Vista's Hair-Brained Search... Any Other Choices/Configurations?

Vista newbie, just learning Search. I love it. It perfectly supplements my
lightning fast File Finder. P.S.: I do let Indexing run. I don't notice any
performance hit.
"Tyro" <Tyro@Tyros.com> wrote in message
news:_Jtdl.9195$hc1.7272@flpi150.ffdc.sbc.com...

> Why are you putting things in C:\Windows? That is reserved for Vista. You
> shouldn't be in there. Search works fine.
>
> Tyro
>
> "Susan" <UCE@null.invalid> wrote in message
> news:ccocn4lvi2tiohf72a9dkovmt7av9g042a@4ax.com...

>> Although I have learned how to make some searches for folders and file
>> names successfully I find no reliability in it. I've created dummy
>> folders and dummy text.txt files and been unable to apply what I
>> thought I understood and find them successfully. I like the format
>> concept basically now that I understand just where Search is located
>> but I've got to get the reliability and trust up higher before I'll
>> really feel comfortable. My test folder and file was made in
>> Windows\Temp\ and the 'searching in system areas' option has been
>> selected and not. And in Advanced I've tried 'everything' and 'other'
>> and from that screen still not find it. But I might find in
>> immediately from the original search line--and if I go to the features
>> window it is missing. Very confusing.
>>
>> Are there any alternatives/fixes?
>> ~<Susan>~
>>
>> Don't worry about the world coming to
>> an end today. It's already tomorrow in
>> Australia. - Charles Schultz

>

I should also point out that Vista normally ignores non-indexed, hidden and
system folders when searching. That is by design. C:\Windows is a system
folder. Your things should be under your user name. If they are, search will
find them.

Tyro


"Susan" <UCE@null.invalid> wrote in message
news:ccocn4lvi2tiohf72a9dkovmt7av9g042a@4ax.com...

> Although I have learned how to make some searches for folders and file
> names successfully I find no reliability in it. I've created dummy
> folders and dummy text.txt files and been unable to apply what I
> thought I understood and find them successfully. I like the format
> concept basically now that I understand just where Search is located
> but I've got to get the reliability and trust up higher before I'll
> really feel comfortable. My test folder and file was made in
> Windows\Temp\ and the 'searching in system areas' option has been
> selected and not. And in Advanced I've tried 'everything' and 'other'
> and from that screen still not find it. But I might find in
> immediately from the original search line--and if I go to the features
> window it is missing. Very confusing.
>
> Are there any alternatives/fixes?
> ~<Susan>~
>
> Don't worry about the world coming to
> an end today. It's already tomorrow in
> Australia. - Charles Schultz

There are freeware that are faster than the windows search is on non indexed
locations

one such freeware is AGENT RANSACK (free version)
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

IF YOU WANT TO USE THE VISTA SEARCH FOLLOW THIS >>>>>

Press the WINDOWS KEY on keyboard (the one with the microsft logo on it)
ALONG with the F key

so WIN KEY + F

and the search window will appear..

there click on the small round arrow icon on the right (advanced search)

and put a CHECKMARK on the box that says INCLUDE NON INDEXED FILES

tell me if this helps!

--
For tips, tricks and tutorials visit my blog below:
http://computerboom.blogspot.com





"Susan" <UCE@null.invalid> wrote in message
news:ccocn4lvi2tiohf72a9dkovmt7av9g042a@4ax.com...

> Although I have learned how to make some searches for folders and file
> names successfully I find no reliability in it. I've created dummy
> folders and dummy text.txt files and been unable to apply what I
> thought I understood and find them successfully. I like the format
> concept basically now that I understand just where Search is located
> but I've got to get the reliability and trust up higher before I'll
> really feel comfortable. My test folder and file was made in
> Windows\Temp\ and the 'searching in system areas' option has been
> selected and not. And in Advanced I've tried 'everything' and 'other'
> and from that screen still not find it. But I might find in
> immediately from the original search line--and if I go to the features
> window it is missing. Very confusing.
>
> Are there any alternatives/fixes?
> ~<Susan>~
>
> Don't worry about the world coming to
> an end today. It's already tomorrow in
> Australia. - Charles Schultz

On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:55:53 -0800, Susan <UCE@null.invalid> wrote:

>Although I have learned how to make some searches for folders and file
>names successfully I find no reliability in it. I've created dummy
>folders and dummy text.txt files and been unable to apply what I
>thought I understood and find them successfully. I like the format
>concept basically now that I understand just where Search is located
>but I've got to get the reliability and trust up higher before I'll
>really feel comfortable. My test folder and file was made in
>Windows\Temp\ and the 'searching in system areas' option has been
>selected and not. And in Advanced I've tried 'everything' and 'other'
>and from that screen still not find it. But I might find in
>immediately from the original search line--and if I go to the features
>window it is missing. Very confusing.
>
>Are there any alternatives/fixes?

