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.

Have Questions About Installing Windows 7?

FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

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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

2014-01-28T22:53:58+00:00

Downloading the free version of File Locator Lite restores the search functionality that was lost in Windows 7. I always worry about free software, but so far, no problems. And searching on file names or selecting a particular drive to be searched is really straightforward.

I went to SourceForge and got a free copy of File Locater.

It worked perfectly.
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Anonymous

2014-02-06T21:11:54+00:00

That was absolutely perfectly worded, and I couldn't agree more. Thank you! This is an old post I know, but the Windows 7 search functionality was so thoroughly butchered, that there's no one fix for every situation I encounter. Like just needing a quick *.* flat file listing that I can sort by size, WITHOUT needlessly pegging the CPU for the logged on VDI user while W7 'helpfully' continues searching inside indexed files in the background. "Easy." says Shawn, MVP, MDCS, ELI5. "If it's in the filename, those results will be returned first." Shawn can't understand why anyone would NOT want this functionality, but then he's smarter than you are, so it's up to him to whatever he can - impassioned pleas, simplified answers, whatever, in hopes that someday he'll get you to use the OS as it was designed and we can all be happy. Shawn, if you really want to be helpful, start by assuming I know what I want, and it's more less exactly what I'm asking for (a flat file listing). Can we move forward now?
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Anonymous

2014-02-15T23:09:59+00:00

The problem is that Windows 7 search simply doesn't work, except in non-indexed locations. If you want to find a file with 'ABC' in the name in a non-indexed location, it works!!!!!

Why can't it do the same in an indexed location? In some cases the search returns NOTHING even though the files are clearly there and can be clicked on and opened.

Is it possible to turn of the indexing, without deleting the index, so that if you ever want to search inside a file you can without having to re-create the index?

What made the geeks in Microsoft think that not being able to find files with ABC or any other string in the name was a 'feature'? Why don't they consider it such a serious bug that it deserves immediate attention?
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