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?

FAQ - Common Windows 7 Installation Questions & Answers

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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
    2012-02-22T05:26:59+00:00

    The responder notes that he is a moderator, MS MVP and Windows Client Expert.  His response completely ignores the question asked.  Is this because (as stated in the original post) MS Windows 7 Explorer has completely removed this critical functionality?

    Answer:  No -- just because it is not possible to respond in a helpful manner, is no excuse to waste our time by posting useless, disingenuous, and dysfunctional responses.  Isn't avoiding such SPAM the reason for having a moderated forum in the first place?

    This post (my post) does not answer the original question posed in Mr. MadAudio's post; but it is on-topic to both that post and Mr. Keene's reply, and it at least acknowledges that Mr. MadAudio asked a real question, rather than simply spewing irrelevant SPAM.

    What use is a forum where the moderators are the SPAMmers, and are perhaps unable to understand the difference?

    I believe the Mr. Keene's post represents the general level of quality the public should expect from MS MVPs, "Experts", and MS forums in general.  If the moderator who handles this post agrees, then should confirm this by rejecting this on-topic post while allowing Mr. Keene's off-topic post to remain.

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  2. @CmdrKeene 90,631 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2012-02-22T14:16:22+00:00

    It was simply a helpful tip.  The original question had already been answered, but I thought it'd be helpful to include how to allow searching for other file types -- or even, as is much requested, return the XP functionality of searching inside files even in non-indexed locations.

    Considering that original question-askers have confirmed me as providing a solution more than 2300 times in the past year, as well as 1059 additional helpful posts (such as the suggestion above), I think I'm doing well to provide relevant contextual information to the community.

    It's odd that you would complain about a post from over 3 months ago.  Did you have some question that isn't answered?  If so, please head to the http://answers.microsoft.com homepage and either search or post a question -- this post is already answered and retired.

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  3. Anonymous
    2012-05-02T04:50:03+00:00

    It used to be that way until by accident I clicked a column headline and now the search results with matching filenames are all mixed up with the content results. Is there any way to set it back to having the filename result on the top?

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