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.


Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?

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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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  2. Anonymous
    2011-11-16T12:46:12+00:00

    I have tried typing in *.mp3 in the search box while having a drive selected.  This in previous versions would have found all my mp3 files.  In windows 7 it is returning an empty search result.

    typing part of a file name of one of my music tracks does the same thing even though I KNOW there is a file whose name either starts with, or contains, that word.

    I consider myself reasonably savvy with computer file searches until I had windows 7: I could do searches in dos with ? and * wildcards, I could use explorer XP to say I want to search filenames and folders that contain etc. and I could choose to include or not include the file content in the search, and it was all laid out and easy to see what you are doing.

    but windows 7 appears to be determined to be as non-intutive as possible.

    None of the suggestions above have helped. 

    And why does windows 7 not show a simple extension under filetype for music flac files?  I have mpg and mp3 and xls showing fine, but all flac files show their "Type" as Windows Media Player"

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