The Windows Vista search facility.

[Guest]

Why can the search facility not distinguish between [square] and (round)
brackets in filenames?

For example, I am seaching for a file with "[!]" in the filename, I get hits
not only for files with "[!]" but also for files with "(!)" in the filename.
This annoying problem definitely does not exist in windows XP SP2 search
facility.

I would be grateful for any help.
Thank you.

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

Search treats certain non-alphanumeric characters as 'white space',
equivalent to a space, unless they are part of an exact match string. To
specify an exact match string, use ="string", to use wildcards (*,?) within
the string use ~"*string*".

So, for your specific search, type the following in the Search box:

name:~"*[!]*"

The use of 'name:' limits search to filename, doesn't search other
properties or file contents