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.

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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

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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

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@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!

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Anonymous

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

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364 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-01-09T23:04:57+00:00

>>>>Hmmm.... All I know is, I created a similar Word document in a folder on a networked drive (obviously, not indexed), and I used the search string you provided (with colon), and it worked for me. No extra quotes, either.

No insult intended, @CJRhoads, but just in case--do you have the "Always search file names and contents..." option selected? If you don't, then it won't work.<<<<

Hi, VKLRC. No insult taken. And I appreciate the time that you are trying to help. But you do seem to be missing the point here.

Yes, I could go and double check that I have that particular option selected to search file names and contents. And then I could go and double check that I have the option selected to search subfolders. And then I could go and double check that the .docx extension is listed in the list of "allowable" extensions because Windows 7 Search will only look in files with "approved" extensions. And then I could double check that the file was included in the index and when I discover it isn't, and then wait a few days and it still doesn't show up - so then I could go and stop the indexing process, clear the index, restart the indexing process, wait a week, and finally FINALLY the Windows 7 Search will find the document. Unless it's on a network drive that can't be indexed.

Windows 7 Search works just fine if you have only a few hundred documents, only a few layers of folders, only one local drive, no network drives, and only "approved" applications. Windows 7 Search does not work reliably at all if you have thousands of documents, dozens of nested folders, external drives, network drives, and a large variety of programs that use a large variety of extensions.

I understand - your needs are simple. They may be filled just fine by Windows 7 Search, and everything you try may work. But please understand me when I tell you that power users, people with complex search needs, are not getting what they need from Windows 7 search. And just because it works on your machine doesn't mean it will work on mine. And it's not because I'm doing anything "wrong" necessarily. It's because Windows 7 search simply doesn't work reliably. It's buggy, and temperamental, and only works when the stars are aligned just right and the wind is blowing in the right direction.

But thanks for trying. I know your heart is in the right place.

Peace

CJ Rhoads
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