Search Results FUBAR

  • Thread starter Thread starter jane
  • Start date Start date
J

jane

The windows Explorer search feature works well enough for most file
searches except when looking for files on a disc. On those occasions,
the In Folder results point not to the disc drive but to c:\documents
& settings\[name]\Local Settings Applications Data\blah, blah, blah.
In short, not to where the files are. To add insult to fubar, clicking
on any folder in the list results in -- absolutely nothing because I
am clicking on a phantom folder (duh). I know that if I scroll across
to the right, miles outside the screen view, I'll finally see where
the file in question actually resides -- major and unappreciated pain.
Is there a config or reg edit somewhere that will allow me to set the
In Folder to show the file where it actually is, referencing the disc
drive, instead of the above c:\blah, blah, blah. If not, at the very
least, I think Microsoft should share some of what the Einstein was
smoking the day he came up with this one. <g>

Seriously, any helpful suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.
 
On those occasions,
the In Folder results point not to the disc drive but to c:\documents
& settings\[name]\Local Settings Applications Data\blah, blah, blah.
In short, not to where the files are.
Click to expand...

Not understanding the problem as described. The results will include the
*path* to the file which includes the drive letter and the bread crumb
trail to find the file on that drive.

Try a right click on some of the search results items. One of the options
is to "Open Containing Folder." Perhaps that will help shorten your travels
to the target file.

When choosing search criteria, select "all files and folders" to get the
screen that allows you to select a single volume (C:, D:, etc) or use
Browse.. at the end of the drop down list to select the folder you want to
search. Alternatively, right click on any folder (including a drive icon)
and select Search from the context menu.

Check out the Advanced options in search a little more closely. Use them to
customize search more to your liking.
 
On those occasions,
the In Folder results point not to the disc drive but to c:\documents
& settings\[name]\Local Settings Applications Data\blah, blah, blah.
In short, not to where the files are.
Click to expand...

Not understanding the problem as described. The results will include the
*path* to the file which includes the drive letter and the bread crumb
trail to find the file on that drive.

Try a right click on some of the search results items. One of the options
is to "Open Containing Folder." Perhaps that will help shorten your travels
to the target file.

When choosing search criteria, select "all files and folders" to get the
screen that allows you to select a single volume (C:, D:, etc) or use
Browse.. at the end of the drop down list to select the folder you want to
search. Alternatively, right click on any folder (including a drive icon)
and select Search from the context menu.

Check out the Advanced options in search a little more closely. Use them to
customize search more to your liking.
Click to expand...

Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise. I inserted a
disc in the L: drive (my disc drive) and walked through your
suggestions. "All files and folders" is my default search method and I
find nothing in Advanced options that addresses the issue under
discussion. Perhaps I can restate the issue with greater clarity:

Regarding disc drives only, the Found items in the search path do
*not* include the drive letter being searched and that is the source
of my complaint. Instead of pointing to, in this case, L:\*\*.* it
points to C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application
Data\Microsoft\CD Burning\[off the screen listing of the folder -
finally]. Open Containing Folder also points to C: . . . It is a disc,
the data has been burned to it and that disc is in drive L. Why can't
Search point to L: instead of C:\ Documents and Settings\. . . and
further is if there is a way to change this, to my mind, very
misguided behaviour?

Thanks again.
 
The In Folder header displays the path to the file’s parent folder or
device.

There are an infinite number of ways to do this. Here is one. I only use
this method for Searching on removable drives, I use an easier method for
searching my hard drive.

Insert disk in drive L:
Open My Computer
Right click drive L: and click Explore
Explorer opens with L: in the Address bar and L: expanded in the Folders
pane
Click the Search button (magnifying glass) in the Toolbar
Search button not there?
Right click Toolbar | Customize | Select the magnifying glass in the left
hand pane | Click the Add button | Close button
When the Search button is clicked, Search opens with L: already in the Look
in box
Search will only search whatever drive is listed in the Look in box
If C: is in the Look in box Search will *NOT* search any other drives
When done searching, close Explorer
My Computer should still be open
Right click drive L: in My Computer and select Eject

If this doesn't work, you have something seriously messed up. ;-(

You can also right click any found item and select Properties. You can copy
the path from Location on the General tab. This works for any file or
folder.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
On those occasions,
the In Folder results point not to the disc drive but to c:\documents
& settings\[name]\Local Settings Applications Data\blah, blah, blah.
In short, not to where the files are.
Click to expand...

