Windows Search Utility - not working

[Susan]

Hi,
I have a problem with the Search utility on my Windows XP
Pro system. Whenever I perform a search for a certain
file or a word/phrase contained in a specific file on one
of my system folders, it always returns "Search is
complete. There are no results to display". This is not
correct as I know a specific file that I'm looking for is
in that folder.

Please let me know if there is a fix/patch for this
problem. Or if I have directed my question to the
correct newsgroup.

Thanks!!

 

[Guest]

is it a hidden file? it won't show up.

 

[Guest]

Goto this link. It will fix your problem. I had the same
problem and it fixed mine.

Hope this helps

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1202777,00.asp?
kc=PCNKT0209KTX1K0100360

Jerel

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

Hi,
I have a problem with the Search utility on my Windows XP
Pro system. Whenever I perform a search for a certain
file or a word/phrase contained in a specific file on one
of my system folders, it always returns "Search is
complete. There are no results to display". This is not
correct as I know a specific file that I'm looking for is
in that folder.

Please let me know if there is a fix/patch for this
problem. Or if I have directed my question to the
correct newsgroup.

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

 

[Susan]

Thanks very much, Jerel, for your help!
The problem is now fixed

 

[Vanguardx]

Thanks very much, Jerel, for your help!
The problem is now fixed

If you don't want to edit the registry for every filetype that you may
encounter and have to add a registry value for it, get a replacement to
the crippled Windows XP Search utility (which worked okay in Windows
2000). Agent Ransack is free (www.agentransack.com). I tried several
and ended up using this one, especially since I can use regular
expressions rather than just wildcarding.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have a problem with the Search utility on my Windows XP
Pro system. Whenever I perform a search for a certain
file or a word/phrase contained in a specific file on one
of my system folders, it always returns "Search is
complete.

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.

- - start
REGEDIT4

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


- - end