OESF Portables Forum

General Forums => Off Topic forum => Topic started by: lardman on March 09, 2005, 05:40:55 pm

Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: lardman on March 09, 2005, 05:40:55 pm: Running WinXP sp2 (for my sins ;-).

I have a load of MATLAB source files (extension .m - associated with the MATLAB editor app) which the explorer search function/button/app seems complete unable to search.

I'm trying to search within the files (they are just text files which notepad is quite happy to open) for a given string, but the Explorer search function doesn't find anything within the files.

Anyone have any ideas (either for why this doesn't work or for an alternative app which will actually work)?

Thanks,

Si
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: jfv on March 09, 2005, 08:09:17 pm: Boot off a linux CD, mount your hard drive and use grep.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Felipe
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: padishah_emperor on March 09, 2005, 09:02:02 pm: Actually Si I am having to use XP as this PC is being sold and the buyer wants XP, I think you've discovered yet another undocumented feature. This is the first time I've used Windows since trying Windows95. Pure crap, can't wait to get rid of it. Lots of things don't work as expected, how people use this all the time is beyond me.

Download Knoppix. Seriously.
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: ev1l on March 09, 2005, 11:16:05 pm: tried google desktop?
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: lardman on March 10, 2005, 04:39:43 am: Quote
Boot off a linux CD, mount your hard drive and use grep.

I'm thinking of doing just that - well copying the files to my Z and using grep on them there (my home PC is dual boot with Mandrake so I could use that, but that's no fun hey ;-)).

Quote
Pure crap, can't wait to get rid of it. Lots of things don't work as expected, how people use this all the time is beyond me.

Agreed, pain in the arse. The thing is I can't think why it wouldn't search inside the files, unless it thinks they are binary for some reason (I have a feeling it doesn't do text searches inside binary files).

Quote
tried google desktop?

Good idea, I'll get downloading.

Thanks everyone,

Si
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: lardman on March 13, 2005, 07:13:08 am: A solution. Perhaps I should have googled before ranting ;-)

http://www.petri.co.il/windows_xp_search_bug.htm (http://www.petri.co.il/windows_xp_search_bug.htm)

Si
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: padishah_emperor on March 13, 2005, 08:05:23 am: Quote
A solution. Perhaps I should have googled before ranting ;-)

http://www.petri.co.il/windows_xp_search_bug.htm (http://www.petri.co.il/windows_xp_search_bug.htm)

Si
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No, no, dear sir, a full-on rant is good for the soul
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: bbb on June 30, 2005, 10:21:39 am: Hey lardman

Just a quick thanks for all the posts you put up!

How interesting! Exactly the same issue happened to me at work. I had to be rescued by the helpdesk. But rest assured it was fixed.

Apparently, Windows will only search if the file extensions are registered in the registry.

I saw a print out from the MS support pages in the fixers hot little hand.

So search the MS knowledge base and you never know your luck.

bbb
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: craigtyson on June 30, 2005, 10:28:17 am: tick search all files and folders to get round this "functionality"
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: craigtyson on June 30, 2005, 10:51:50 am: OK So Im wrong.. Ticking search all files and folders dont make any diffrence nor does putting the file ext in the search criteria.

In the words of the great poet what a load of Shite
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: lardman on June 30, 2005, 01:22:41 pm: See the link I posted.

Si
Title: Winxp Explorer Search Doesn't Actually Search?
Post by: arniel on July 01, 2005, 06:13:44 am: I use TextPad for searching as well as general text editing... don't know if it's the best, but once you've cracked regular expressions it can save hours of dull editing jobs :-)