Search Returns Only Registered File Types

[Jeff S]

I would like to know how to have XP's file search feature return all
matches - and not matches for only registered file types. I heard there was
a Registry setting that can remediate this limiting "feature".

Thanks in advance.

 

[John Ski]

From: "Jeff S" (e-mail address removed)

Date: 9/26/2003 9:07 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id: <#[email protected]>

I would like to know how to have XP's file search feature return all
matches - and not matches for only registered file types. I heard there was
a Registry setting that can remediate this limiting "feature".

Thanks in advance.

Can't help you get the built-in search working right...don't even know if it's
possible. This I do know, AgentRansack is free and it works like a search
engine is supposed to. Get it at www.agentransack.com . There is also a
shareware version called FileLocatorPro that has even more useful features and
it can be set to be the default search engine in XP.

Cheers,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***

 

[Kelly]

Hi Jeff,

Go to Search/All Files and Folders/More Advanced Options/Change Indexing
Service/Index unknown file types.

If this doesn't help...

Windows® XP has a known issue for not finding a number of File Types when
you do a Search for Files "containing text" or using the "A word or phrase
in the file" option. This can be remedied for many file types, but not all.

Download the VBS file below. Double click the file you just saved. You'll
be prompted to enter a file extension. If the PersistentHandler value is
correct, no changes will be made. If the PersistentHandler value exists,
but is different, no changes will be made. If no PersistentHandler value
exists, then it will be created.

Enable XP's Search to find text in files:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/xp_persisthandler.vbs

Manual Edit: Use as an example

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

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

Troubleshooting Searching for Text (Word or Phrase)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm#searchtext

Search for All Files (Line 136)
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Speed up Windows XP Search
http://xpsearch.info/xpsearch.htm

/top10faqs.htm

 

[Alex Nichol]

I would like to know how to have XP's file search feature return all
matches - and not matches for only registered file types. I heard there was
a Registry setting that can remediate this limiting "feature".

It only searches for text in a very limited number of types - they must
either have registry entries saying they are pure Text (.TXT and not
much else) or have known 'filters' to handle embedded format controls,
so that Search can avoid being confused by thinking those are characters
in 16 bit Unicode (eg .doc, .htm). You can add an additional type as
pure text provided you know that it *is* that, and that it does not
already have a 'PersistentHandler' in the registry. Make the following,
after - - start and before - - end into a file by cut/paste to NotePad.
Make sure there is a blank line at the end. Save as "Patch.reg" then
d-click on this file to enter it into the registry.
This is for .log - modify that for other extensions, with care.

Or use a third party tool - Agent Ransack at www.agentransack.com is
highly recommended by a lot of people

- - start
REGEDIT4

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


- - end