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The search function in Vista seems like a step backwards from XP...
How can I search for a file that contains the string "TSID", when I don't know the file type? The Vista search function does NOT index all files and even the files it does index don't have the contents as searchable.
I've looked in the indexing settings in the control panel and I can't see any easy way to select all and enable indexing or enable searching the contents of the files. Do I have to manually go through every file type and change the settings, one at a time? Do I need to do this every time after I install a program to make sure that any file type references by that program and included?
With the default installation, Vista won't even index a .log file.
How can I search all files for one containing "TSID"
Thanks!
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Calab wrote:
[Quoted Text] > The search function in Vista seems like a step backwards from XP... > > How can I search for a file that contains the string "TSID", when I > don't know the file type? The Vista search function does NOT index all > files and even the files it does index don't have the contents as > searchable. > > I've looked in the indexing settings in the control panel and I can't > see any easy way to select all and enable indexing or enable searching > the contents of the files. Do I have to manually go through every file > type and change the settings, one at a time? Do I need to do this every > time after I install a program to make sure that any file type > references by that program and included?
No, leave it alone. > > With the default installation, Vista won't even index a .log file.
If you know how to use the search, it will find anything you're looking for. > > How can I search all files for one containing "TSID"
You go to Control Panel/Folder Options, to the Search tab and select "Always search by file name and content".
You will then be able to search by file content.
Now, you can use the Search box off of the Start button and enter what you're looking for with the search. You can also select Search Everywhere.
You can also use the Advanced Search by using the Windows-key/F-key combination.
In the Adv Search, you can check mark on "Include non indexed and hidden files and go to the Location box and select what locations to search in with the search.
You'll see a pane on the left side during the search, which you can use to search by folder level.
You can use booleans like AND, NOT, OR, EQUAL in the search criteria, but you'll have to use Google to look this information up about the Search so that you get a better understanding on how to do it.
If you do the search from the search box on Explore, then you can go to Adv. Search from there too.
Also while in the Adv Search, you can use the Alt-key to pull-up more menu options.
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"Paul MontDenturesDropped" <Paul[ at ]MontDenturesDropped.com> wrote in message news:eny9CjAKJHA.4940[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
[Quoted Text] > Calab wrote: >> The search function in Vista seems like a step backwards from XP... >> >> How can I search for a file that contains the string "TSID", when I don't >> know the file type? The Vista search function does NOT index all files >> and even the files it does index don't have the contents as
> If you know how to use the search, it will find anything you're looking > for. >> >> How can I search all files for one containing "TSID" > > You go to Control Panel/Folder Options, to the Search tab and select > "Always search by file name and content". > > You will then be able to search by file content.
So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see if they contain "TSID"?
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Calab wrote:
[Quoted Text] > > "Paul MontDenturesDropped" <Paul[ at ]MontDenturesDropped.com> wrote in > message news:eny9CjAKJHA.4940[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> Calab wrote: >>> The search function in Vista seems like a step backwards from XP... >>> >>> How can I search for a file that contains the string "TSID", when I >>> don't know the file type? The Vista search function does NOT index >>> all files and even the files it does index don't have the contents as > >> If you know how to use the search, it will find anything you're >> looking for. >>> >>> How can I search all files for one containing "TSID" >> >> You go to Control Panel/Folder Options, to the Search tab and select >> "Always search by file name and content". >> >> You will then be able to search by file content. > > So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see > if they contain "TSID"?
Exe(s) and DLL(s) are binary files. However, if they have the string in the files some kind of way, then it should locate them.
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Are you sure you want to tie up your computer by searching through .exe files that can be maybe 100 meg in size for a string?
Search by string is basically for searching text files that may be 1-2 meg in size - unless you are writing a novel. Of course, you may have special needs.
--
Richard Urban Microsoft MVP Windows Desktop Experience
"Calab" <myspam[ at ]csd.ca> wrote in message news:e9Zkz0AKJHA.920[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
[Quoted Text] > > "Paul MontDenturesDropped" <Paul[ at ]MontDenturesDropped.com> wrote in message > news:eny9CjAKJHA.4940[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... >> Calab wrote: >>> The search function in Vista seems like a step backwards from XP... >>> >>> How can I search for a file that contains the string "TSID", when I >>> don't know the file type? The Vista search function does NOT index all >>> files and even the files it does index don't have the contents as > >> If you know how to use the search, it will find anything you're looking >> for. >>> >>> How can I search all files for one containing "TSID" >> >> You go to Control Panel/Folder Options, to the Search tab and select >> "Always search by file name and content". >> >> You will then be able to search by file content. > > So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see > if they contain "TSID"?
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"+Bob+" <uctraing[ at ]ultranet.com> wrote in message news:g7ene4hofc0qjo18aut7mhcn2hnm1bm3sq[ at ]4ax.com...
