Can someone explain how windows search works?

[Simon]

Hi,

Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how
windows search works?

If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a word
document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder has not
been indexed.

I have 2 problems with that

1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just silly
because, if I know where something is going to be then I wouldn't search
for it.
2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.

It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am
looking for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.

If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells me
that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything reported by
windows search.

I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my office docs.

But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.

So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.

BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am
doing something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a
search app should be able to do.

Thanks.

Simon

[SC Tom[_3_]]

"Simon" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how windows
> search works?
>
> If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a word
> document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder has not
> been indexed.
>
> I have 2 problems with that
>
> 1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just silly
> because, if I know where something is going to be then I wouldn't search
> for it.
> 2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.
>
> It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am looking
> for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.
>
> If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells me
> that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything reported by
> windows search.
>
> I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my office
> docs.
>
> But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.
>
> So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.
>
> BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am doing
> something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a search
> app should be able to do.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Simon

I can't tell you how it works other than it's sporadic and very slow. That's
why a number of people have gone to 3rd-party search engines. My personal
favorite is Agent Ransack http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/ and even
though Windows7 isn't listed, AR works well with it, also.
Others will have different suggestions. Try them all and see which you like
best.

SC Tom

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Post here instead:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowssearch

Simon wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how
> windows search works?
>
> If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a word
> document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder has not
> been indexed.
>
> I have 2 problems with that
>
> 1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just silly
> because, if I know where something is going to be then I wouldn't search
> for it.
> 2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.
>
> It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am
> looking for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.
>
> If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells me
> that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything reported by
> windows search.
>
> I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my office
> docs.
>
> But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.
>
> So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.
>
> BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am
> doing something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a
> search app should be able to do.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Simon

[HeyBub]

Simon wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how
> windows search works?
>
> If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a
> word document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder
> has not been indexed.
>
> I have 2 problems with that
>
> 1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just
> silly because, if I know where something is going to be then I
> wouldn't search for it.
> 2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.
>
> It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am
> looking for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.
>
> If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells
> me that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything
> reported by windows search.
>
> I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my
> office docs.
> But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.
>
> So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.
>
> BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am
> doing something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a
> search app should be able to do.
>

It works very slowly and often fails to do the simplest things correctly.
Use Agent Ransack instead.

[Rob Graham]

HeyBub wrote:
> Simon wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how
>> windows search works?
>>
>> If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a
>> word document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder
>> has not been indexed.
>>
>> I have 2 problems with that
>>
>> 1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just
>> silly because, if I know where something is going to be then I
>> wouldn't search for it.
>> 2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.
>>
>> It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am
>> looking for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.
>>
>> If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells
>> me that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything
>> reported by windows search.
>>
>> I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my
>> office docs.
>> But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.
>>
>> So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.
>>
>> BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am
>> doing something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a
>> search app should be able to do.
>>
>
> It works very slowly and often fails to do the simplest things correctly.
> Use Agent Ransack instead.
>
>

I find Google Desktop the complete answer. You can even search for words
or phrases in any part of the puter.

Rob Graham