In Vista if a search fails to find the file I want I have an option to extend the search to hidden or system files. This appears to have been removed from Win7. Why?Or is there a way to include windows system files and hidden files if I want?Viv

Windows 7 has Folder Options just like in XP and Vista.File>Layout>Show Menu - that will put the familiar Tools to take you to the Folder Options.GA P35 DQ6 Mb, Intel Wolfdale 8600 3.33Ghz C2D CPU., 4x2Gb Mushkin DDR2 1066 PC2 8500 Ascents Memory Mods., PNY-nVidia GE Force 8800 GTS (640MB), 4-Western Digital Caviar SATA(2) HDD's (internal), 1 EIDE-USB External; Hauppauge PVR 1600 TV tuner, Dual Monitor: STANDARD up top for standing up and getting stuff done; 24" WIDESCREEN below for kicking back, layin on the floor, watchin TV and playing around; Altec Lansing Speakers. Here Kitty, Kitty...that's my Kitty Kat, he's a Kat, because he is kat...kat.

Thanks for the suggestion, David, but I do not understand where I can find this File menu. If I go to Start, Computer then I see Organize, Properties, System Properties, Uninstall or change a program, etc.Right clicking on the Computer icon, or any of the drives also does not give me any options to do what you suggested, unless I have missed something.Viv

In Vista, if I did a search which did not find the file I was looking for then there was an option below the search results (or lack of them) to do an Advanced Search and look in non-indexed locations. That has been removed from Win7 which is very irritating. I cannot see the point in changing something which worked for something else which is very obscure.Viv

Goto Control Panel -> Folder Optionsand set the checkboxes in "View" and "Search" the indicated way. There is an alternate way, too - searching with parameters, but I don't remember well and there's no comprehensive list of them, until now.Mobile AMD64 3000+, VIA Apollo K8T800 chipset, 1 G RAM, ATIRadeonMobility 9700, 20x DVDRW, C:XPSP3 (55G),D:WIN7 (25G),F:DATA (250G)

Thanks for the suggestion, David, but I do not understand where I can find this File menu. If I go to Start, Computer then I see Organize, Properties, System Properties, Uninstall or change a program, etc.Right clicking on the Computer icon, or any of the drives also does not give me any options to do what you suggested, unless I have missed something.Viv Viv - Open Windows Explorer. Press the ALT key - the standard menus from days gone by will show up.

Forgive me...I haven't had Windows 7 on my system for anumber ofweeks now.I do recall some method to put the oldstyle Menu Options in Windows Explorer's Toolbar/Navigation bar, or whatever it is they call it now.I do recall clicking on some option and there was another option for Layout>Show Menu and when that was clicked on the oldstyle Menu showed up. And, in that Menu there was was a Tools>Folder Options - with the General, View, File types, etc tabs.GA P35 DQ6 Mb, Intel Wolfdale 8600 3.33Ghz C2D CPU., 4x2Gb Mushkin DDR2 1066 PC2 8500 Ascents Memory Mods., PNY-nVidia GE Force 8800 GTS (640MB), 4-Western Digital Caviar SATA(2) HDD's (internal), 1 EIDE-USB External; Hauppauge PVR 1600 TV tuner, Dual Monitor: STANDARD up top for standing up and getting stuff done; 24" WIDESCREEN below for kicking back, layin on the floor, watchin TV and playing around; Altec Lansing Speakers. Here Kitty, Kitty...that's my Kitty Kat, he's a Kat, because he is kat...kat.

One way or another make certain "when searchung use the index" is not selected or it won't seach for system files.Proud to be an American.