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.

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

An earlier contribution provided the correct fix - at least it worked for me. They said: "Like many of you , I was also frustrated with the search. Nothing would come up even after adding the entire C drive to the index location. I think I finally resolved my problem and searches are now coming up. Do the following: Go to Indexing Options/add your drives as index location/rebuild index. When rebuild is complete, right click START /Properties/StartMenu tab/choose customize /Search other Files Folders/select search with public folders. My stress level went down." I'm not certain but you probably dont need to do step one (rebuilding the index).

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

Anonymous

I have listed ALL of these symptoms as I am sure they

are all the "same" problem.

Double clicking on Explorer.exe gives me the error msg:

This file does not have a program associted with it for

performin this action. Please install a program or, if

one is already installed, create an association in the

Default Programs control Panel.

Wundows Search explorer is displayed in the REGISTRY along

with the other programs listed in the default Programs window.

However, Windows Search Explorer is NOT displayed in the

Default Program Window.

A third party Default Program Editor DOES display the Windows

Search Explorer, BUT, when I click NEXT I get a similar error

about no association.

When I click on Search Everywhere (using the start menu search)

I get a similar error msg: search:query=notepad -- There is no

program associated to perform the requested action. Please

install a program or, if one is already installed, create an

association in the Default Programs control Panel.

I can use shortcuts like C: or C:\Windows and the shortcut

displays the explorer icon and Explorer opens as it should.

I have "installed" the Windows 7 Folder Fix registration file

and the Windows 7 Search registration file(shown below) and

it did NOT solve the problem.

WinKEY + E DOES open Explorer correctly.

I ran the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter and it found:

Incorrect permissions on Windows Search Directories -- FIXED.

BUT NOTHING changed. ALL above symptoms remained the same.

-----------------------------Windows 7 Folder Fix registration file --------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

;"Folder" association fix - Windows 7

;http://www.winhelponline.com/blog

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder]

"ContentViewModeLayoutPatternForBrowse"="delta"

"ContentViewModeForBrowse"="prop:~System.ItemNameDisplay;~System.LayoutPattern.PlaceHolder;~System.LayoutPattern.PlaceHolder;~System.LayoutPattern.PlaceHolder;System.DateModified"

"ContentViewModeLayoutPatternForSearch"="alpha"

"ContentViewModeForSearch"="prop:~System.ItemNameDisplay;System.DateModified;~System.ItemFolderPathDisplay"

@="Folder"

"EditFlags"=hex:d2,03,00,00

"FullDetails"="prop:System.PropGroup.Description;System.ItemNameDisplay;System.ItemTypeText;System.Size"

"NoRecentDocs"=""

"ThumbnailCutoff"=dword:00000000

"TileInfo"="prop:System.Title;System.ItemTypeText"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\DefaultIcon]

@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\

00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,00,68,00,\

65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,33,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore]

"MultiSelectModel"="Document"

"ProgrammaticAccessOnly"=""

"LaunchExplorerFlags"=dword:00000018

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\explore\command]

"DelegateExecute"="{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open]

"MultiSelectModel"="Document"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\open\command]

"DelegateExecute"="{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}"

@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\

00,5c,00,45,00,78,00,70,00,6c,00,6f,00,72,00,65,00,72,00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,\

65,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\opennewprocess]

"MUIVerb"="@shell32.dll,-8518"

"MultiSelectModel"="Document"

"Extended"=""

"LaunchExplorerFlags"=dword:00000003

"ExplorerHost"="{ceff45ee-c862-41de-aee2-a022c81eda92}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\opennewprocess\command]

"DelegateExecute"="{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\opennewwindow]

"MUIVerb"="@shell32.dll,-8517"

"MultiSelectModel"="Document"

"OnlyInBrowserWindow"=""

"LaunchExplorerFlags"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell\opennewwindow\command]

"DelegateExecute"="{11dbb47c-a525-400b-9e80-a54615a090c0}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\BriefcaseMenu]

@="{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\Library Location]

@="{3dad6c5d-2167-4cae-9914-f99e41c12cfa}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\Offline Files]

@="{474C98EE-CF3D-41f5-80E3-4AAB0AB04301}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellEx\DragDropHandlers{BD472F60-27FA-11cf-B8B4-444553540000}]

@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellEx\PropertySheetHandlers\BriefcasePage]

@="{85BBD920-42A0-1069-A2E4-08002B30309D}"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellEx\PropertySheetHandlers\Offline Files]

@="{7EFA68C6-086B-43e1-A2D2-55A113531240}"

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellNew]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellNew]

"Directory"=""

"IconPath"=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,\

74,00,25,00,5c,00,73,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,73,\

00,68,00,65,00,6c,00,6c,00,33,00,32,00,2e,00,64,00,6c,00,6c,00,2c,00,33,00,\

00,00

"ItemName"="@shell32.dll,-30396"

"MenuText"="@shell32.dll,-30317"

"NonLFNFileSpec"="@shell32.dll,-30319"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\ShellNew\Config]

"AllDrives"=""

"IsFolder"=""

"NoExtension"=""

------------------------------- Windows 7 Search Reg File -----------------------------------

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex\Protocols]

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex\Protocols\Mapi]

