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

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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
    2013-08-18T15:58:09+00:00

    thanks, that did work.  The files w.eren't marked as hidden, but changing the explorer search to "show hidden files" apparently worked

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-08-18T15:22:50+00:00

    Are you sure that the documents are not simply hidden?  Try turning on "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" from Explorer (Organise | Folder and search options |View).  If you can see the files in Explorer, you will be able to see and open them from Word.

    It makes no difference to Search whether files are read-only or not, but it will not find hidden files unless "show hidden" is set.

    If the files have somehow had the system attribute set, they will not show up unless "Hide protected operating system files" has been unchecked, in the View window mentioned above.  (I am not sure whether Search will find files with the system attribute set at all.)

    That's all I can suggest, and if that doesn't help, you have a really weird case, and if you find a solution, I'd like to know what it is!

    This is driving me crazy.  The attributes on the folder are not hidden and I can see other files in the folder.  The weird thing is that of the ones I cant find using Windows Explorer, they are all read only .doc files.  I can find them when I just navigate to C>My Documents>...

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-08-15T15:08:10+00:00

    Are you sure that the documents are not simply hidden?  Try turning on "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" from Explorer (Organise | Folder and search options |View).  If you can see the files in Explorer, you will be able to see and open them from Word.

    It makes no difference to Search whether files are read-only or not, but it will not find hidden files unless "show hidden" is set.

    If the files have somehow had the system attribute set, they will not show up unless "Hide protected operating system files" has been unchecked, in the View window mentioned above.  (I am not sure whether Search will find files with the system attribute set at all.)

    That's all I can suggest, and if that doesn't help, you have a really weird case, and if you find a solution, I'd like to know what it is!

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-08-14T13:36:09+00:00

    I'm having a problem finding files in Windows 7. I have a .doc file that is "read only" and is in the Library, but I can't see it when I use open file in MS Word to find, can't find it using Windows Explorer or the Start>search.  The only way I can find it is navigating to it from my comp>C:>filename.  So I know it is there.

    It seems that the files I can't find are .doc (not .docx.) files and that have somehow had the "read only" attribute assigned to them.  I've even done the cmd attrib -r -s to the folder, but that folder still has the read only attribute.  However I can find other files in that folder.

    I am re-indexing again.  Any ideas would be appreciated.

    Robert

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