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.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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

Was this answer helpful?

100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

162 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-08-29T20:29:02+00:00

    I managed to get Search to "look inside" PDF files by Indexing Options > Advanced > File Types tab and then selecting the "Index Properties and File Contents" option for the PDF extension.  Hope this helps some.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-27T13:22:32+00:00

    Back to basics: why could XP find things W7 can't?

    I was a very satisfied user of the ABBYY 5.0 OCR-application . Because of W7

    I had to buy an update.  I use ABBYY to make searchable PDF's. This all worked fine under XP, no indexing needed whatsoever. Now I find W7 is as blind as a mole. Why do I need the time-, space- and possibly privacy-consuming indexing, if XP worked fine without it? What's the use of searchable PDF's when they aren't findable?

    Don't companies lose millions of dollars this way because of  lost documents or time needed to find them again?

    What if you bought a car and it turned out not to be able to go in reverse?

    BTW: I followed the instructions above, and W7/Exporer still feels (ánd proves to be) unreliable.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-08-25T12:44:31+00:00

    @m_south_a and others

    Microsoft really needs to fix the search to make it reliable.

    1 tip that made it a little better is adding you full c:\ drive to the indexoptions and replace the complete index to a new location(other drive letter)

    In the mean time we have to use alternatives like:

    - FileLocator or

    • AstroGrep(if you don't have admin rights on your pc)

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-08-25T00:23:54+00:00

    no microsoft needs to fix this now!! we dont need some 3rd party software! MS fix this mess!!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments