BushArts.com - Training... File Searching
The search method on this page really only applies to users of Windows XP and older, that have not installed any newer search or indexing system. However, the basics of searching do still apply.
Can't find a program or file just when you really need it? ... or just can't remember where you saved it to?
Not a Problem! Windows includes a very easy to use "Search" tool.
Usually located just above your StartButton, Search is Windows answer for our file finding situations. Older Windows versions used the "Find" function in a very similiar manner.
Windows "Vista" users have search buttons in many places, and therefore have much quicker search access.
Open Search by clicking its Start Menu button, whereby you should see something similiar to the screenshot below.
All you need do, is to tell Search what to look for, and where to look for it.
Search does not need the exact or full filename to find something. In Example, Lets imagine that you need to find the letter you wrote your boss last week. You can't remember what you saved it as, or where you saved it to, but you do know that you used Windows Notepad to write it. All you need to do, is type in "txt" (Notepads default format) in the first box, and press the search button. Assuming normal circumstances in your system, search will then find all files on your system that contain "txt" in the filename, plus all files that end in "txt" as an extension.
If you typed "boss" in the first box, Search would find all files containing that term in any name or extension. Same would apply for "bos" or even just "bo". The resultant search will show in the right hand side.
Too many files found? Sort the Right side columns by clicking on a heading (Name, In Folder, Type etc..), to place all of the files into a respective category sorted order, to make it easier to find the exact one you want.
Naturally the more info you supply to your search, then the closer your results will be to your requirements.
There are also further options available with the Search tool. You can search only in specific Drives or Folders, only within specific date periods, or only by matching file type... or even all of the above.