Want to search ONLY file names in Windows 7 Explorer?

Anonymous

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!

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Anonymous

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 Volunteer Moderator

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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87 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-06-22T18:22:03+00:00

Simple, except A) the search takes very much longer, and B) it doesn't work that way in general.

If I'm looking for all files on the system, searching for filename should be lightning fast. But if I have to search the contents of very file ..... For example, I have on my system (ignore the why) files of every type everywhere with names <base-name>@<varied info>.<ext> and also just the files <base-name>.<ext>. I want to find all the files with the @ in the name. Ignoring the fact this this will take forever (20 minutes so far on an i7 system) what I get it a list of all the files containing an @ and the files whose filename contains an @, listed as they are encountered. 'Useless' is hardly an adequate description. What's it take to get an MVP rating these days? Interesting that theres no little button saying that this is the dumbest answer imaginable.
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Anonymous

2013-06-22T18:24:07+00:00

Try searching for a filename that contains an @.
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Anonymous

2013-06-22T23:48:23+00:00

You can specify that you want filenames specifically. Weirdly, we can choose among properties called filename, file, and name, which should refer to the same thing but whose special usages sometimes require different syntax. I prefer name, and you can do:

name:~="@"

The ~= means search anywhere in the name, and the quotes ensure that the symbol is being searched for (most symbols don't need the quotes, but some do, so it is safer to use them).
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