Want to search ONLY file names in Windows 7 Explorer?

Anonymous
2011-02-06T06:17:16+00:00

I usually just want to seach for a "word in a file & folder name" -- and often can give a a date range. In Windows 7 Explorer, as soon as I type the word, I get all files that contain the word in the content, as well.  How can I have it search only the file or folder name?

I also don't use "my documents" or "Libraries"...I create my own subfolders -- and generally on a stick drive...so I don't really understand "indexing" or if it's relevant to how I organize my files.

I miss the Windows XP search feature in Windows 7 Explorer!

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

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Anonymous
2011-02-06T06:32:16+00:00

How can I have it search only the file or folder name?

Folder:

foldername:example

Word in name:

name:example

I miss the Windows XP search feature in Windows 7 Explorer!

Let Microsoft know you want Windows Explorers features returned:

Since many people seem to agree that some or all the changes made to Windows Explorer have actually made it less user friendly, you can go to the Windows 7 Feedback page and (politely) let them know your suggestions for improving it:

http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Windows%207/Feedback.aspx?formID=195

Note: don't make the message too long, there is a size limit to your message even though the page doesn't tell you about it.

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@CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2011-02-06T18:05:52+00:00

No need for anything complicated.  Just type what you're looking for.  If it's in the filename, those results will be returned first, above any results where your search term isinside the file.  Easy.

Non-indexed locations such as stick drives can still be searched, but take a little more time to search (sort of like XP).

If this solves your issue, click the 'Propose as Answer' link below, and vote as helpful by clicking the green triangle to the lelft. Thanks!

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-06-09T15:50:10+00:00

    Hey guys, found this again years later. You're right I didn't understand why the web-search Google-style results (show a ton of results and just use the best hit) didn't cut it.

    But... you did not understand that part of the problem is also that no results comes back at all.

    I have found the folder option that you mentioned under the menu called "Organiser" (why would an "option" be under a menu called "Organize" is a mystery). My search option was set for both file name and content which explains why nothing ever came up (it was just too slow reading the big files).

    Note: You have told us that typing "folder" in the start menu would bring the file and folder option. It did not bring anything. It is probably because the indexing is off. Indexing is off because I work with huges files that will be manipulated by specialty programs. Don't assume it is "on" for everybody.

    My issue is partially resolved since it is now quick. Selecting "file name only" in non-indexed location seems to work. The downside of this option is that I loose my ability to search within files in the future.

    Hopefully Microsoft would make it less confusing for people who dislike the indexing. Sadly XP two box search had none of theses issues but cannot be accessed anymore, why not bring it back as a complimentary search tool to the general purpose one that is built in Windows explorer?

    Thanks,

    Xavier

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-06-04T16:45:04+00:00

    Easy, but not fast enough to be useful - that is if you have anything else to do that day.  Typically I give up after 1 or 2 hours.  Microsoft needs to give user explicit control to search ONLY folder and file names if that is what is desired.  For example, Microsoft applications gleefully populate the disk with temporary files, so common search is for "~*.*" to clean these off before offline backup.  In this case, only file names are of interest - no need to search for that text string everywhere.  Cannot imagine that Microsoft personnel don't have this problem.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-05-29T13:28:20+00:00

    The reason Microsoft is losing to open source....go to a DOS prompt and type:

    dir Somefile.name /s   

    Will search your drive in seconds not minutes...

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