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
    2013-01-09T20:30:19+00:00

    I tried to replicate your search, and it worked the first time, then later I tried but with the document open, and the search failed as you describe.  I copied the document over to a more empty folder, and search was successful regardless of the document being open or closed.  Next, I tried searching for just a single word (visit) with content:visit and it failed when the document was open.  I conclude that it is a more general defect than searching for a phrase.  The problem you describe can happen even when searching for a single word.  Windows 7 Search bugs it up when searching Word documents for content in a crowded directory, at least for me when the document being searched happens to be open.  It might be important that the place where the search failed is an area where indexing would occur, and the place where the search succeeded was an area where indexing never occurred (an external USB stick).  Oddly however, I have turned indexing off long ago, so it's weird if an index-related quirk is involved at all.

    Edit:  I have tried again, not on an external storage device, but in AppData whose contents are outside of the normally indexed areas.  The search succeeded only when the document was closed.  I then did another test on the USB stick, and it failed to find an open Word document.  So, I don't see how indexing could be related at all, other than any success in indexed areas probably has to do with Windows Search searching the index rather than the actual files.  Because I do not use indexing, Windows Search must access the files directly regardless of location, and that means that content search failure of this type can occur anywhere since there is no index being referrenced at any time.  If people are having similar search failure in indexed areas, then the indexing process must be suffering the same defect as direct file searching.

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