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

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.

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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
    2013-01-10T13:48:44+00:00

    AND THIS STUPID FORUM SOFTWARE RESPECTS NO FORMATTING WHEN USING MS IE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    :-D  (I'm using Firefox, and the forum software seems to work fine with that.)

    Anyway, while I agree that the Vista/Win7/Win8 search is truly unfriendly--even hostile--to the power user, I don't have a choice. I'm stuck with the OS and the search engine (no third-party solutions allowed for now).

    My needs are not necessarily simple. I've spent months in this thread trying to find a way to find phrases inside files in non-indexed locations like network drives with thousands of files in several layers of folders (many of them PDFs--see below). After discovering the Advanced Query Syntax, I have not been aware of any problems when I have used it, but I certainly will keep my eyes open.

    I agree that the search settings are scattered hither and yon, the documentation is nonexistent or arcane, and the need to keep up on the setting for each individual file type is unfriendly and burdensome. In other words, it's obviously intended to be a no-brainer search feature--Microsoft repeatedly touts the ability to type in a keyword and find it wherever it may appear, be it in the file name or file contents or file metadata. But Microsoft's propaganda ignores the fact that your casual user doesn't know which types of files the search engine is looking at, whether the area it's looking in supports indexing, whether it has or needs IFilters installed--Microsoft is just trying to keep the casual user dumb and happy.

    The WinXP search was much simpler to use and seemed to work the way a more demanding user would expect. Naturally, that must have seemed a little too complicated for the casual user, so Microsoft had to "simplify" it so it no longer actually did what even a naïve user would want. (I want to point out, however, that even WinXP search required IFilters for certain non-Microsoft file types, especially PDFs, in order to search file contents.)

    Bottom line: I think we all agree that the "improved" Windows search is actually several steps backwards. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the AQS combined with non-indexed content searching and the appropriate IFilters is reasonably reliable, but I'm also maintaining skepticism about the results.

    D-:

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