"7b0dd124.IsCached"=dword:00000001

"7b0dd124.IsPublic"=dword:00000000

"7b0dd124.IsExchange"=dword:00000000

"7b0dd124.IsPST"=dword:00000001

"7b0dd124.IsDelegate"=dword:00000000

"7b0dd124"=hex(7):00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,38,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,10,ac,05,ac,e5,ac,\

10,ac,1a,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,08,ac,00,ac,2b,ac,2a,ac,56,ac,c2,ac,00,ac,00,ac,6d,\

ac,73,ac,70,ac,73,ac,74,ac,2e,ac,64,ac,6c,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,\

00,ac,4e,ac,49,ac,54,ac,41,ac,f9,ac,bf,ac,b8,ac,01,ac,00,ac,aa,ac,00,ac,37,\

ac,d9,ac,6e,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,43,ac,00,ac,3a,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,\

55,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,65,ac,00,ac,72,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,43,\

ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,69,ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,41,ac,\

00,ac,70,ac,00,ac,70,ac,00,ac,44,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,\

ac,5c,ac,00,ac,4c,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,63,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,\

5c,ac,00,ac,4d,ac,00,ac,69,ac,00,ac,63,ac,00,ac,72,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,73,\

ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,4f,ac,00,ac,75,ac,\

00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,6b,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,\

ac,4f,ac,00,ac,75,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,\

6b,ac,00,ac,2e,ac,00,ac,70,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,\

00,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,38,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,10,ac,05,ac,e5,ac,10,ac,1a,ac,\

a1,ac,bb,ac,08,ac,00,ac,2b,ac,2a,ac,56,ac,c2,ac,00,ac,00,ac,6d,ac,73,ac,70,\

ac,73,ac,74,ac,2e,ac,64,ac,6c,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,4e,ac,\

49,ac,54,ac,41,ac,f9,ac,bf,ac,b8,ac,01,ac,00,ac,aa,ac,00,ac,37,ac,d9,ac,6e,\

ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,43,ac,00,ac,3a,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,55,ac,00,ac,\

73,ac,00,ac,65,ac,00,ac,72,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,43,ac,00,ac,6c,\

ac,00,ac,69,ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,41,ac,00,ac,70,ac,\

00,ac,70,ac,00,ac,44,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,\

ac,4c,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,63,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,\

4d,ac,00,ac,69,ac,00,ac,63,ac,00,ac,72,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,6f,\

ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,4f,ac,00,ac,75,ac,00,ac,74,ac,\

00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,6b,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,4f,ac,00,\

ac,75,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,6f,ac,00,ac,6b,ac,00,ac,\

2e,ac,00,ac,70,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,00,00,00

"OutlookVersionLastIndexed"=dword:0000000c

"4689c1f9.IsCached"=dword:00000001

"4689c1f9.IsPublic"=dword:00000000

"4689c1f9.IsExchange"=dword:00000000

"4689c1f9.IsPST"=dword:00000001

"4689c1f9.IsDelegate"=dword:00000000

"4689c1f9"=hex(7):ff,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,38,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,10,ac,05,ac,e5,ac,\

10,ac,1a,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,08,ac,00,ac,2b,ac,2a,ac,56,ac,c2,ac,00,ac,01,ac,d1,\

ac,50,ac,26,ac,96,ac,ef,ac,5f,ac,7f,ac,49,ac,b1,ac,8b,ac,c2,ac,14,ac,1d,ac,\

0e,ac,5c,ac,ae,ac,00,00,ff,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,38,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,10,ac,05,\

ac,e5,ac,10,ac,1a,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,08,ac,00,ac,2b,ac,2a,ac,56,ac,c2,ac,00,ac,\

01,ac,d1,ac,50,ac,26,ac,96,ac,ef,ac,5f,ac,7f,ac,49,ac,b1,ac,8b,ac,c2,ac,14,\

ac,1d,ac,0e,ac,5c,ac,ae,ac,00,00,00,00

"ed6bd535.IsCached"=dword:00000001

"ed6bd535.IsPublic"=dword:00000000

"ed6bd535.IsExchange"=dword:00000000

"ed6bd535.IsPST"=dword:00000001

"ed6bd535.IsDelegate"=dword:00000000

"ed6bd535"=hex(7):00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,38,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,10,ac,05,ac,e5,ac,\

10,ac,1a,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,08,ac,00,ac,2b,ac,2a,ac,56,ac,c2,ac,00,ac,00,ac,6d,\

ac,73,ac,70,ac,73,ac,74,ac,2e,ac,64,ac,6c,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,\

00,ac,4e,ac,49,ac,54,ac,41,ac,f9,ac,bf,ac,b8,ac,01,ac,00,ac,aa,ac,00,ac,37,\

ac,d9,ac,6e,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,4c,ac,00,ac,3a,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,\

4e,ac,00,ac,65,ac,00,ac,77,ac,00,ac,20,ac,00,ac,49,ac,00,ac,6e,ac,00,ac,73,\

ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,5c,ac,00,ac,45,ac,\

00,ac,6d,ac,00,ac,61,ac,00,ac,69,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,42,ac,00,ac,55,ac,00,\

ac,5c,ac,00,ac,43,ac,00,ac,6c,ac,00,ac,69,ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,66,ac,00,ac,\

27,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,2e,ac,00,ac,70,ac,00,ac,73,ac,00,ac,74,ac,00,ac,00,\

ac,00,ac,00,00,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,00,ac,38,ac,a1,ac,bb,ac,10,ac,05,ac,e5,ac,\