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

This response matches with my experience. The key to this problem on many machines is that you must be working from an undamaged index file.

With a correctly built file, Win7 search will see inside documents such as .pdf and .txt and so the data in there is searchable.

For example, we use the search to find matches of addresses or phone numbers in .txt files captured from search results' screen Snags (using Snagit) and Win7 -when running properly) will find those contents.

I outlined above how to reset your registry to cause it to actually start a fresh index file by using a simple 3-line script. Once run a new index will be created (instead of merely having theappearance  of being created). It is important that you set up your index peramiters correctly so thet the broadest and most granular index is created. Those settings are in several different places, also outlined above.

Good hunting.

Lorna,

Windows 7 uses 2 types of search procedures. The search you are doing searches ALL of your computer using a sort of brute force but slow method. For many people it is far far too slow. Also, I don't think you can search file contents.

For me the dramatic contrast in performance that a relatively small program like "Agent Ransack" gives deserves praise. It's free but worthy of a donation.

The only bad think about the program in my opinion is the ridiculous name (big deal).

You are correct that this will run a traditional non-indexed search on the C: drive for many users, because not all files on the drive are indexed.  However, I am 100% certain that searching from individual, fully indexed drives/folders does produce results from file contents. We have used this feature extensively because, as Lorna found, this is the only way to search from some W7 computers (…but not others for an unknown reason.)

If you have all of your data in one folder that is listed as indexed, try opening the root folder that contains all of the data and search within the box at the top-right.  This should run an indexed search on all of the data. As noted above, this is essentially the method that we use for our W7 computers that flunk the start menu search test, except replace “folder” with “mapped network drive on a Windows 2008 SBS server that is indexed on the server side.”

YAY!!!!!!!  It brought back my windows search!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU.

THIS WAS RIGHT ON THE MARK. I thought others deserved to know that your advice led me to the solution for my inability to do Win7 searches. First, I tried getting the last McAfee update, and then rebuilt my search index—nothing changed. Next, I uninstalled McAfee and downloaded it again. And SUCCESS! By the time I checked the number of files that had been indexed, it had tripled the # than was being indexed earlier--and finally it was picking up files with a .doc extension. I performed a number of successful searches! So if you are using McAfee, forget all the other advice and use this remedy!

thanks for the advice.

So if I understand you correctly.

You had to totally uninstall McAfee first, and did you use the McAfee removal tool or just MS uninstall ?

Thanks in advance.

BTW - I'm still sold on "Agent Ransack". It can do advanced Boolean content search onnon index content etc - I'm sounding like a salesman