Not understanding the problem as described. The results will include the
*path* to the file which includes the drive letter and the bread crumb
trail to find the file on that drive.

Try a right click on some of the search results items. One of the options
is to "Open Containing Folder." Perhaps that will help shorten your
travels to the target file.

When choosing search criteria, select "all files and folders" to get the
screen that allows you to select a single volume (C:, D:, etc) or use
Browse.. at the end of the drop down list to select the folder you want
to search. Alternatively, right click on any folder (including a drive
icon) and select Search from the context menu.

Check out the Advanced options in search a little more closely. Use them
to customize search more to your liking.
Click to expand...

Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise. I inserted a
disc in the L: drive (my disc drive) and walked through your
suggestions. "All files and folders" is my default search method and I
find nothing in Advanced options that addresses the issue under
discussion. Perhaps I can restate the issue with greater clarity:

Regarding disc drives only, the Found items in the search path do
*not* include the drive letter being searched and that is the source
of my complaint. Instead of pointing to, in this case, L:\*\*.* it
points to C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application
Data\Microsoft\CD Burning\[off the screen listing of the folder -
finally]. Open Containing Folder also points to C: . . . It is a disc,
the data has been burned to it and that disc is in drive L. Why can't
Search point to L: instead of C:\ Documents and Settings\. . . and
further is if there is a way to change this, to my mind, very
misguided behaviour?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...
 
The In Folder header displays the path to the file’s parent folder or
device.

There are an infinite number of ways to do this. Here is one. I only use
this method for Searching on removable drives, I use an easier method for
searching my hard drive.

Insert disk in drive L:
Open My Computer
Right click drive L: and click Explore
Explorer opens with L: in the Address bar and L: expanded in the Folders
pane
Click the Search button (magnifying glass) in the Toolbar
Search button not there?
Right click Toolbar | Customize | Select the magnifying glass in the left
hand pane | Click the Add button | Close button
When the Search button is clicked, Search opens with L: already in the Look
in box
Search will only search whatever drive is listed in the Look in box
If C: is in the Look in box Search will *NOT* search any other drives
When done searching, close Explorer
My Computer should still be open
Right click drive L: in My Computer and select Eject

If this doesn't work, you have something seriously messed up. ;-(

You can also right click any found item and select Properties. You can copy
the path from Location on the General tab. This works for any file or
folder.
Click to expand...

;-( indeed! <smile>
Would that it were so, Mr. Vogel. Would that everything in life were
as explicit as your instructions. As you said, there are numerous ways
to approach this and yours has a few more steps than mine own however
the destination is the same; sadly the result is not.
The "Look in:" window is

[disc name] (L:)

the right Explorer pane header is Files Currently on CD (it knows this
is a disc and not a disk). I type in all or part of a file name in the
window of the same designation and

Name: | In Folder:
*.* C:\Documents and Settings\[name]\Local Settings\Application
Data\CD Bern... (here it runs off the screen). If I scroll right,
decrease column widths, shove them to the right, take three giant
steps after saying "May I", I finally get to the disc name and folder
but why should I have to. The actual path starting with L:\ would fit
nicely in the default space provided and give me all I need without
such a ritual.

Referring to your last paragraph: yes, when I click Properties I do
see the L: path and that is a trick I had not tried before (thank you)
but . . .

Am I missing something very obvious here or is it as you say a system
"seriously messed up"? With all due immodesty, I'm pretty savvy about
computers (build them, hardware/software consultant) and I spend a lot
of time *each day* under the hood keeping the software tweaked, honed
and running as efficient as possible. My own perspective of my
computer is that it is a digitally "well oiled machine" that I do not
permit anyone else to touch much less use.

