Vista won't find a file given a word in the contents

[tvds]

It just doesn't work.
I have a simple text file with a certain word in it.
I try to find this text file, but vista won't find it.
Windows 2000 finds it within a second.
I have tried all available options.
"include non-indexed"
"always search file names and contents"
"find partial matches"
"include subfolders"
etc
etc

It just doesn't work.
Why is there not a simple search function that actually works like in
windows2000?

 

[Todd_CAD_MAN]

I see no one has answered your question. I have the same darn problem and
Microsoft directed me here instead of telling me how to fix this search
problem in Vista!

 

[Dave]

What type of file? In order to search the contents of a file, there has to
be an ifilter for that filetype installed.

Or, try Agent Ransack...
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

 

[Todd_CAD_MAN]

OK, so how do you go about doing that? The file type is .A01. How do I
install that file type into the search? I can not believe this! I used
Windows 2000 since the day it was released and I never had any trouble with
finding the contents with in a file.

 

[Dave]

If you install a modern program that uses a certain file type, then the
appropriate ifilter should get installed by that program.
http://www.ifilter.org/faq.htm
http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/Channel9.DesktopSearchIFilters
http://channel9.msdn.com/wiki/default.aspx/Channel9.IFilter

However, that extension doesn't tell me (or Vista) what the file type
actually is.
Is this a text file? If so, you can add this extension to the search index,
so Desktop Search will use the text ifilter.
Start - Control Panel - Indexing Options - Advanced - File Types
add the A01 extension, and tell it to look in the contents.

(at least, this how it's supposed to work...)

 

[Todd_CAD_MAN]

Ok, it is working now, but what a joke that was! I have been using computers
for 26 years and just to to a search content is Vista was a complete joke!

Thanks for you help.
Todd

 

[On Request]

Windows Help and Support offers this advice when asked about 'windows
search' (in the FAQ):

"I want to search for a file type that is not currently being indexed. How
do I add a file type to the index?
If you use an unusual file type that is not currently recognized by the
index, you can add it to the index yourself. Here's how:

Click to open Indexing Options.

Click Advanced. If you are prompted for an administrator password or
confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Click the File Types tab.

Enter the file type in the text box, and then click Add new extension.

Click Index Properties Only or Index Properties and File Contents, and then
click OK."

 

[tvds]

Thanks for your reply, BUT:

1) Adding a file type, doesn't help me.
Vista still won't find this file.
I tried every available option i found on help files and forums!
2) When I look for files with a certain contents, I may not know in advance
the file type.
It can be a txt file of maybe a cpp or header file or whatever.
Vista should give me a list with all files.

If I have to tell Vista exactly the file type, the location, and the file
name of the file i'm looking for, whats the use of a search function
than?????????????????

Windows2000 gives me instantly a list with all the files with that contents.

It is unbelievable that the programmers working on Vista came up with this
sorry excuse for a search engine.