Find a file by name windows 7 maximum. How to quickly find files on a Windows computer

Modern hard drives are capable of storing thousands or even tens of thousands of files. Sometimes, due to distraction or inattention, it happens that you either saved the file to the wrong folder and did not remember its location, or you do not know the file name and the folder in which it is located.

In this case, finding the file on your hard drive can be very difficult and you should use the information finder included with your operating system.

The search program starts very simply: Start - Search or My Computer - Search:

After that, on the left side of the window you will see a menu for searching:

As you can see, you can only search for pictures or text files, but the most commonly used item is Files and Folders, which allows you to search for everything among everything.

If you select this item, then in the next window you will be asked to enter the information on which the search will be performed, i.e. you must specify everything that you know about the file you are looking for.

The easiest option is to search for a file by name and type, that is, by its extension.

If you know the name of the file along with the extension, enter them in the top field, separating the name from the extension with a dot

(for example: readme.txt- where readme is the name of the file, and txt is the file extension indicating its format).

If you are looking for a text file, then in the second field you can enter the text that is present in the file you are looking for (and you are sure of this).

Select a search location from the drop-down list below. If you know for sure that the file is located on the C drive, then it makes no sense to look for it all over the hard drive. If you do not know where the file is, then look for it everywhere, specifying it as the search location My computer.

The search starts after pressing the button Find. As you find the necessary files and folders, their icons will appear on the right side of the window. The search may take some time, but if the required file has already appeared in the right part of the window, then you can interrupt the search procedure by clicking the button Stop.

The file search program allows you to create various queries. You can search by file creation date, size, hidden folders, subfolders, archives, etc. You can specify all these data by opening the data entry fields using the corresponding buttons (see figure).

But this is not often used, and therefore we will not dwell on it in detail.

It is much more important for an effective search to be able to use some tricks, or rather search patterns.

It often happens that the file name is not fully known or you are not sure of the correct spelling. In this case, when searching, the missing part of the file name or extension is replaced with special wildcard characters.

Symbol * replaces any number of any characters. For example, if you put an asterisk character instead of a file name, then all files with the specified extension will be searched. This example will search for all pictures with the jpg extension on the entire hard drive:

If you remember the file name, but don't remember (or don't know) its format, then substitute an asterisk for the extension (for example: book.*).

Symbol ? replaces only one character in a pattern. For example, the pattern r?d.* will match all files (with any extension) whose names consist of three letters, start with the character r and end with the character d.

If the file name consists of several words, then these words must be enclosed in quotes when searching:

Thus, by setting up various search parameters, you can significantly increase its effectiveness.

When the search is completed (or stopped), in the right part of the window you will receive a list of files that match the specified search conditions.

You can work with these files (open them), but sometimes it is useful to navigate to the folder where the desired file is located.

To do this, right-click on this file and select the appropriate item in the context menu:

After that, the folder in which this file is located will open, and the file itself will be highlighted.

When switching from Windows Vista search in Windows 7 just gets more convenient and doesn't hold any special surprises. The same can't be said for many Windows XP users who are just discovering their day-to-day work on the system with the convenience of instant search. Searching in Windows 7 is really very easy. But, as with any search, the goal is to find what you need, and sometimes there are difficulties with this. With this article, I begin a story about how search works in Windows 7, how to set it up, how to search, and most importantly, how to find.

On this page:

How search works

You have most likely heard of an index - a set of files that contain a variety of information about the files and documents stored on the disk. When you use the search, it is the index files that allow you to quickly display the results. Various properties of files get into the index, and this is not only the path, name or size. For example, MP3 files have all tags indexed - from author to bitrate. For office documents, data is indexed, which can be seen in the file properties on the tab in detail, document content, and so on. If this kind of search is new to you, I recommend reading a couple of help articles to get an introduction to searching. Minimize all windows, press F1 and in the field Help search enter... Search.

Indexing happens all the time - if you add, delete or change a file in a folder, it will be immediately reflected in the index.

The screenshot shows the locations that are indexed by default. Therefore, if you store your documents somewhere in F:\Documents, they will not be indexed and will not be found by a quick search - they must be added to the index separately. Search settings will be discussed below.

Search and indexing settings

To be honest, the default search settings are quite good, and most users do not need to change anything in them, especially if documents and files are stored in standard folders. To configure the settings, open the Start menu and type in the search search options.

So casually we used one of the possibilities Windows Search 7 - quick access to control panel items from the start menu.

Change search options for files and folders

I will not duplicate the parameters that are perfectly visible in the screenshot.

Pay attention to the following points:

by default search in folder searches in all subfolders

in non-indexed places, only filenames are searched, and compressed files are ignored

you can use language search, i.e. compose search queries in a looser language - for example, video last week(a lot of unexpected results will be mixed in here, especially in localized versions)

Indexing Options and Windows Search Services

Here you can configure many more options. To add folders to the index, click Change.

The Windows and Program Files folders are not accidentally excluded from the search - they will greatly increase the size of the index, and there will be little practical use. Programs can already be found by searching in the Start menu - after all, the main menu is indexed by default.

