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

Anonymous
2009-12-06T19:24:59+00:00

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.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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Anonymous
2010-08-19T18:11:15+00:00

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:

  1. 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

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@CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2010-09-19T13:39:48+00:00

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!

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Anonymous
2009-12-09T00:08:07+00:00

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-01-10T18:05:17+00:00

    Hi, Greg.

    Hmmm - the post you are replying to was written in January 2010,  more than 3 years ago.  Shawn may or may not still be around, but I thought I'd answer your question.

    You must have somehow missed the fact that this thread has been going on for more than three years, and this question, the same question that started the thread has yet to be answered beyond "It doesn't work in Windows 7 - you have to go out and get another search program."

    Yes, if you read through the 31 pages of discussion on this topic and sift through the years of tears of frustration posted by people who are incredulous, as I am, that Microsoft would do something so stupid as to make the search feature of Windows 7 unusable, you will find some useful advice and tips and explanations.  Sometimes, you might even get one of those tips to work - as long as everything is perfect and all the stars align.  For the most part, for most people on this thread, we've simply given up - at least with Microsoft OS.  There are lots of third party search programs described and some of them even work well - though there is still not a single one that will search the contents of non-text files on a non-local drive and give you only the exact phrase that you want in a search.   For that I suggest finding an XP machine, hooking it up to your server, and using the wonderful search feature of Windows XP, [the loss of which I mourn every time I can't find a file that I KNOW is THERE with the $%#^#&%^$%^$^ Windows 7 search].

    Just my opinion

    CJ Rhoads

    Thanks for the reply CJ, but I didn't miss how long the thread has been open, or any of the 31 pages of discussion on this horrible search feature.  I have researched this for hours and hours that I could have spent actually doing work, and have been using Windows since the early 90's, so I know my way around the OS for the most part.

    That being said, the reason I was asking this question in such an old thread is that I was hoping someone had figured out a way to do this by now.  And yes, I have clicked always search contents, etc., and nothing seems to work.    I also tried the "content:~="Soon, a doctor visit"" with a phrase I know to be in at least 100 documents in one folder on the server, and the search returned 3 items after 15 minutes of searching.  This is so much better than the XP search function.  Microsoft is really doing a great job!!

    Anyway, at this point, I've spent way too much time at work trying to figure out how to use this stupid program when I could be generating billable hours, so I have begun to copy the files for the clients I use the most from the server onto my hard drive (40Gb so far - wheeeeee), and I will index these on my local pc and hope for the best.  This is so much better than the XP search function.  Microsoft is really doing a great job!!

    Whoever's idea this was really should be flogged repeatedly.

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