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Why does the search feature on Windows 7 suck so badly?

T

totalnoob

Golden Member
WTF is wrong with Microsoft? It is impossible to search properly for files any more. On XP, you'd enter a search string and the computer would scan your entire hard drive for a selection of files. Windows 7 doesn't seem to even attempt a proper search. If the result doesn't show up as you are typing the characters, it never appears..not even when you hit "more results".

If you want proof of this, install Utorrent, delete the shortcut, then do a search for "utorrent". The .exe launcher is still buried in a Windows folder somewhere however it doesn't turn up in a search..so there is no way to launch the program manually. I've had the same problem with document files. Even after saving a .doc file to the desktop, a search for the title turns up nothing! Why does the search feature NOT do a search?
 
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I actually seen this happen in XP as well. No clue how windows 7 does it, but I know in XP there has to be a check box on the C drive so that "indexing" is enabled. The indexing service also has to be on. Might be something like that in 7. Just a guess.
 
With the indexing service and without him, the search feature in Windows 7 is just useless.

I agree that Windows XP doesn't seems to be problematic.
 
Windows 7 needs to have clear options to whether you want to use the indexing service or if you want to do the plain old search.
 
you may try google desktop or other search services.

Windows 7 search works fine in the start menu if you want to find programs, but if you want to find a file in the whole hd it just sucks. I don't care if it takes 1 hour, it should be able to do it.
 
This is ridiculous indeed! i haven't used it much yet but there's gotta be some kind of workaround !! anyone else had this same experience?
 
The search in Vista was actually much better (in my experience). Every time that I would search for something, it would be found. With Windows 7, it seemed to be very hit or miss. I'd search for a file in a folder and it wouldn't find it.. search for another file in the same folder and it finds it.

I don't know why you guys are dragging XP into the issue.. the search on XP was horrendously slow, and it rarely found what I was looking for. Not to mention that the search feature was completely revamped in Vista, so the XP search feature and the 7 search feature aren't really related in any way other than they both search for things.
 
Typing in "search" within the control panel box thats labelled "search control panel" will bring up the "indexing options" applet, where you can add the "program files" directory to the search locations.

But hey, why bother looking for the solution when you can whine about it on a forum? 😉
 
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simonizor said:
The search in Vista was actually much better (in my experience). Every time that I would search for something, it would be found. With Windows 7, it seemed to be very hit or miss. I'd search for a file in a folder and it wouldn't find it.. search for another file in the same folder and it finds it.

I don't know why you guys are dragging XP into the issue.. the search on XP was horrendously slow, and it rarely found what I was looking for. Not to mention that the search feature was completely revamped in Vista, so the XP search feature and the 7 search feature aren't really related in any way other than they both search for things.
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are you sure about that. the traditional search just goes through the entire directory structure to find files. i've never had it miss a thing. the cool thing about the new windows search is that it actualy looks INSIDE files for strings. but somewhere along the line, it forgets to index and you aren't able to find jack at all.
 
I just put search in the search box and found the app to modify the search areas. I was kind of surprised that all my secondary drives and partitions were not part of the normal search.
 
Searches in Win7 are definitely more complex than in XP. And if you don't spend ten minutes looking at the options, you'll likely not find the files you expect.

A quick search at the Win7 START menu for the term, "Search" will point you at the more advanced search pages (including document previews), Saved Searches, and Indexing options.
 
thedosbox said:
Typing in "search" within the control panel box thats labelled "search control panel" will bring up the "indexing options" applet, where you can add the "program files" directory to the search locations.

But hey, why bother looking for the solution when you can whine about it on a forum? 😉
Click to expand...

nice tip, thanks!
 
thedosbox said:
That's because the desktop is indexed by default. The program files directory is not.

For those looking to make full use of Windows search read this.
Click to expand...

User profiles are indexed, but even if something is not indexed it will search a root folder and it's children when doing a slower secondary search.

I'm on a recent install, found:

utorrent.jpg


I've not had time to configure my indexes, so they are default:

locations.jpg
 
totalnoob said:
WTF is wrong with Microsoft? It is impossible to search properly for files any more. On XP, you'd enter a search string and the computer would scan your entire hard drive for a selection of files. Windows 7 doesn't seem to even attempt a proper search. If the result doesn't show up as you are typing the characters, it never appears..not even when you hit "more results".

If you want proof of this, install Utorrent, delete the shortcut, then do a search for "utorrent". The .exe launcher is still buried in a Windows folder somewhere however it doesn't turn up in a search..so there is no way to launch the program manually. I've had the same problem with document files. Even after saving a .doc file to the desktop, a search for the title turns up nothing! Why does the search feature NOT do a search?
Click to expand...

Utorrent doesn't work because it doesn't use "U' it uses the micro symbol. If you just search torrent, it comes up.

Also, fix your indexing settings
 
never had a problem with windows 7 searching. It is a little lame with the settings but i havnt checked out the real search window just type what i need to find then click my computer for where to search.
 
I use xplorer lite so and avoid the win7 search 🙂 Yes, I dont' like it either and much prefer the XP search.
 
Matan Eldan said:
With the indexing service and without him, the search feature in Windows 7 is just useless.

I agree that Windows XP doesn't seems to be problematic.
Click to expand...

is this an April Fool's joke ?

does the search feature really suck ? 2 OS releases after XP & they f*cked it up ?

that's odd. some people are so proud they upgraded. they even bash XP as if having a newer OS makes them cooler.

well, Vista does one thing well - speech recognition. does Vista 7 do speech recognition all right ?
 
wwswimming said:
is this an April Fool's joke ?

does the search feature really suck ? 2 OS releases after XP & they f*cked it up ?

that's odd. some people are so proud they upgraded. they even bash XP as if having a newer OS makes them cooler.
Click to expand...

*sigh* read the thread. It's been demonstrated that there is a PEBCAK.
 
thedosbox said:
*sigh* read the thread. It's been demonstrated that there is a PEBCAK.
Click to expand...

Jeeezus no kidding.

And to the one that asked the question about an increase of rant threads from lazy people, yes I have noticed that.

This problem presented itself to me for all of 5 seconds when i FIRST installed Win7, I used the grey stuff between my ears and modified the indexer so it includes all of C drive, then... oh my GOD i can find anything on the computer, just like in XP, but oh look, it finds it instantly.
 
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