Clicking Additionally, you have access to two groups of settings:

indexing technical parameters

indexing options for file types

In the first one, you can add encrypted files to the index, rebuild the index (which may be necessary in case of problems), and set a new location for it.

For file type (extension) you can:

include or exclude it from the index

determine whether only properties or also content will be indexed

add new extension

For example, if suddenly your instant messaging client saves its history in text files with a LOG extension, or you just need to parse the logs, their content will not be indexed by default. But you can easily customize the search - just type on the keyboard log to navigate through the list of extensions and enable content search.

How to search

When starting a search, it is desirable to immediately imagine whether the search object is included in the index. As I said above, the index covers the user's profile - libraries, files, etc. Here you can find the files you need relatively easily.

But if you open the main search window and expect to find something in the Program Files or Windows folder, you may generally get the impression that "the search does not find anything" - after all, only the results from the index are displayed. We'll talk about searching in non-indexed places later, but now we'll look at general ways to search in Windows 7. You can search:

from the start menu

in the main search box

in libraries

in other explorer windows - folders, "Open" and "Save As" dialogs

Start menu search

When you search from the Start menu, the search results show not only files and documents, but also programs and Control Panel items. Now you can safely part with the habit of the times of Windows XP - careful sorting of applications in the menu Programs. It is enough to enter the first few letters of the program name to find it. This is much more convenient, especially if you have many programs installed.

If you are using portable applications, simply add their shortcuts to the %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs folder (you can create a subfolder for them). In the search results, they will appear in a group Programs.

In Windows 7, search results in the Start menu are very conveniently grouped, and the number of results in each group is immediately visible - this is an improvement over Windows Vista. As you can see in the screenshot, search by word word finds not only Microsoft Word and WordPad applications, but also suggests results in other groups.

The Start menu displays multiple results for each group, and clicking on the group's name opens a search box with all search results in the group.

Start menu search is good when you have an idea of ​​the file name or its content - the first 5 - 10 results are immediately visible, and you don't have to go far. In addition, the Start menu is indispensable for quick access to programs and control panel items using search.

Main search box

An empty search box can be opened by pressing a keyboard shortcut WIN+F. It, in my opinion, has somewhat lost its meaning, since it no longer contains advanced file search capabilities. Searching in the windows of the explorer practically forces it out of the system. It seems to me that links to help on using the search or a link to this article could brighten up its dull look.

However, the main search window still carries a payload. It opens with search results by typing a query in the Start menu and clicking on the name of a group of search results, or by See other results right above the search field.

Libraries

Now I will explain why I separated the search in libraries and other explorer windows. Pay attention to how search results are displayed in the library. They correspond to the type of files in it and are very well perceived visually. For example, for music files, album art, large song title, size, and "music" options for ordering results are displayed. This is a property of all libraries, which confirms the thesis - the possibilities of Windows 7 are best used together. In this case, it is a search in libraries, which has other advantages.

Here's what a search for a simple query in the library will offer Music.

While in File Explorer, you can sort your search results by available file properties. The default display order is top scores, but, for example, you can organize music files by album or genre. This feature is available alongside Explorer's traditional sorting and grouping features (although the latter may be new to Windows XP migrants).

In this case, the results will display several songs from each album. You can see all the songs in the album, and then "fold" it if the one you need is not there.

If you did not find the desired file in the current folder, you can search again:

Other Explorer windows

In folders and libraries, the search field is the same as in the main window. But we must not forget that the same opportunity is in the "Open" and "Save as" windows, which are used even by those who prefer alternative file managers.

Searching in folders is more convenient when you know the approximate location of the file or document - in this case, you will not get lost in the results. In addition, this method is useful when it is known for sure that the file is not included in the index. Finally, in the Open and Save As windows, you can quickly filter the contents of a folder using search.

I'm sure you've already tried simple search queries and maybe they've worked out for you. However, sooner or later you will need to find the file, and a simple query won't help. Next, I'll show you how to use the advanced search features of Windows 7 to find the files you need.

What's New in Windows 7 Advanced Search

To master the search, of course, you need to practice using its capabilities. In the Windows 7 Search articles, I'll give you some examples that you can easily replicate on your own.

If you're migrating from Windows XP, everything about Windows 7 will be new to you. Compared to Windows Vista in Windows 7 externally:

Search filters

When the name of the file or the subject of the document is approximately known, finding the desired file is usually not difficult - just enter a partial or full query into the Start menu search. But this information is not always stored in the RAM of the brain, and it is often simply necessary to set special search conditions - the size, date of modification or the author of the file. Windows XP had a search assistant, Windows Vista had filters.

At first glance, there is nothing visually striking in Windows 7. In fact, the filters have not gone away - they just become visible when you place the cursor in the search field.

To see more filters, expand the search field - place the cursor on the separator between the field and the address bar and drag to the left.

In the screenshot you see the standard set of filters in the main search window.

