Windows 7: Articles

In this article we’ll take a look at how users find missing files in all versions of Windows from Windows 95 right up to the latest version Windows 7.

It is an easy matter to misplace a file and it can be frustrating when you know the file is there somewhere on your computer but you just can't remember where you put it. This problem was addressed in all versions of Windows starting in Windows 95, continuing through the subsequent versions Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows Vista and now in Windows 7.

Finding Files in Windows

Given the huge number of files and folders you can accumulate on your computer; think about how many digital photographs you have on your computer; it is no wonder users lose track of important files.

Windows 95 and 98

Searching for files in Windows 95 and 98 involved using the Find dialog box.

This contained three tabs -- Name & Location, Date Modified and Advanced.

Each tab allowed you to search in a different way.

Name & Location - Searches specified Drives.

Date Modified - Searches on a specific date range or number of days or months to find files based on creation or modification dates

Advanced - Searches for file type, file size or a specific string to find specific files.

Search in Windows Millennium and Windows 2000

The next two versions of Windows, Windows Millennium and Windows 2000 changed the name of Find, to Search and introduced a new Search dialog box. Access remained the same through the Start menu and then by clicking Search.

Finding a file or folder in the Search Results dialog box became a little easier.

Search in Windows XP

When Windows XP came on the scene, a whole new approach to searching began. The previous dialog box was gone and replaced by the Search Companion.

Places where you could search were well defined.

If you were looking for a picture, on choosing Pictures, Music or Video a small box popped up. In the example a wildcard with the file extension name would find all jpg files.

Once the Search parameters were set, clicking the Search button set Windows XP to work finding the files.

Search in Windows Vista

Search changed again in Windows Vista. It is now Instant Search. The term Instant Search is appropriate as it is faster than any previous Microsoft file search engine.

Access to Instant Search

In Vista you can commence a Search by using the Search box conveniently located at the bottom of the Start Menu.

The other way you can Search is to use the Search boxes located in the top right-hand corner of the main folders, Documents, Music, Pictures and so on.

On typing an entry in the Search box, Windows displays a results list based on what you’ve typed. This includes a list of file and folder names, program names; any text contained relating to the typed entry.

Search is context sensitive, basing its results on your current location and activity. Keep this in mind when searching.

• Searching from the Start menu finds content in all your files folders and programs

• Searching from the Control Panel finds only control panel tasks

• Searching from a folder window only finds items in folder and subfolders within that window.

The Search Results window

The Search window is easy to use. You can restrict Search to show, All (which means everything on your computer) and specific types of files – e-mail, Documents, Pictures, Music and Other.

Once you decide where you want to search, type in the entry in the General Search box and Search takes over.

Using Vista’s Advanced Search Feature

If your search is too broad and you fail to find what you’re looking for, use Vista’s Advanced Search option. This allows you to refine your search by selecting a specific type of file in the Show Only menu. Then you can go even further by searching by Locations, Dates, and Sizes and then Name, Tags and Authors.

Search in Windows 7

Windows 7’s Search feature closely follows that of Windows Vista. The Search box is still at the bottom of the Windows Start menu. It's labeled Search Programs and Files.

All major Explorer windows -- Computer, Documents, Network, Control Panel, Pictures, and Music, contain a Search text box in the upper right-hand corner.

Once you enter a title or keywords in any Search box, Windows begins searching your computer system for matches to any of the characters entered. It displays the results in Search Results window.

Search automatically looks for matches not only the names of programs, drives, folders and files but also any metadata in files. Metadata are keywords in files, such as author, date modified and so on. By using keywords it enables Windows search to quickly find what you're looking for.

Here is an example of a Search Results window.

Some Final Points to Remember

Remember, when doing a General Search, using a not-so-specific name, Search will turn up hundreds of files or subfolders. To hone your search, try and be as specific as possible in naming the object or file you're looking for.

By default, Search works on a set of indexed locations which include everything in your personal folder -- My Desktop and this includes these folders Documents, Pictures, Music, Desktop and so on.

Finally, keep in mind that Windows 7 continually updates the Index with the latest information about files on your computer. Indexing is an automatic function of Search.