How to Search in Windows 7 for text within a document?

Jacek,

He was referring to Windows explorer.  Shortcuts to this are already in your Start menu entries. 

You can use Windows explorer to run Windows search.  It has an advantage in that you can go to the top-level folder within which you want to search and the search then accepts that limitation on where it will look.

Please note that the default setting [in Folder options] is for Windows search to include contents for indexed locations anyway - altering this setting just expands that to include all locations so would only be useful if you wanted to, for example, search the contents of files that are outside your documents folders & outside any Libraries.  In other words, Windows search includes searching within file content for files within Libraries.  You don't need to add any content: prefix to anything - just type in ThisIsWhatIWantToFind.

You might wish to look at this thread A guide to using Windows Search; two alternatives to Windows Search

Hi Trentcreek,

"Tools" is the 4th menu item from the left as I look at my explorer window (The menus go File, Edit, View, Tools, Help on my screen).

Davidb23's answer is very helpful, I wish I had been aware of it years ago, it would have saved a lot of frustration. Why indeed did MS bury this option when it was so simple before (I can only surmise that MS programmers don't use their own products Ha! Ha!)

Explorer is available through: Click on Start button>Accessories>Windows Explorer.

Intriguingly, when I left mouse click on the Start button, a dialog box opens which provides you with an option to "Open Windows Explorer" but when I click on this option it does nothing on my machines.

Trent,

To view the Tools menu if you don't routinely have it visible*,

either

press alt-t

or

go straight through to the folder options by clicking on Organize, Folder & search options

[* to set this press alt-t, Folder options, View tab - set Always show menus.]

Please note that the default setting is for Windows search to include contents for indexed locations anyway - altering this setting just expands that to include all locations so would only be useful if you wanted to, for example, search the contents of files that are outside your documents folders & outside any Libraries.

Excellent. 

It is not easily found since there is no explorer in 7, but I put "folder options" in the search bar on the "Start" function, and it took me to the folder options.  Then, all was as you described.  Thank you much.

Jacek