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Guest

The general search function on my computer seems to have degraded greatly in
the last while. I can't put my finger on exactly when it happened but while
it indicates that it is searching my hard drives it only returns a few "hits"
where there were hundreds before.

The bottom line is that I can't use to find anything on my machine.

Anyone experience this lately?
 
'Steve' wrote, in part:
| The general search function on my computer seems to have degraded greatly
in
| the last while. I can't put my finger on exactly when it happened but
while
| it indicates that it is searching my hard drives it only returns a few
"hits"
| where there were hundreds before.
_____

I think it would help in diagnosis if you add some details, including

is show hidden and system files on?

capacity of hard drive(s)

free capicity of hard drive(s)

do you get this effect when searching for 'files containing' or searching
for 'all files and folders'

how many "hits" do you get if you search your C: drive for 'all files and
folders' with the search string: .exe

have you defragmented the drive lately?

have you done a surface and structure test lately.

Phil Weldon

| The general search function on my computer seems to have degraded greatly
in
| the last while. I can't put my finger on exactly when it happened but
while
| it indicates that it is searching my hard drives it only returns a few
"hits"
| where there were hundreds before.
|
| The bottom line is that I can't use to find anything on my machine.
|
| Anyone experience this lately?
|
|
 
Phil,

Thank you for responding to my query. To answer your questions:

1) yes, show hidden and system files is "on"
2) I have 2 identical 160 GB hard drives, my C Drive is 75% free, my backup
Drive is 15% free (and varies with backup activity)
3) I seem to get the effect all of the time, that is I can searh for a
general term
or for a specific filetype or extension.
4) I've searched on ".exe" and 12 hits are returned (whereas the number
should be much higher of course).
5) At your suggestion, I've checked fragmentation, and it is very low.
6) I ran disk check on both and there are no errors idenfied.

Do you know if there is a way to "reindex" search?

Steve
 
'Steve' wrote, in part:

| Thank you for responding to my query. To answer your questions:

_____

This from 'Help and Support' right in your 'Start' menu:

To search for a file or folder

1.. Click Start, and then click Search.
2.. Click All files and folders.
Important

If you do not see All files and folders, you have probably changed your
default search behavior.

1.. Click Change preferences.
2.. Click Change files and folders search behavior.
3.. Click Standard, and then click OK.
4.. Click All files and folders.
3.. Type part or all of the name of the file or folder, or type a word or
phrase that is in the file.
4.. If you do not know either piece of information or want to narrow your
search further, select one or more of the remaining options:
a.. In Look in, click the drive, folder, or network you want to search.
b.. Click When was it modified? to look for files that were created or
modified on or between specific dates.
c.. Click What size is it? to look for files of a specific size.
d.. Click More advanced options to specify additional search criteria.
5.. Click Search.


To search for a file or folder

1.. Click Start, and then click Search.
2.. Click All files and folders.
Important

If you do not see All files and folders, you have probably changed your
default search behavior.

1.. Click Change preferences.
2.. Click Change files and folders search behavior.
3.. Click Standard, and then click OK.
4.. Click All files and folders.
3.. Type part or all of the name of the file or folder, or type a word or
phrase that is in the file.
4.. If you do not know either piece of information or want to narrow your
search further, select one or more of the remaining options:
a.. In Look in, click the drive, folder, or network you want to search.
b.. Click When was it modified? to look for files that were created or
modified on or between specific dates.
c.. Click What size is it? to look for files of a specific size.
d.. Click More advanced options to specify additional search criteria.
5.. Click Search.
By the way, when you reply to message, click on the post you are responding
to, not on your previous post. This makes the 'thread' more readable.

Phil Weldon

| Phil,
|
| Thank you for responding to my query. To answer your questions:
|
| 1) yes, show hidden and system files is "on"
| 2) I have 2 identical 160 GB hard drives, my C Drive is 75% free, my
backup
| Drive is 15% free (and varies with backup activity)
| 3) I seem to get the effect all of the time, that is I can searh for a
| general term
| or for a specific filetype or extension.
| 4) I've searched on ".exe" and 12 hits are returned (whereas the number
| should be much higher of course).
| 5) At your suggestion, I've checked fragmentation, and it is very low.
| 6) I ran disk check on both and there are no errors idenfied.
|
| Do you know if there is a way to "reindex" search?
|
| Steve
|
|
| "Steve" wrote:
|
| > The general search function on my computer seems to have degraded
greatly in
| > the last while. I can't put my finger on exactly when it happened but
while
| > it indicates that it is searching my hard drives it only returns a few
"hits"
| > where there were hundreds before.
| >
| > The bottom line is that I can't use to find anything on my machine.
| >
| > Anyone experience this lately?
| >
| >
 
Phil,

I'd tried turning on indexing service before but nothing seemed to happen.
Based on your direction, I followed the trail to find that my indexing service
won't start. When I look deeper, I find that it depends on Remote Procedure
Call which is also malfunctioning.

My conclusion is that I need to reload Windows.

Sound about right?

Steve
 
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