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
    2016-01-11T17:01:28+00:00

    I would guess it was a typo...that meant to say, 

    "Once I went to the actual directory my search worked fine.".

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-01-11T14:40:12+00:00

    Thanks for the reply. However, the 10-word solution is indecipherable.

    What does "went to the actual director" mean?

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-09T23:22:55+00:00

    I was having similar problems - in Explorer looking at a folder with 3,000 .jpg, .tif and .cr2 files, but in search looking for *.jpg returns no files.

    My problem was related to using Junctions. I have found (again, I forgot I knew this) that Windows 7 search cannot traverse a Junction.

    Here is my example:

    Files are located here - c:\users\username\dropbox\mypics\rawfiles\folder001

    I have a junction like this - c:\users\username\My Pictures -> c:\users\username\dropbox\mypics

    Windows 7 uses Junctions to fix, hide and fake out all the old and new My Documents sub-folders, things like My Pictures, My Scans, etc, to make Windows 7 backwards compatible with apps that didn't like the new users folder structure.

    Junctions are reparse points and you can see them with this directory listing

    dir /AL /S

    Once I went to the actual director my search worked fine.

    Hope this helps.

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-11-26T06:23:03+00:00

    Yes I have the same problem, the directory is indexed, I am looking for standard file (e.g. .pdf) but even if the file is in the directory, it does not find it. Any advice on a search tol that would simply look for file systematically (wihtout indexing) starting from the directory you are in (in most cases I know in which directory my files are) ? In previous version of windows, the search tool was much more robust and reliable.

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