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 No 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 No comments

162 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2012-08-22T08:31:11+00:00

    Your issue has nothing to do with indexing or searching. You have a broken shortcut. Right click any shortcut that doesn't work and select Properties. Check the path of the shortcut and change it to one that points correctly to Windows Explorer. This path will depend on your pc setup, for example on my work pc that I am using now, the path is: %windir%\explorer.exe, but on my pc at home, this is likely to be a different location.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-08-22T08:26:55+00:00

    Never used McAfee in my life, but still have the same problem, so it isn't McAfee.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-08-21T23:05:07+00:00

    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,\

      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,00,00,00,00

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

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ProcessedSearchRoots\0000]

    @="defaultroot://{S-1-5-21-3220964919-3834642952-3739663218-1000}/"

    "Version"=dword:00000000

    "DoNotCreateSearchConnectors"=dword:00000001

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ProcessedSearchRoots\0001]

    @="file:///C:\"

    "Version"=dword:00000000

    "DoNotCreateSearchConnectors"=dword:00000001

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ProcessedSearchRoots\0002]

    @="mapi://{S-1-5-21-3220964919-3834642952-3739663218-1000}/"

    "Version"=dword:00000000

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ProcessedSearchRoots\0002\Default]

    "FolderType"="{91475fe5-586b-4eba-8d75-d17434b8cdf6}"

    "SavePath"="C:\Users\Cliff\Searches\Microsoft Office Outlook.searchconnector-ms"

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ProcessedSearchRoots\0003]

    @="file:///D:\"

    "Version"=dword:00000000

    "DoNotCreateSearchConnectors"=dword:00000001

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ProcessedSearchRoots\0004]

    @="file:///H:\"

    "Version"=dword:00000000

    "DoNotCreateSearchConnectors"=dword:00000001

    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Search\ProcessedSearchRoots\0005]

    @="iehistory://{S-1-5-21-3220964919-3834642952-3739663218-1000}/"

    "Version"=dword:00000000

    "DoNotCreateSearchConnectors"=dword:00000001

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-08-09T08:53:32+00:00

    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:

    1. Go to Indexing Options/add your drives as index location/rebuild index.
    2. 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).

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments No comments