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
    2017-07-22T21:26:13+00:00

    If you want a XP style search on Windows 7, you may want to try FileSearchy version 1.43. This is the latest version. It is free, although no more supported. I use it regularly. You can optionally set it up so that it is integrated with W7 explorer as a right click menu on folders, or you can browse via the button (...) to select your search folder (but you don't have to, in which case it will search your whole hard drive).

    As example:  If you search for the word "voice", you enter voice (without the quotes) and FileSearchy will find voice, voices, invoice, invoices. The search will be for filenames only or including contents, depending on your selection.

    Other options are: filename, case-sensitive, substring (meaning for example *voice*), whole word ("voice"), regex (+voice -billing), boolean (voice NOT billing), directory, include sub-folders, in contents, modified between, size, show advanced options...very similar to XP style search.

    You can have several different searches, each search being inside a tab...very cool feature.

    In each tab, search results show. There, you can select to show: All types of files, folders only, documents, exec, picture, music, video...very useful...extremely useful...I like this.

    As with everything else: There are flip sides:

    a) Just like Everything-Search tool, FileSearchy will search only in your hard-drive or hard-drives. It will not search on servers, in which case you would need to use W7 explorer using the syntax...name:~=voice.

    b) FileSearchy will index your whole local hard drive C:\ before 1st time use (it needs a whole night to build the index, after which search will be very fast).

    c) You can not select the folders or sub-folders you want to index, nor can you select drives located on servers. The only time you can select drives to index is when you have for example several local hard drives C: and D: and E:, etc. but the drives must be local on your PC not on server.

    With this tool, so far so good. No complain.

    Thanks for reading.

    2017/07/22 at 5:25PM.

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  2. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-06-06T21:31:51+00:00

    It should work, I use it often.  Maybe try disabling the index and see if it works when you're simply searching the against the disk/storage device directly, and then take it from there and isolate what's causing the problem.

    You should be able to test it by opening a command prompt and doing nearly the same thing.  Such as:

    C:> dir /s *2001.xl*

    Which would find any file that has "2001" before the dot, such as Invoices 2001.xlx or even just 2001.xlsx

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-06-06T21:28:11+00:00

    You could also use the easy way instead of the full syntax.

    This search:  *2001

    would find "grossSales2001". 

    Wildcards (*) or (?) have been around for decades and still work in all versions.

    Inaccurate information.  Why?  Because it doesn't "work"

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