Integrated search does not work

  • Thread starter Thread starter Roof Fiddler
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Roof Fiddler

Running Vista RC1, I inserted my Windows XP CD, and in Vista went to
Start/Search/Advanced Search, specified the CD as the search location,
checked "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files", and searched for
winhlp32.exe. The search came up empty. There was a button "search inside
file contents", so I clicked that, and Vista read the CD for a while and
then displayed two matches, both named MIGWIZ.INF, and probably neither of
which contains winhlp32.exe, considering that the size of each is 5kB. I
tried right-clicking on those matches, and nothing happened, and I tried
left double-clicking on them, and nothing happened. So it won't even let me
view the contents of those files.

I know that Vista is able to see inside cab files, because even in Explorer
the cab files can be opened like folders and the contents viewed.

So, searching through files which are all in Microsoft's own formats, on
Microsoft's own CD, Vista's integrated search can't find a file which I know
is somewhere on the CD.

If Vista's search can't even find something as simple as winhlp32.exe on the
Windows XP CD, then what good is it?
Am I supposed to find a spare machine and install Windows XP on it, just so
I can boot it up and run dir /s winhlp32.exe and copy the file from it? Is
this really the extent of the sophistication of Microsoft's search
technologies?

Ironically, the old help program was removed from Vista because Microsoft
was afraid it might have bugs which could allow malicious help files to take
control of the help program. But isn't the point of the revamped security in
Vista to prevent a malicious program (such as a buggy help program which has
been commandeered by a malicious help file) from damaging the user's system,
programs, or data?
No, wait, I'm mistaken; that's not the point. Vista is still explicitly
designed to allow any program which a user runs to trash all of the user's
data files, which might be irreplaceable, though not trash any of the
program or system files, even though they're all available on installation
DVDs lying beside the user's computer.
 
Ouch! It still seems reasonable, to me, for programs and OS to reside
on one platter and user(s) data on another.

It would on the face of it seem to provide a pragmatic and practical
solution
 
Roof Fiddler said:
Running Vista RC1, I inserted my Windows XP CD, and in Vista went to
Start/Search/Advanced Search, specified the CD as the search location,
checked "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files", and searched for
winhlp32.exe. The search came up empty. There was a button "search inside
file contents", so I clicked that, and Vista read the CD for a while and
then displayed two matches, both named MIGWIZ.INF, and probably neither of
which contains winhlp32.exe, considering that the size of each is 5kB. I
tried right-clicking on those matches, and nothing happened, and I tried
left double-clicking on them, and nothing happened. So it won't even let
me view the contents of those files.

I know that Vista is able to see inside cab files, because even in
Explorer the cab files can be opened like folders and the contents viewed.

So, searching through files which are all in Microsoft's own formats, on
Microsoft's own CD, Vista's integrated search can't find a file which I
know is somewhere on the CD.

If Vista's search can't even find something as simple as winhlp32.exe on
the Windows XP CD, then what good is it?
Am I supposed to find a spare machine and install Windows XP on it, just
so I can boot it up and run dir /s winhlp32.exe and copy the file from it?
Is this really the extent of the sophistication of Microsoft's search
technologies?

Ironically, the old help program was removed from Vista because Microsoft
was afraid it might have bugs which could allow malicious help files to
take control of the help program. But isn't the point of the revamped
security in Vista to prevent a malicious program (such as a buggy help
program which has been commandeered by a malicious help file) from
damaging the user's system, programs, or data?
No, wait, I'm mistaken; that's not the point. Vista is still explicitly
designed to allow any program which a user runs to trash all of the user's
data files, which might be irreplaceable, though not trash any of the
program or system files, even though they're all available on installation
DVDs lying beside the user's computer.
Click to expand...


Did you search for winhlp32.ex_? That's the normal form for files on the XP
CD, in a compressed format. I found that in about 2 seconds using vista's
search. It's 128 KB. I don't believe the file winhlp32.exe is on the CD.
 
Rock said:
Did you search for winhlp32.ex_? That's the normal form for files on the
XP CD, in a compressed format. I found that in about 2 seconds using
vista's search. It's 128 KB. I don't believe the file winhlp32.exe is on
the CD.
Click to expand...
I noticed winhlp32.ex_ after posting my message, and found on MS's web site
instructions to use "expand" to uncompress it. So that did solve my
immediate problem.
But my point was that MS's own compression format (and idiotic compressed
file naming convention) defeats MS's own search program. That's about as
lame as it would be to fail to search inside cab files or industry-standard
zip files (surely Vista's search can at least find files contained in zip
files?)
What's the point in having a search program if I have to manually look
through all the files to find what I'm looking for anyway?
 
Compressed files are automatically expanded by windows and don't use the
expand command. .cab files do require the expand command.
The file with the _ character may not give you the correct file. The
install program will select the correct version of some files based on the
system being install onto.
I haven't found the Vista search to be very satisfactory for my use. I
personally much prefer the XP version.
 
"Roof Fiddler"wrote
I noticed winhlp32.ex_ after posting my message, and found on MS's web
site instructions to use "expand" to uncompress it. So that did solve my
immediate problem.
But my point was that MS's own compression format (and idiotic compressed
file naming convention) defeats MS's own search program. That's about as
lame as it would be to fail to search inside cab files or
industry-standard zip files (surely Vista's search can at least find files
contained in zip files?)
What's the point in having a search program if I have to manually look
through all the files to find what I'm looking for anyway?
Click to expand...

Uhh..you need to know what it is you're looking for. If the file is named
one way search for it that way. You expect it to think for you too?
 
Compressed files are automatically expanded by windows and don't use the
expand command. .cab files do require the expand command.
The file with the _ character may not give you the correct file. The
install program will select the correct version of some files based on the
system being install onto.
I haven't found the Vista search to be very satisfactory for my use. I
personally much prefer the XP version.
Click to expand...


We get many complaints about XP's search being dumbed down from previous
versions, and often the recommendation is to use the free Agent Ransack. I
haven't tried it in Vista yet. I think the Vista search is pretty good
compared to XPs. There is a learning curve with it but indexed it's fast.
 
Maybe if everything is indexed, but not indexed it takes much longer to get
results. I often find myself looking for something on another installed
system (on another volume) and it takes forever to find. Searching on the
CD/DVD will never be indexed.
 
John Barnes said:
Maybe if everything is indexed, but not indexed it takes much longer to
get results. I often find myself looking for something on another
installed system (on another volume) and it takes forever to find.
Searching on the CD/DVD will never be indexed.
Click to expand...

Yes that is true, but the problems with CD/DVD are the same with XP.
 
"John Barnes"wrote
Compressed files are automatically expanded by windows and don't use the
expand command. .cab files do require the expand command.
The file with the _ character may not give you the correct file. The
install program will select the correct version of some files based on the
system being install onto.
I haven't found the Vista search to be very satisfactory for my use. I
personally much prefer the XP version.


"Roof Fiddler"wrote
Click to expand...

I installed Agent Ransack in Vista x86 build 5728. Works fine so far.
 
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