In windows 7 - I want to search for all files containing "A word or phrase in the file". The standard XP search box.

Anonymous

In Windows 7 - I want to search/find all files containing "A word or phrase in the file". The old standard XP search box.

I do NOT supply: file name; file type; drive letter; etc. - nothing.

I tried searching for this - just can't find any discussion. And of course, not having this search would be insane. It is precisely what we have a computer for.

And no 3rd party programs are allowed.

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

I've been looking into this because I know the search has been failing for me. I think the difference in whether Windows search works or not depends on the FILE EXTENSION which contains your search text. For example, if you look for the word "spam", it will be found if it is in a whatever.doc file, or whatever.txt file. However, if you were to rename the file to whatever.xyz, it will no longer find the word.

Here are all the steps I think you need to follow to actually search:

Make sure that Windows 7 is actually going to search files with your extension, and it appears that using this list properly is important *whether or not you are looking in an indexed location*!!

a. Hit the start button and type "search" in the search box.

b. Select "Change How Windows Searches"

c. Hit "Advanced"

d. Select the "File Types" tab.

e. Make sure the file extension for the files you want to search in is on the list *and* is set to "Index Properties and File Contents" (yes, pick your jaw up off the floor). I know this appears to be for file indexing, but it does seem to make a difference on whether you find the file in non-indexed locations as well.

f. Say "Ok" and exit all the dialog boxes

2. Actually perform your search on the folder in question. Depending on some other settings you may have to type "content: spam" to find "spam" *in* the files instead of files with the word "spam" in the name. Alternately, if you press the "Alt" key when you're exploring in the folder, you can choose "Tools / Folder Options" go to the "Search" tab and select "Always search file names and contents".

If what I have written is actually correct, then IMHO Microsoft has coughed up the ball bigtime on this one. Personally, I now recognize that I can't use the search feature, and I'm installing Cygwin so I can use "grep" to search the contents of files. Not cool and not amused.

Good luck to all the searchers.

~Pete

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

To get your suggestion to the right people at Microsoft, please go to the Give Us Feedback for Windows 7 page.

Boulder Computer Maven

Microsoft Most Valuable Professional

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

@CmdrKeene 90,631 Volunteer Moderator

There is an option that seems to match what you're looking for:

If this was helpful, please vote by clicking the green triangle. If it solves the issue, click Propose as Answer. Thanks!

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

To find "phrase in the file" type content:"phrase in the file" in the searchbox.

0 comments

364 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-02-08T03:51:16+00:00

Did it ever occur to any of the big brains that I might want to search for content in files with indeterminate extension, or no extension whatsoever? (For that matter, it would be nice to be able to associate files having no extension with a default application.)

I haven't read the whole thread -- only as much as I could stand before becoming nauseous -- but something tells me it's not 17 pages of people saying how awesome they think Windows Search is.

So my choices are to either use some costly, jacked-up 3rd-party tool to perform this fundamental operation, or just do some typical MS-mandated hoop-jumping: write a script to normalize my file extensions, and then do the search -- and then write another script to un-normalize them, to un-break compatibility with every other application they're being used by. But for once in my pitiful MS-infested life, it would be nice for something to "just work"*, sensibly, without having to defeat some additional barriers-to-entry, all because the designers are too lazy or lacking in foresight to build me proper tools in the first place. (*not an Apple pitch. Their products suck, too.)

MS don't have the first clue when it comes to using their own OS/Office/Visual Studio/Browser/whatever to get actual nontrivial work done, or heaven forbid actually try to optimize such activities. Lack of understanding - on multiple levels - is the only possible explanation for why you keep downgrading and regressing your software instead of improving it. Heck you even go after your old products ... pushing the cruddy Windows Search onto everyone's Win XP boxes. :(

And by the way, is a Search function that insists on looking in the filesystem, email inbox, browser bookmarks, and who knows what all else supposed to be some kind of feature?

The loss/obfuscation of so many "advanced"/developer features in Office 2010 was painful enough, combined with the hassles of "new improved" Windows 7, and throw in a little dash of "let's tamper with Visual Studio just enough to annoy people", I can barely even stand to do my job any more.

If Lisa M. or anyone else is still reading this, please pass these sentiments on to someone who can and will make a difference. Since the likelihood of that actually happening is nearly nil, my alternate advice is that you just quit your jobs with MS and start working at an organization which has more focus on making the world better instead of making it worse.

And until then, definitively: thanks for nothing.

P.S. just throw that touchscreen OS you're working on in the trash. Nobody wants it. And you can pitch the tablets while you're at it.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments