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

An alternative to all the suggestions in this thread... as old as it may be... would be to use a third party utility such as Agent Ransack (google is your friend here)

Its not restricted by file permissions or attributes or indexing or known mime types.

If you ask it to search for something it does exactly that and has a much more comprehensive wildcard and recursive control.

Also works effectively on network drives / UNC paths

Enjoy

For the last couple of months my "solution" has been to turn indexing off for "\Users" indexing. I did this by Indexing Options>Modify and uncheck "\Users" indexing box. Then just use the upper right hand search box to search from any folder down the directory tree.

This worked for me.  Search would not find any files in "user" using the very simplest search on a known file (pdf with simple file name).  Removing "user" from the index immediately fixed the problem.  All files were found with no problem.

PROBLEM SOLVED

I struggled with the same problem for a few hours. Finally, I discovered that:

if you are searching for a word inside a file name, then you must start the search string with an asterisk (wildcard), otherwise Windows will find nothing. For example, if you are searching for "cyberdyne" in a file name, then you must search for both "cyberdyne" and "*cyberdyne"

If the word you are searching for is at the beginning of the file name, or if it is preceded by a hyphen or a dot, then Windows Explorer will find the file without the asterisk.

You're right; samc1 made a mistake in his/her directions for modifying the index locations, which are indeed accessed via the "Modify" button in the first dialog box.  Incidentally, samc1's post dates from five years ago, 2009, when Windows 7 first came out.

However, you don't need to go into that level of detail if you don't want to; Windows will automatically index any folder included in the Libraries (at least, that's what's supposed to happen).  For a thorough tutorial on how to set up and use Windows Search, please see my two articles starting with: http://www.davescomputertips.com/the-art-and-craft-of-windows-search-1-groundwork/.  That should help you make the most of the Search capabilities, which are far superior to anything in Windows XP, although there are quirks which I also suggest means of working around.

Windows 7 is by far the best operating system Microsoft has produced, and its features continue to underpin Windows 8 and 10, which can be regarded as the development of a more tablet-oriented GUI on top of an improved version of Windows 7.