My goal is to find ALL files in my filesystem containing a string. Entering contents: "some words" in the explorer search bar only works if all of the characters between quotes are not special characters. Entering contents: "cv::Mat" returns files that contain the words "cv" and "Mat", definitely not what is expected. Entering contents: "g_" found all files except unregistered file types. In my Indexing Options control panel I have zero indexed locations which I thought would effectively disable indexing and allow me to search any file type. Is it possible to use Windows Search to search files by contents in unregistered or extension-less files? I am familiar with things like findstr, and 3rd party programs but they defeat the point of having search results returned in an explorer window that can be inspected in details or thumbnails, sorted, copied, moved, and manipulated by all the actions/programs in the context menu and sendto menu. Some other comments: A single text field with some hidden and poorly documented commands is inappropriate for such an important aspect of an OS. A fast search system is useless if it gives incomplete or inconsistent results. The best part of the new Windows Search is that a search in current and sub-folders can be done quickly, but navigating back or forward losses search results. An "Open file location in new window" would be a useful option. Search filter keywords should be replaced with a UI accessible through the search field popup similar to the "Add a search filter" area but with the option to see all available filters, each with an appropriate interface that makes it obvious how to do anything that was possible in XP classic search, without learning a cryptic new syntax. For "contents:", a simple additional text field for typing the search string is all that is required. Typing commands like "date:" to activate a UI counters the idea of having less mouse clicks. They were simply replaced with keystrokes, thousands if you count the google searches required to figure out how it works. In reality it was "less clicks... if you need to do less powerful stuff". Indexing might be more useful if it could be enabled or disabled easily or even better on a per-search basis because it is essentially a difficult-to-manage hidden search filter. As a programmer used to XP classic search, using Windows 7 Search has been painful.

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If you are using special characters along with alpha numeric character then you can search the file with alpha numeric character only. It will not search the file if you put your search string as special characters. I will forward your feedback to our Product Group so as to ensure that we are continuously developing Microsoft products to meet our customers' needs. Thank you for working closely to improve our products. JPlease 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.

I'd like to unmark this reply as an answer ... And I also can't seem to "join" this thread despite being logged into the forum: http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsserver2008r2general/thread/f53406ce-c955-4047-a99f-b5fbeb01db3e?prof=required There you'll find what my issue as follows (copied from a save before "submit" here in another forum that WON'T SUBMIT ...) I've attempted to follow the instructions provided in the thread of the same name as this one (found under Windows Server 2008 general questions ... why I've been redirected to ask another question, necessitating this post externally ejected from that thread is unknown) but the instructions can't be about Windows Server 2008 because the return on that "search" doesn't return any clickable suggestion using those words. When you say: "Change how Windows searches", do you mean "change search options for files and folders"? Because that dialog doesn't provide any way todo do as you further suggest. Going back to the create a file with an odd word in it in the directory in which I want to find text-in-a-file idea, that is also a total scrubb. Please advise. Have followed this thread and need a solution to flagging search-in-files in Windows Server 2008. I can't even find a link to resourse that will help me form a correct search string using the interface provided.