appear until the
Content Indexing Service (cisvc.exe) runs. If you're searching for files
that have been recently renamed, turn off indexing for a real-time search.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm not sure what the problem was with the search function. But it
wouldn't find anything, ever. After stopping the index service, it worked
fine. Then after starting the index service, it seems to work fine also. I
suppose that the index itself could have been corrupted, but restarting it
has happenned at various reboots so I'm not sure why it is working now.

But thanks for your tips and help.

Will Niccolls
 
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