Find any file containing a string?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Calab
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Calab

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!
 
Calab said:
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?
Click to expand...

No, leave it alone.
With the default installation, Vista won't even index a .log file.
Click to expand...

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"
Click to expand...

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.
 
If you know how to use the search, it will find anything you're looking
for.

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.
Click to expand...

So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see if
they contain "TSID"?
 
Calab said:
So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see
if they contain "TSID"?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
So, after that change, Vista will even search .DLL and .EXE files to see if
they contain "TSID"?
Click to expand...


Best choice: Install "Agent Ransack" (google it). Use that instead.

Disable the windows indexing service for good measure.
 
+Bob+ said:
Best choice: Install "Agent Ransack" (google it). Use that instead.

Disable the windows indexing service for good measure.
Click to expand...


thanks for the link. been looking for a grep with a gui and regexp
for a while...
 
If vista is so good why should someone have to buy extra software to do
simple tasks like look for a file?
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...


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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

First note: the one I mentioned is free. For the rest of your
complaint, you'd have to talk to Steve Ballmer.
 
Ken Blake said:
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.
Click to expand...

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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