So yours doesn't do this, huh?

I feel I should apologise for all of this. It is running on longer
than I anticipated and becoming much ado about well . . . a small
matter. Still I dislike loose ends and knot [sic] knowing how to tie
them up.

Thanks again for all your time, expertise and help.
 
Mr. Vogel is my Father. My name is Wes.

Something is messed up with your Search. I do not know what. Since I do
not know, I offer the following as clues.

I am using Classic Search. No animals or anything.

My Search lists the actual path in the In Folder column for A:, C:, D: or
E:.

If I place my XP Pro CD in D: and Search for cmd.ex_, I see 2 items. In
Folder lists D:\I386 for both.

If I place my XP Pro CD in E: and Search for cmd.ex_, I see 2 items. In
Folder lists E:\I386 for both.

If I place a floppy in A: and search for readme.txt, I see README.txt. In
Folder lists A:\REST2514.

If I open Advanced Search and Search C: for cmd.exe, In Folder lists
C:\WINDOWS\system32 and C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache

You stated [[the right Explorer pane header is Files Currently on CD ]]?

I do not see Files Currently on CD anywhere from D: or E:.

I have Details View. The right hand pane shows (before clicking Search) the
folders and files on D: or E: Name, Size, Type and Date Modified headers.

Are you using Simple Folder View?

I did Google searches for In Folder and all kinds of variations. I did a
Google Groups search for same and I couldn't find anything about wrong path
under In Folder.

There is either a setting that is screwy or Search may need to be
reinstalled.

Some people actually like Agent Ransack better than XP's Search.

[[Agent Ransack is a free tool for finding files and information on your
hard drive fast and efficiently. When searching the contents of files Agent
Ransack displays the text found so you can quickly browse the results
without having to separately open each file!]]
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/download.aspx

One of the nice things about Windows is how many things can be customized.
One of the terrible things about Windows is how many things can be
customized. It makes it tough sometimes to figure out why someone is having
a problem with something.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
The In Folder header displays the path to the file’s parent folder or
device.

There are an infinite number of ways to do this. Here is one. I only
use this method for Searching on removable drives, I use an easier
method for searching my hard drive.

Insert disk in drive L:
Open My Computer
Right click drive L: and click Explore
Explorer opens with L: in the Address bar and L: expanded in the Folders
pane
Click the Search button (magnifying glass) in the Toolbar
Search button not there?
Right click Toolbar | Customize | Select the magnifying glass in the left
hand pane | Click the Add button | Close button
When the Search button is clicked, Search opens with L: already in the
Look in box
Search will only search whatever drive is listed in the Look in box
If C: is in the Look in box Search will *NOT* search any other drives
When done searching, close Explorer
My Computer should still be open
Right click drive L: in My Computer and select Eject

If this doesn't work, you have something seriously messed up. ;-(

You can also right click any found item and select Properties. You can
copy the path from Location on the General tab. This works for any file
or folder.
Click to expand...

;-( indeed! <smile>
Would that it were so, Mr. Vogel. Would that everything in life were
as explicit as your instructions. As you said, there are numerous ways
to approach this and yours has a few more steps than mine own however
the destination is the same; sadly the result is not.
The "Look in:" window is

[disc name] (L:)

the right Explorer pane header is Files Currently on CD (it knows this
is a disc and not a disk). I type in all or part of a file name in the
window of the same designation and

Name: | In Folder:
*.* C:\Documents and Settings\[name]\Local Settings\Application
Data\CD Bern... (here it runs off the screen). If I scroll right,
decrease column widths, shove them to the right, take three giant
steps after saying "May I", I finally get to the disc name and folder
but why should I have to. The actual path starting with L:\ would fit
nicely in the default space provided and give me all I need without
such a ritual.

Referring to your last paragraph: yes, when I click Properties I do
see the L: path and that is a trick I had not tried before (thank you)
but . . .