Hints

Your search queries are remembered if they were entered:

to the search box

in explorer folder or library

in the start menu (assuming you navigated to the results and not just opened the file)

These prompts annoy some users and they tend to turn them off immediately. And, in my opinion, they do it in vain. Tips remember not only search queries as such, but also filters searches you specified, such as the size or modification date of the file. Suggestions are very handy if you want to use the full power of Windows 7 search. It's easy to change an old term to fit the current query, and it's faster than typing it all over again. And you can always delete an unnecessary hint - just select it (with the mouse or cursor) and press Delete on the keyboard.

As I said above, the new features of Windows 7 are best shared. The connection of search with libraries is not only in the display of results, but also in the formation of search conditions. In the next part of the article, I will look at:

using filters to search in libraries and mail

search in Internet Explorer 8

search in non-indexed places

search operators

Compared to Windows 7 and 8, Windows 10 has received a much more refined system search tool. Now it has its own button on the toolbar, and search tools and filters help you find a file, folder, application, or setting based on a variety of suggested options. However, without knowing how it works, many users do not use it or do not use all its features.

Anyone who has ever used the search in Windows knows that in the seven he looked more modest.

Search and Cortana

Although Windows 10 search is definitely much better than in earlier versions, it is nevertheless limited in the Russian version of the system. This is because Cortana is not available in this version. So far, she has learned to understand and speak only six languages: English, German, Chinese, Italian, Spanish, French.

Accordingly, it works only in those countries where one of these languages ​​is used as the main one. Over time, the developers promise that this voice assistant will be available in all countries.

When you're on Windows, Cortana helps you search the web and your Windows device, offer quick answers and translations, and do calculations, set alarms, and other tasks that don't require any personalization. Cortana can provide search suggestions as soon as you start typing or speaking. To do this, Cortana sends the typed or spoken search query to Bing, which interprets it in real time and provides auto-complete suggestions.

Search and Start Menu

by the most in a simple way You can search for a file, application, or setting by clicking the search icon (magnifying glass) on the Taskbar. Or by entering the desired parameter directly in the open menu Start. To do this, open Start and start typing the word you want to search for; Windows automatically redirects the user to the search tool.

By default, the system searches for all the most relevant results on the computer: among files, applications, settings, etc. But search parameters can be narrowed down significantly with a search filter.

To do this, after entering the word to search in, select the Filters menu in the upper right corner. And limit the search to one of the parameters: All, Video, Documents, Music, Folders, Options, Applications, Photos, or even select the location of the desired object.

Changing the search scope for a Windows service

Windows 10 users have repeatedly noted that searching through the Cortana text field in the new system is sometimes too slow, in addition, consuming a significant amount of RAM.

This is due to the fact that when searching Windows Data 10 uses a special internal database of indexed data. This database contains the names of objects that, according to the developers, are more important and which should be given out in the search in the first place. When the user requests some file that is not included in this list, then Windows starts looking for it only after it checks the internal database of "important" objects.

Of course, this will be more felt by users of weak computers or systems to which very large storage volumes are connected.

However, you can speed up the search by indexing important, from the user's point of view, locations.

To do this, click among the filters button "Select Locations".

In the window "Index the following locations" you will see indexed folders. Select to add here "Change" and select the desired folder. For convenience, I indicated the C drive.

The result of the search through the menu Start or using the icon on the taskbar, it will look like this.

To go to the desired result, just click on it with the left mouse button. And the file, folder or preferences/options window will open.

Search through file manager

Another way to search in Windows is to search from the file manager window. In other words, this is the search field in the open folder window.

To search for a file, folder, or application, navigate to the folder where you want to find it. Type the word you want to search for in the box with the magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner of the window and press Enter.

If the folder being searched is large or not indexed, it may take some time, during which the search status will be displayed in the address bar of the file manager.

The found files will be displayed in a list.

To narrow down your search, go to the file manager tab "Search Tools", which will appear if you click in the input field of the word to search.

In this way, you can narrow your search by file modification date, type, size, name, tag, and so on.

But note that in non-indexed folders, you can only search for files by name. But not in terms of content. However, if desired, such a criterion can be changed directly from this menu. To do this, go to "Extra options", and check the box next to the function "File content".

Also, bookmarked "Folder Tools" file manager, you can index the folder. To do this, go to "Extra options", and select "Change Indexed Locations". As a result, the menu already described above will open.

Third party file search apps

There are also third party applications to search for files on your computer. They can be used if the built-in tool does not suit the user for some reason.

Among them there are both free and paid ones. Those that have wider functionality than the standard Windows search function, similar or simpler. Subjectively, third-party file search programs work faster. Also, the pluses include the presence of portable versions from some manufacturers, with which you can search for files or folders on your computer without installing this application or by running it from removable media (flash drive, external hard drive).

Using programs to search for files is not difficult. Just enter in the special field the word by which the file will be searched for and press Enter. If you need to narrow your search criteria, make the appropriate changes to the program settings.

If you cannot find the desired file on your computer due to its accidental or unintentional deletion, then, depending on the type of file and storage medium, such files or folders can be restored using one of the data recovery programs.