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

Anonymous
2010-06-28T02:30:00+00:00

How do you search for a document by using searching specific text in the document? (Word or other searchable doc.) Other forum answers suggest that this will happen with the general search box that appears in the upper right corner of explorer - but this does not seem to be the case.

I have searched for known words, and documents do not come up.

Is there a default? Is there a way turn on the search within document? (formerly, the detailed search option for any folder would prompt you to select 'search within document.')

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
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2010-07-06T20:15:26+00:00

Try just typing the phrase into the search box. If this doesn’t work, try content: “words in phrase”

Lisa

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

57 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2012-02-08T16:52:41+00:00

    I addressed the question you posed.  That's why my post is headed as being in reply to your post.

    You don't seem to understand me - you do not need to enter anything other than the words you are searching for.  To put it another way, to search for a file containing the word Fred, open Windows explorer and type Fred into the search box whilst you are at the top level folder of those you want to search in.

    The search syntax you are referring to is an optional refinement of the basic search function. The link you provided to search syntax is the index from the link I had provided.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2012-02-08T16:29:25+00:00

    Ya know, I appreciate you taking the time to type all of that, but, again, it was a total fail at answering TMMMM's question.

    It may be handy for someone in IT or DBM, but the search keyword contents: appeared NO WHERE on the linked page you posted. In no way did you help ANYONE search for text within a file using the cryptic [Search] function of Windows 7. Sure, there are a lot of interesting things there, but why not answer the person's question as I did?

    Here's the big question: why should it be so dang difficult/complicated to perform what used to be a simple search?

    tja (That's a text-jerk-apology, no animosity intended, an anachronism of TTY days ;) Gosh, I'm a relic.. lol )

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2012-02-08T15:53:38+00:00

    Well, TMMMM, I have found a very useful link:

    http://www.osattack.com/windows-7/how-to-use-windows-7-search/

    You should save the information at that link!

    To answer your specific question:

    Forget about the Search box in the Start menu. It is near worthless.

    Open [Computer] (used to be [My Computer]). You can do this by clicking [Start], then clicking on [Computer].

    You'll see [Search Computer] in a little box on the right of the address bar with a little magnifying glass icon.

    You can navigate to the drive, drive partition, or folder using the column on the left of the explore window to make your search faster.

    Once you are where you wish to search for the document containing the text, enter the following in the search box:

    contents: "Text or phrase"

    contents is the key word and the quotes are very important.

    I hope this helps :D

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2012-02-08T15:35:06+00:00

    Just use Windows explorer search box.  Go to the top level folder within which you want to search & enter the search term.  It will search file names, file properties & file contents for indexed locations & indexed file types.

    If you want, you can use the filters offered in the search box.  There are more filters available if you search from within Libraries. [you need to stretch the search box to the left to make it bigger so you can see the available filters]

    You can also do more refined searches by using the search syntax reproduced at http://www.thewindowsclub.com/windows-search-advanced-query-syntax

    That's about the best you can do without going to third-party tools.  Personally, I've just learnt to live with it.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments