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
    2012-07-10T09:45:48+00:00

    Hey guys,

    After 26 pages of discussion about Windows 7 searching for text inside files. Windows 7 WILL NOT search text in files unless they are MICROSOFT OFFICE files. To search for text in files MS OFFICE or NOT you will need a third party program, such as, "Super Text Search", I have no connection with this company other than the use of the program. As per my experience, this program searches, doc, xls, pdf (not scanned), txt, ttx, etc. There are other third party programs that will do the same job.

    jabreusa, not quite.  If will actually search any file the way "you" tell it to search, but only you don't know that you're telling it this, as it is a ruddy stupid, idiotic setting that the folks at Microsoft decided on.

    Click on <Start>.  In the <search> field there type in "search".  It comes up with a couple of things.  Click on <Change how Windows searches>.  In the dialog box that appears, click on <Advanced>.  Select the <File Types> tab.

    Now you can tell it how to treat any file extension.  Search on the <properties>, or the <properties and file contents>.  And you can even add new extensions.

    The problem with this idiotic way is that seemingly you cannot say <search everything in file properties and file contents by default and not just known Microsoft file types>, but rather that it seems to default to <file properties only> for new unknown file extensions.  If one could change this then all troubles would be gone.  It may push up the index size, and indexing time, but at least one will be able to do something, other than having to get external software that the previous (good) version, XP, did without a problem.

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