Hi Alan,
Windows® XP - Search Problems - Containing Text:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_bad_search.htm
Other options:
See "Method 2" in this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=309173
Ref: "FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions"
[Excerpt]
Method 2
To configure Windows XP to search all files no matter what the file type,
obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP and then turn on the Index
file types with unknown extensions option.
If you use this method, Windows XP searches all file types for the text that
you specify. This can affect the performance of the search functionality. To
do this: 1. Click Start, and then click Search (or point to Search, and then
click For Files or Folders).
2. Click Change preferences, and then click With Indexing Service (for
faster local searches).
3. Click Change Indexing Service Settings (Advanced). Note that you do not
have to turn on the Index service.
4. On the toolbar, click Show/Hide Console Tree.
5. In the left pane, right-click Indexing Service on Local Machine, and then
click Properties.
6. On the Generation tab, click to select the Index files with unknown
extensions check box, and then click OK.
7. Close the Indexing Service console.
Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly
by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might
require that you reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee
that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.
Network administrators can configure this setting by modifying the registry.
To do this, set the FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions DWORD value to 1 in the
following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex
[/Excerpt]
©2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved
Additional Note from Torgeir Bakken:
<quote>
WinXP's search function filters out files to search in based on file
extensions (see further below).
Install the free Agent Ransack, it searches for text strings in *all*
types of files, and not just in a selection of "approved" file extensions
as the built-in search does. It's a *much* better search tool as well...
http://www.agentransack.com/default.aspx
Agent Ransack can save the search result to a file (or clipboard), as text,
comma separated text or tab separated text. E.g. Excel reads comma separated
text (csv) very well.
</quote>
--
Regards,
Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com
I've noticed that Windows Exploerer now seems to be incapable of finding
text
strings in certain files, even though they are planely there to see when
opened in a text editor. This always used to work fine with previous
versions
of windows. Is there a setting I'm missing somewhere? I can't think of any
sensible reason why microsoft would have removed the ability to search for
text strings in general files.