Am I missing something very obvious here or is it as you say a system
"seriously messed up"? With all due immodesty, I'm pretty savvy about
computers (build them, hardware/software consultant) and I spend a lot
of time *each day* under the hood keeping the software tweaked, honed
and running as efficient as possible. My own perspective of my
computer is that it is a digitally "well oiled machine" that I do not
permit anyone else to touch much less use.

So yours doesn't do this, huh?

I feel I should apologise for all of this. It is running on longer
than I anticipated and becoming much ado about well . . . a small
matter. Still I dislike loose ends and knot [sic] knowing how to tie
them up.

Thanks again for all your time, expertise and help.
Click to expand...
 
Windows is definitely doing something screwy here. They often do stuff
behind the user's back because they think things should only be done a
certain way. However, when they do this, it ends up confusing things.

I have just installed XP Pro on a new disk so all of the settings are at the
default. I inserted a CD with old files saved on it and opened Search from
the start menu. I then clicked on "all files and folders". I entered
"celfonts.zip" into the "All or part of the file name:" box, I clicked on
"040627_files (F:)" (the CD drive) in the "Look in:" box, and clicked on the
"Search" button.

Search found the file, but under "In Folder" it listed the path:
C:\Documents and Settings\<name>\Local Settings\Application
Data\Microsoft\CD Burning\Documents and Settings\<name>\My Documents

I knew that couldn't be correct. I right clicked on the file and clicked on
"properties". The Location was listed as "F:\Documents and
Settings\<name>\My Documents". However, there is no "My Documents" folder on
the CD under "F:\Documents and Settings\<name>". However, there was a
"<name>'s Documents" folder. That's where the file was. When I clicked on
the file, the address bar showed "F:\Documents and Settings\<name>\My
Documents" even though the folders pane shows the containing folder to be
"<name>'s Documents".

I think XP is changing the folder names for some unknown reason. I think
this is a bug in XP. I will send it off to MS.

Wesley Vogel said:
Mr. Vogel is my Father. My name is Wes.

Something is messed up with your Search. I do not know what. Since I do
not know, I offer the following as clues.

I am using Classic Search. No animals or anything.

My Search lists the actual path in the In Folder column for A:, C:, D: or
E:.

If I place my XP Pro CD in D: and Search for cmd.ex_, I see 2 items. In
Folder lists D:\I386 for both.

If I place my XP Pro CD in E: and Search for cmd.ex_, I see 2 items. In
Folder lists E:\I386 for both.

If I place a floppy in A: and search for readme.txt, I see README.txt. In
Folder lists A:\REST2514.

If I open Advanced Search and Search C: for cmd.exe, In Folder lists
C:\WINDOWS\system32 and C:\WINDOWS\system32\dllcache

You stated [[the right Explorer pane header is Files Currently on CD ]]?

I do not see Files Currently on CD anywhere from D: or E:.

I have Details View. The right hand pane shows (before clicking Search) the
folders and files on D: or E: Name, Size, Type and Date Modified headers.

Are you using Simple Folder View?

I did Google searches for In Folder and all kinds of variations. I did a
Google Groups search for same and I couldn't find anything about wrong path
under In Folder.

There is either a setting that is screwy or Search may need to be
reinstalled.

Some people actually like Agent Ransack better than XP's Search.

[[Agent Ransack is a free tool for finding files and information on your
hard drive fast and efficiently. When searching the contents of files Agent
Ransack displays the text found so you can quickly browse the results
without having to separately open each file!]]
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/download.aspx

One of the nice things about Windows is how many things can be customized.
One of the terrible things about Windows is how many things can be
customized. It makes it tough sometimes to figure out why someone is having
a problem with something.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
The In Folder header displays the path to the file’s parent folder or
device.

There are an infinite number of ways to do this. Here is one. I only
use this method for Searching on removable drives, I use an easier
method for searching my hard drive.

