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

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.

Your answer helps, but my (copy; version; build [???] of) Windows 7 has no "expand icon and select/deselect options" under "Indexing Options". It does have a "Modify" button that opens an "Indexed Locations" box in which one may include or exclude some indexed locations, however. Windows 7 is not well-thought-out in regards to how an everyday user might want to use searches on one's own computer hard disc. Windows XP was much more easy, even effortless to use in this regard.

Windows 7 brings to mind an automobile that has door handles flushed to the surface and camouflaged by excess door trim such that only people with acute eyesight and mechanical instincts can spot their location and operate them right away.

Omg, I finally solved it for myself!!

Background: Windows search didn't find all files that were there so I rebuilt the index numerous times and tried bunch of other tips in this discussion. Nothing worked. I reduced the problem to just indexing one folder with 2 files, one that could be found and one that couldn't. I inspected the files and noticed that the one that couldn't be indexed had Attribute: AT, while the other one had just A.

Apparently T stand for temporary, no idea how my file got that since I created that wave file myself.

Anyway, the solution is (taken from http://blogs.technet.com/b/askds/archive/2008/11/11/dfsr-does-not-replicate-temporary-files.aspx):

Bring up a Powershell prompt (Start, Run, Powershell or from the Programs menu) and run this command to remove the temporary attribute from all files in the specified directory, including subdirectories (in this example, D:\Data):

Get-childitem D:\Data -recurse | ForEach-Object -process {if (($_.attributes -band 0x100) -eq 0x100) {$_.attributes = ($_.attributes -band 0xFEFF)}}

If you don’t want it to work against subdirectories just remove the -recurse parameter.

And BAM!! Windows Search indexed the file right away!!

You can't imagine how much I've cursed and slammed the table over this before.

I'm so happy that I registered here just to share this info with you! Hope it helps!