search windows7

Discussion in 'Software' started by watchntv, Feb 4, 2011.

  1. watchntv

    watchntv Private E-2

    I love XP search function
    I could go to START button and use the SEARCH function and find all of a specific type of file
    VIDEOS
    and they'd all pop up

    I took my old computers HD and tossed into a case and now its an external drive for my Win7 laptop
    however, I cannot find anything on it that I used to use
    specifically video files

    can someone shed some light on what to do?

    when I open the external drive this is all I see
    http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh118/watchntv1978/fdrive.jpg
     
    Last edited: Feb 4, 2011
    watchntv, Feb 4, 2011
    #1
  2. Just Playin

    Just Playin MajorGeek

    Top right corner. The box with the label 'Search Local Disc (F:)' in your screenshot.
     
    Just Playin, Feb 4, 2011
    #2
  3. dlb

    dlb MajorGeek

    I couldn't agree more with this statement:
    I started a thread about this exact same "problem" a few days ago. I had huge issues using the built-in Win7 search feature; I could never find what I was looking, or I couldn't find a way to find what I was looking for. Even using the top-right corner search, it sucks. You know it, I know it, and I'm sure Microsoft knows it. The main "problem" with Win7 (IMO the only problem) is the weak/lame search function. Anyway - read this thread. I provide a link to my FAVORITE file location/file search program. It's free and available here at MajorGeeks. MG member plodr also posted a link to a recommended search program. I hope this helps!

    (I really miss the option to right click on a folder and select "Search"; this is a HUGE feature conspicuously missing in Win7)
     
    dlb, Feb 4, 2011
    #3
  4. tgell

    tgell Major Geek Extraordinaire

    I came across this. I have not tried it because my son says he is fine with what he has. Supposedly you can edit the registry to add a context search for folders and drives.
     
    tgell, Feb 5, 2011
    #4
  5. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    that would be correct when you open a HDD as all you haev opened is Windows Explorer, as mentioned the top right hand search box is where you can search for files.

    Windows 7 search function is very powerful and far exceeds what XPs can do, and its not XP, if you want XP then install XP, the search may not be as cuddly as XPs but it works very well once you get used to it.

    Remembered your old thread HERE on search and the full sarch query strings are HERE

    Can just use these queries in the Start Search Box also.


    But its not, ok its not a right click context option, but once you open a folder all you do is type into the top right hand search box, its listed in any folder you open as its now built into Explorer.

    @tgell ~ good option and it works but all it does it to take you to the top right hand search box
     
    DavidGP, Feb 5, 2011
    #5
  6. watchntv

    watchntv Private E-2


    if I just want to find videos using win 7, how do I do that?
    I can easily do that in XP by selecting the videos box...
     
    watchntv, Feb 16, 2011
    #6
  7. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    You do the exact same thing

    You click on Start > When it pulls up your menu, in the first space you will see a blank field where you can enter text to 'Search Programs and Files'> type 'Videos' > You won't even get to the end and you'll see all your options continue to come up including your Video Folder. Click on it and it will take you there.
     
    LauraR, Feb 16, 2011
    #7
  8. watchntv

    watchntv Private E-2

    so it will show me all vidoes I have saved on my computer even if they arent in the videos folder?
     
    watchntv, Feb 17, 2011
    #8
  9. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    No.

    Are your videos generally the same type of file? For example, if you do a search for .avi if that is what extension your files use, it will pull them all up.
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2011
    LauraR, Feb 17, 2011
    #9
  10. Earthling

    Earthling Interplanetary Geek

    Unfortunately it ignores the period before avi, so any file having avi in its name also gets listed. It isn't satisfactory, and a far better solution imo is Everything Search Engine
     
    Earthling, Feb 17, 2011
    #10
  11. Baxter Stockman

    Baxter Stockman Private First Class

    Use quotes.

    ".avi"
     
    Baxter Stockman, Feb 17, 2011
    #11
  12. Earthling

    Earthling Interplanetary Geek

    tbh, once you've seen Everything in action, you would just turn off drive indexing and forget win 7 search altogether.
     
    Earthling, Feb 17, 2011
    #12
  13. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    Hi

    If you read the older thread of yours you would note that I did post the search query options and for videos its kind:videos

    to search all of your HDDs and partitions just open Computer and in the top right search box type kind:videos and they will all show, doesnt matter the file type (iirc) as just tried it on my pc and lists AVI, MP4, MPG, WMV etc

    Searched 4x HDDs of around total 1.5TB in no time, less than a minute or so.
     
    DavidGP, Feb 17, 2011
    #13
  14. Earthling

    Earthling Interplanetary Geek

    That it takes a minute to come up with results from drives that have already been indexed just confirms, in my mind, how inefficient the Windows search algorithms are. 'Everything' produces search results instantaneously, regardless of TB.
     
    Earthling, Feb 17, 2011
    #14
  15. watchntv

    watchntv Private E-2

    how do I find all pictures on my laptop?
    start button-->search-->type in.jpg?

    but what if its a pic but saved in jpg format?
     
    watchntv, Feb 19, 2011
    #15
  16. LauraR

    LauraR MajorGeeks Super-Duper Administrator Staff Member

    Yes, you just type in jpg

    Have you tried using the search function and doing the other things that have been suggested?

    I would suggest organizing all you files by folder. That would make things much easier for you.
     
    LauraR, Feb 19, 2011
    #16
  17. Earthling

    Earthling Interplanetary Geek

    There are four types of file you can search for using the kind: term explained by DavidGP in #13

    Documents
    Pictures
    Music
    Videos

    so, to find all pictures click Start > Computer, and in the Search box at top right type kind: pictures and hit return. Every picture on your entire computer will be listed, regardless of file format or location.

    This has already been explained, and it would really help if you would just try it.

    EDIT - the forum software is showing an icon where a colon is followed by p, and I can't find a way around it except it's like kind:videos, substituting pictures for videos

    EDIT BY TimW: I added a space between kind: and pictures to remove the smiley.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 19, 2011
    Earthling, Feb 19, 2011
    #17
  18. DavidGP

    DavidGP MajorGeeks Forum Administrator - Grand Pooh-Bah Staff Member

    I guess I was kinda vague on time (maybe I should always be scientific and 100% accurate at all times and not give approximates), tempusfugit and all that stuff, the search is instantaneous even with the non os drives I have not being indexed, bur like all search apps or the in build one the results are not all listed at once they do start listing then build up as the search continues.

    Today I reinstalled windows and this time left indexing for all drives apart from the os c: as they are SSDs now and search is instant across now 3.5TB (added a 2TB drive)

    One great addition in the win7 search is that it will search for data within specific files, mainly office docs but is a great addition for me ad I work with Word docs alot and have 1000s of them.

    Windows search is not perfect but no app ever is, so 3rd party apps are good at times and I use a 3rd party explorer app as it fits my usage.
     
    DavidGP, Feb 19, 2011
    #18

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