Windows 7 Search does not display search results for encrypted files on this machine. I have the following test case set up in three directories with identical files (one Doc, one PDF, one txt all containing a certain word) in each: Directory with EFS enabled and Indexing enabled : -- Doc, PDF, and TXT file contents not shown for a search on a single word contained in the files. Directory with no EFS, Indexing enabled -- all files show in search results Directory with EFS enabled and Indexing disabled, folder options set to search content for non-indexed items. -- all files show in search results Interestingly, in all cases if I search for text in the filename, the correct results are returned. The problem is only with text contained in the files. I have reinstalled Windows Search and have rebuilt the index several times. When I write files to the EFS directory, I can see number of files increase in the Indexing Options dialog. Of course, I have tried checking and unchecking the "Index encrypted files" box in Indexing Options. I also have made sure that the SYSTEM account has rights to all these directories. I have Folder Options set to "Allways search file names and contents". Any ideas on what else I can do to fix this problem so I can search the contents of EFS folders?

Sigh. One more thing wrong with Windows Search. I have found, as you did, that Windows Search is more apt to find things without the Indexing facility enabled. My advice: Stop trying to make it work - it will not be trustworthy even if you can somehow coerce it into seeing into your encrypted folders. Seek out 3rd party search tools such as grepWin. -Noel