Hello Susan,

You should not use a folder named "Temp" for search tests because folders
by that name are never indexed, regardless of index settings. This
restriction is unrelated to the option to search system files.

The only way to use WDS to search within folders named "Temp" is to do a
non-indexed search.

Doug M. in NJ

Search finds folders named Temp on my machine using the regular indexed
search. I created a folder named temp under my user name and search found it
no problemo.

Tyro

"Retroman" <invalid@none.invalid> wrote in message
news:v11dn49bsaa5n8chtt8hns03ru1jjq65cc@4ax.com...

> On Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:55:53 -0800, Susan <UCE@null.invalid> wrote:
>

>>Although I have learned how to make some searches for folders and file
>>names successfully I find no reliability in it. I've created dummy
>>folders and dummy text.txt files and been unable to apply what I
>>thought I understood and find them successfully. I like the format
>>concept basically now that I understand just where Search is located
>>but I've got to get the reliability and trust up higher before I'll
>>really feel comfortable. My test folder and file was made in
>>Windows\Temp\ and the 'searching in system areas' option has been
>>selected and not. And in Advanced I've tried 'everything' and 'other'
>>and from that screen still not find it. But I might find in
>>immediately from the original search line--and if I go to the features
>>window it is missing. Very confusing.
>>
>>Are there any alternatives/fixes?

>
> Hello Susan,
>
> You should not use a folder named "Temp" for search tests because folders
> by that name are never indexed, regardless of index settings. This
> restriction is unrelated to the option to search system files.
>
> The only way to use WDS to search within folders named "Temp" is to do a
> non-indexed search.
>
> Doug M. in NJ

On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:34:31 +0200, "CBoom" <someone@microsoft.com>
wrote:

>IF YOU WANT TO USE THE VISTA SEARCH FOLLOW THIS >>>>>
>
>Press the WINDOWS KEY on keyboard (the one with the microsft logo on it)
>ALONG with the F key
>
>so WIN KEY + F
>
>and the search window will appear..
>
>there click on the small round arrow icon on the right (advanced search)
>
>and put a CHECKMARK on the box that says INCLUDE NON INDEXED FILES
>
>tell me if this helps!

I've never used the Win Key much. I can get to the Search window
either way--thanks.

I've previously check marked the Include non-indexed, hidden, and
system files. The mark is there but the option is grayed out. When
it is set or set but grayed out will a file search still include
Indexed files or will it now only include non-indexed files? How do I
uncheck the box?

I didn't create the \Temp\ directory. I was using the always present
\Windows\Temp\ directory to place a Test folder and Test document to
search for in a System area. If you have ever removed Symantec
products before I'm sure you have searched for file/folder remnants
that the uninstall program leaves. That is why I was trying to get
comfortable with Vista's Search routine.

I'm not a newbie by any means but I don't know everything by any means
either.
~<Susan>~

Don't worry about the world coming to
an end today. It's already tomorrow in
Australia. - Charles Schultz

On Wed, 21 Jan 2009 02:34:31 +0200, "CBoom" <someone@microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Press the WINDOWS KEY on keyboard (the one with the microsft logo on it)
>ALONG with the F key
>
>so WIN KEY + F
>
>and the search window will appear..
>
>there click on the small round arrow icon on the right (advanced search)
>
>and put a CHECKMARK on the box that says INCLUDE NON INDEXED FILES
>
>tell me if this helps!

Sorry, yes your instructions did work. Maybe using \Temp\ was a bad
idea as one suggested. I found the folder but I couldn't find the
test.txt file I created inside the folder when I searched for it.
Instead of searching for 'All' I searched for 'Other' with
non-indexing still checked but grayed out. I couldn't find it. I
checked 'Document' too but that didn't find the file either. I
thought 'Documents' might be limited only to documents in that folder
and that since it is indexed and I was searching for non-indexed it
produced no results. When you are searching under Advanced do you
have to put your search string in the Name: entry space or can you
still use the Search bar space above outside of the Advanced box?

This whole think is just a matter of more brute force experiementing.