I am having trouble getting windows search to work. It doesn't return any results when I know that the strings I am searching for inside files exist. I know from previous posts that there were problems with search but the posts are mostly dated 2009. Have the problems been rectified yet? I have used control panel file options and index options and set everything to use file contents and still no results example. I want to find every file in my VB Projects area that contains the string "connectionstring". Is the searching case sensitive or something? (and yes, I have ensured that the file extensions are in the list of files to index) Maybe it doesn't search sub-folders so I tried searching in the folder that contains files with the required string and still no result. I thought one of the main advantages of digital files over paper files was that you could search. Why doesn't it work?

AFAIK the search only looks at file names My MVP is for the Windows Desktop Experience, i.e. Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 IT Remote Assistance is available for a fee. I am best with C++ and I am learning C# using Visual Studio 2010. My page on Video Card Problems is now my most popular landing page. Developer | Windows IT | Chess | Economics | Hardcore Games | Vegan Advocate | PC Reviews

Is there a fix date? Looks like you spends your money and then get short changed on something that any basic operating system should be able to do - search. And why should the user have to worry about index setting and search settings anyway? That's what computers are for.

Hi, Did you test this issue with other file types? If this issue occurs to all type files, I would like to suggest you try the following methods to check the result: 1. Go to control panel -> Folder Options -> Search -> click Always search files name and contents. 2. Rebuild the index options: Change advanced indexing options 3. Use SFC command to check what the result is: How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7 For more information, please kindly refer to the following article: Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions Hope it helps. Alex ZhaoPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Perhaps this will assist: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-advanced-indexing-options Reindex the computer, it may take some time Also this: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/technicalresources/advquery.mspx It's a matter of getting the computer tuned. Then you can click Start and type the query in the search box.

It appears that each file type needs to be set to have their contents indexed. This is quite a job as there are loads of file types. Control Panel > Indexing Options > Advanced > File types. Click the Radio button labelled "Index Properties and File Contents" for EACH FILE TYPE for which you want the contents indexed.

It doesn't sound good to me.

OK, so please do tell what does sound good. Is there a better or more correct way of doing it? Thanks