Windows 7: Search does not find files that it should, directory is indexed, and *.php included on the extension list

Anonymous
2009-11-27T05:51:54+00:00

Windows 7: Search does not find files that it should. I have the directory indexed, and *.php included on the extension list but search does not find files for searches for words that that I know there are files with those words in them.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2009-11-27T14:10:58+00:00

If you're frustrated with Search (a.k.a. Desktop Search), you are not alone. Click the Start button and type in Search and click on the command "Change how Windows searches". Now click on the Advanced button and select File types tab. Scroll down and locate your file type (in your case **.php)**and make sure that the radio button "Index Properties and File Contents" is selected for the file type.

Come out of the form by clicking the OK button but do not yet close the form where you clicked the Advanced button.

Next, you may need to modify the indexing locations. If the folder wherein your files are located is not known to the search indexing, then search doesn't even bother to look there (a source of frustration for many users). Perhaps your files are on a different disk or partition unbeknown to the indexing engine. Using the expand icon and select/deselect options, make sure that at least the folders of interest are included to the Indexed Locations. Hope this helps.

samc1

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-04-26T17:17:47+00:00

    did anyone understand this?  where are you supposed to type in search? and where is a command change how windows searches????

    screwy

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-04-26T17:06:08+00:00

    Do people still have this problem with Windows 8?

    I suspect that the search issue is related to the convoluted manner that users-permissions-security is implemented in Windows. If the truth were known, I bet most of the Microsoft application developers don't understand it. The takeaway, Windows 8 is no better.

    I'm using JetBrains for php development now and it has a wonderful built in search engine for my project files so I very seldom need to use windows search fortunately.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-04-26T11:40:07+00:00

    Thanks for the detailed reply.  I have actually gone through several reinstalls of the Windows 7 operating system for one reason or another, reindexed multiple times, and I've been watching this thread for over a year.  We are now running McAfee, but we weren't at the time I first started to have this issue, so I know McAfee is not the problem.  I've been into services for various reasons dozens of time, and have confirmed that indexing is running.  I have checked and double-checked the solutions in this thread (now about 4 years and 10 pages long).

    If different people do pretty much the same thing and get different results, it is safe to say that there is a difference in configuration somewhere in their computers.  In my case I suspect there is something in the OS image my company uses, some corporate specific setting that wouldn't apply elsewhere.  But there is some solace in the misery of others; there are plenty of other people who are also still having the problem.

    The one thing that most of the posters will agree on is that Microsoft hasn't been any help.  I'm pretty sure MS is suffering from the same delusion that most software developers and tech support people do.  They believe that they have a great product.  If they check this thread at all they will see some posts that say "problem solved" and that is the message that they take away.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-04-26T00:45:35+00:00

    In Start Menu Properties.....

    Enable Search With Public Folders.

    It finds everything now.

    By Public it must mean 'Shared Local Folders'.

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