[Quoted Text] > On Mon, 6 Oct 2008 17:42:29 -0600, "Calab" <myspam[ at ]csd.ca> wrote: > >>So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see >>if >>they contain "TSID"? > > > Best choice: Install "Agent Ransack" (google it). Use that instead. > > Disable the windows indexing service for good measure.
thanks for the link. been looking for a grep with a gui and regexp for a while...
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"+Bob+" <uctraing[ at ]ultranet.com> wrote in message news:ce3oe416m4b75oijnetiuv6ebdg35ksmup[ at ]4ax.com...
[Quoted Text] > On Tue, 7 Oct 2008 15:53:28 -0400, "Duane Hebert" <spoo[ at ]flarn.com> > wrote: > >>> Best choice: Install "Agent Ransack" (google it). Use that instead. >>> >>> Disable the windows indexing service for good measure. >> >> >>thanks for the link. been looking for a grep with a gui and regexp >>for a while... > > If you're into regexp's it's an excellent tool!
Seems to be fine. It even finds files in my SVN repo. And the price is great.
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If vista is so good why should someone have to buy extra software to do simple tasks like look for a file?
"+Bob+" wrote:
[Quoted Text] > On Mon, 6 Oct 2008 17:42:29 -0600, "Calab" <myspam[ at ]csd.ca> wrote: > > >So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see if > >they contain "TSID"? > > > Best choice: Install "Agent Ransack" (google it). Use that instead. > > Disable the windows indexing service for good measure. >
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If vista is so good why should someone have to buy extra software to do simple tasks like look for a file? I am pissed that I have to buy more soft ware to run my compter after all I did have a good serch program in my old Windows XP. It work good too. Vista is driving me nuts.
"+Bob+" wrote:
[Quoted Text] > On Tue, 7 Oct 2008 15:53:28 -0400, "Duane Hebert" <spoo[ at ]flarn.com> > wrote: > > >> Best choice: Install "Agent Ransack" (google it). Use that instead. > >> > >> Disable the windows indexing service for good measure. > > > > > >thanks for the link. been looking for a grep with a gui and regexp > >for a while... > > If you're into regexp's it's an excellent tool! >
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On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:46:00 -0700, John <John[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
[Quoted Text] > If vista is so good why should someone have to buy extra software to do > simple tasks like look for a file? I am pissed that I have to buy more soft > ware to run my compter after all I did have a good serch program in my old > Windows XP. It work good too. Vista is driving me nuts.
Interesting that you feel that way, but many of us have a different opinion. Personally, I greatly prefer Vista's search facility to XP's.
-- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup
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John the indexing feature in Vistas allows you to do exactly what you want. "Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake[ at ]this.is.an.invalid.domain> wrote in message news:0hbhf4hob2ia4uimkc2deq683iqjlbq95i[ at ]4ax.com...
[Quoted Text] > On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:46:00 -0700, John > <John[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > >> If vista is so good why should someone have to buy extra software to do >> simple tasks like look for a file? I am pissed that I have to buy more >> soft >> ware to run my compter after all I did have a good serch program in my >> old >> Windows XP. It work good too. Vista is driving me nuts. > > > Interesting that you feel that way, but many of us have a different > opinion. Personally, I greatly prefer Vista's search facility to XP's. > > -- > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
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On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:43:01 -0700, John <John[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
[Quoted Text] >If vista is so good why should someone have to buy extra software to do >simple tasks like look for a file? > >"+Bob+" wrote: > >> On Mon, 6 Oct 2008 17:42:29 -0600, "Calab" <myspam[ at ]csd.ca> wrote: >> >> >So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see if >> >they contain "TSID"? >> >> >> Best choice: Install "Agent Ransack" (google it). Use that instead. >> >> Disable the windows indexing service for good measure. >>
AgentRansack is free .
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"Ken Blake, MVP" <kblake[ at ]this.is.an.invalid.domain> a écrit dans le message de news: 0hbhf4hob2ia4uimkc2deq683iqjlbq95i[ at ]4ax.com...
[Quoted Text] > On Fri, 17 Oct 2008 02:46:00 -0700, John > <John[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > >> If vista is so good why should someone have to buy extra software to do >> simple tasks like look for a file? I am pissed that I have to buy more >> soft >> ware to run my compter after all I did have a good serch program in my >> old >> Windows XP. It work good too. Vista is driving me nuts. > > > Interesting that you feel that way, but many of us have a different > opinion. Personally, I greatly prefer Vista's search facility to XP's. >
Sorry, but I have to disagree. In a corporate environement, managing over 200 GB of archives from old users/companies I often have to search for strings in ALL files in a branch of the archives. WDS/Vista will not do this realiably.
Try searching inside pdf files for words that you know are there on a folder that has not been indexed. Same with VB.net files - it never finds anything.
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