Insert disk in drive L:
Open My Computer
Right click drive L: and click Explore
Explorer opens with L: in the Address bar and L: expanded in the Folders
pane
Click the Search button (magnifying glass) in the Toolbar
Search button not there?
Right click Toolbar | Customize | Select the magnifying glass in the left
hand pane | Click the Add button | Close button
When the Search button is clicked, Search opens with L: already in the
Look in box
Search will only search whatever drive is listed in the Look in box
If C: is in the Look in box Search will *NOT* search any other drives
When done searching, close Explorer
My Computer should still be open
Right click drive L: in My Computer and select Eject

If this doesn't work, you have something seriously messed up. ;-(

You can also right click any found item and select Properties. You can
copy the path from Location on the General tab. This works for any file
or folder.
Click to expand...

;-( indeed! <smile>
Would that it were so, Mr. Vogel. Would that everything in life were
as explicit as your instructions. As you said, there are numerous ways
to approach this and yours has a few more steps than mine own however
the destination is the same; sadly the result is not.
The "Look in:" window is

[disc name] (L:)

the right Explorer pane header is Files Currently on CD (it knows this
is a disc and not a disk). I type in all or part of a file name in the
window of the same designation and

Name: | In Folder:
*.* C:\Documents and Settings\[name]\Local Settings\Application
Data\CD Bern... (here it runs off the screen). If I scroll right,
decrease column widths, shove them to the right, take three giant
steps after saying "May I", I finally get to the disc name and folder
but why should I have to. The actual path starting with L:\ would fit
nicely in the default space provided and give me all I need without
such a ritual.

Referring to your last paragraph: yes, when I click Properties I do
see the L: path and that is a trick I had not tried before (thank you)
but . . .

Am I missing something very obvious here or is it as you say a system
"seriously messed up"? With all due immodesty, I'm pretty savvy about
computers (build them, hardware/software consultant) and I spend a lot
of time *each day* under the hood keeping the software tweaked, honed
and running as efficient as possible. My own perspective of my
computer is that it is a digitally "well oiled machine" that I do not
permit anyone else to touch much less use.

So yours doesn't do this, huh?

I feel I should apologise for all of this. It is running on longer
than I anticipated and becoming much ado about well . . . a small
matter. Still I dislike loose ends and knot [sic] knowing how to tie
them up.

Thanks again for all your time, expertise and help.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise. I inserted a
disc in the L: drive (my disc drive) and walked through your
suggestions. "All files and folders" is my default search method and I
find nothing in Advanced options that addresses the issue under
discussion. Perhaps I can restate the issue with greater clarity:

Regarding disc drives only, the Found items in the search path do
*not* include the drive letter being searched and that is the source
of my complaint. Instead of pointing to, in this case, L:\*\*.* it
points to C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application
Data\Microsoft\CD Burning\[off the screen listing of the folder -
finally]. Open Containing Folder also points to C: . . . It is a disc,
the data has been burned to it and that disc is in drive L. Why can't
Search point to L: instead of C:\ Documents and Settings\. . . and
further is if there is a way to change this, to my mind, very
misguided behaviour?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Apparently a bug. Workaround described here:

Files are displayed in the staging folder when you search a CD-RW drive
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325218
 
Hi Sharon,

Interesting.

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
Sharon F said:
Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise. I inserted a
disc in the L: drive (my disc drive) and walked through your
suggestions. "All files and folders" is my default search method and I
find nothing in Advanced options that addresses the issue under
discussion. Perhaps I can restate the issue with greater clarity:

Regarding disc drives only, the Found items in the search path do
*not* include the drive letter being searched and that is the source
of my complaint. Instead of pointing to, in this case, L:\*\*.* it
points to C:\Documents and Settings\LocalService\Application
Data\Microsoft\CD Burning\[off the screen listing of the folder -
finally]. Open Containing Folder also points to C: . . . It is a disc,
the data has been burned to it and that disc is in drive L. Why can't
Search point to L: instead of C:\ Documents and Settings\. . . and
further is if there is a way to change this, to my mind, very
misguided behaviour?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Apparently a bug. Workaround described here:

Files are displayed in the staging folder when you search a CD-RW drive
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325218
Click to expand...
 
Neither have I, Sharon. But I have my own XP problems. ;-)

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In
 
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