XP Pro not searching all file types even with FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions=1

[Mark Roberts]

Hi,

The subject says it all really, I've ticked the box in the advanced
section of Search, and the search facility still refuses to search
inside all file types for containing text.

I don't want to buy another search tool, I simply want to be able to
search inside all files as I could with NT.

Surely, this must be possible?

Regards,
Mark.

 

[Torgeir Bakken \(MVP\)]

The subject says it all really, I've ticked the box in the advanced
section of Search, and the search facility still refuses to search
inside all file types for containing text.

I don't want to buy another search tool, I simply want to be able to
search inside all files as I could with NT.

Hi

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...

Download it from here:
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/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.

When searching for text inside files, Agent Ransack is also able to do a
preview of the lines the text was found in (just do a single click on the
found file).
Also, you can use regular expression on both the file name part and the find
text in files part.


If you still want to use the not so good search tool that comes with WinXP to
search for text in files, take a look at this:

Using the "A Word or Phrase in the File" Search Criterion May Not Work
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;EN-US;309173

Or this:

Add Files to Containing text Searches
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_fix_search.htm

 

[Guest]

I've the same problem.
Even if the search is searching all files (The sp1 patch fixes this and change the registry to fix the other issues ) the search still isn't 100% as Microsoft in thier wisdow changed it toi be more efficient
They search each file by breaking up the text into blocks and don't search on commented text
This all sounds fine but doesn't seem to work very well as it has caused more problems with XP than Microsoft are willing to talk about

The tool seems to be the best option but I feel the same way you do that you should be able to use the search.dll from 2000 if you wish and not be lumped with a dll that doesn't function properly

 

[Alex Nichol]

The subject says it all really, I've ticked the box in the advanced
section of Search, and the search facility still refuses to search
inside all file types for containing text.

It only searches for text in a very limited number of types - they must
either have registry entries saying they are pure Text (.TXT and not
much else) or have known ;filters' to handle embedded format controls,
so that Search can avoid being confused by thinking those are characters
in 16 bit Unicode (eg .doc, .htm). You can add an additional type as
pure text provided you know that it *is* that, and that it does not
already have a 'PersistentHandler' in the registry. Make the following,
after - - start and before - - end into a file by cut/paste to NotePad.
Make sure there is a blank line at the end. Save as "Patch.reg" then
d-click on this file to enter it into the registry.
This is for .log - modify that for other extensions, with care.

- - start
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.log\PersistentHandler]
@="{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"


- - end

Or use third party software. One that is widely recommended is free:
www.agentransack.com