Windows search fails to find existing files on drive C:

[Pofadda]

Is this a known Windows (XP) bug? When using the Explorer 'search'
command to find files in a directory tree by looking for a given
word/string in the files' bodies, the search fails miserably. There are
files that contain the many strings I have tried but none of them are
found. In case it's significant, all files are visible in Explorer.
Command-line 'DOS' FIND command works a treat, though.

Any clue what's happening, please?

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Is this a known Windows (XP) bug? When using the Explorer 'search'
command to find files in a directory tree by looking for a given
word/string in the files' bodies, the search fails miserably. There are
files that contain the many strings I have tried but none of them are
found. In case it's significant, all files are visible in Explorer.
Command-line 'DOS' FIND command works a treat, though.

Any clue what's happening, please?

Hi

WinXP's search function filters out files to search in based on file
extensions (see further below).

Install the free Agent Ransack, it searches for text strings in *all*
types of files, and not just in a selection of "approved" file extensions
as the built-in search does. It's a *much* better search tool as well...

Download it from here:
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/default.aspx

Agent Ransack can save the search result to a file (or clipboard), as text,
comma separated text or tab separated text. E.g. Excel reads comma separated
text (csv) very well.

When searching for text inside files, Agent Ransack is also able to do a
preview of the lines the text was found in (just do a single click on the
found file).
Also, you can use regular expression on both the file name part and the find
text in files part.


If you still want to use the not so good search tool that comes with
WinXP to
search for text in files, take a look at this:

Using the "A Word or Phrase in the File" Search Criterion May Not Work
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;309173

Or this:

Add Files to Containing text Searches
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_fix_search.htm

 

[Don Briggs]

Boy, even ignoring the fact that the original poster posted in a W2K forum,
thanks for the information on Agent Ransack.