Often users need to find a particular file on their computer. If you forget where the desired object is located, the search procedure may take a significant amount of time and ultimately be unsuccessful. Let's find out how you can quickly find the data located on your Windows 7 PC.

You can search on computers with Windows 7 either using third-party applications or using the tools provided by the operating system. Below we will consider in detail specific ways to implement this task.

Method 1: Search My Files

Let's start with a description of methods that involve the use of third-party software. One of the most popular computer search programs is Search My Files. The Russian translation of this name itself speaks about the purpose of the software product. It is good because it does not require installation on a PC, and all actions can be performed using the portable version.

1. Launch Search My Files. On the left side of the window that opens, check the box next to the hard drive directory where you want to find the file. If you don’t even approximately remember where the object should be, then in this case put a mark next to the item "Computer". After this, all directories will be checked. In addition, if desired, you can set a number of additional scanning conditions in the same window. Then press the button "Search".



2. The scanning procedure for the selected directory is performed. In this case, a tab opens in the program window "Progress", which displays detailed information about the dynamics of the operation:
   • Scan area;
   • Past tense;
   • Number of objects analyzed;
   • Number of directories scanned, etc.

   The larger the directory the program scans, the longer this procedure will take. Therefore, if you are searching for a file on your entire computer, then be prepared for a long wait.



3. After scanning is completed, the button will become active "Show Results" ("View results"). Click on it.



4. Another window will automatically open. It displays the results in the form of names of detected objects that meet the specified scanning conditions. It is among these results that you should find the desired file. This can be done using a large set of filters and sortings. Selection can be made according to the following criteria:
   • Name of the object;
   • Expansion;
   • Size;
   • Formation date.



5. For example, if you know at least part of the file name, then enter it in the field above the column "FileName Long". After this, only those objects whose names include the entered expression will remain in the list.



6. If you wish, you can further narrow your search by filtering by one of the other fields. For example, if you know the format of the object you are looking for, you can enter it in the field above the column "File Extension". Thus, only elements containing the expression entered in the field in their name and corresponding to the specified format will remain in the list.



7. Additionally, you can sort all results in the list by any of the fields. After you find the object you are looking for, in order to launch it, just double-click on the name with the left mouse button ( LMB).

Method 2: Effective File Search

The next program that can search for files on computers running Windows 7 is Effective File Search. It is much simpler than the previous analogue, but it is precisely its simplicity that captivates many users.

1. Activate Effective File Search. In field "Name" Enter the full name or part of the name of the object you are looking for.

   

   If you don't remember even part of the name, you can search by extension. To do this, enter an asterisk ( * ), and then after the period indicate the extension itself. For example, for DOC files, the entered expression should look like this:

   But if you don't even remember the exact file extension, then in the field "Name" You can list multiple formats separated by a space.



2. By clicking on the field "Folder", you can select any of the computer sections you want to search. If this operation needs to be performed on the entire PC, then select the option "Local hard drives".

   

   If the search area is narrower and you know the specific directory where you should search for the object, then you can also set it. To do this, click on the button that displays the ellipsis to the right of the field "Folder".



3. The tool opens "Browse folders". Select the directory in which the file you are looking for is located. In this case, the object does not have to be located in its root, but can also be located in a subfolder. Click "OK".



4. As you can see, the path to the selected directory is displayed in the field "Folder". Now you need to add it to the field "Folders", which is located below. To do this, click on the button "Add.".



5. Path added. If you need to search for an object in other directories, then repeat the above procedure again, adding as many directories as you need.



6. After being in the field "Folders" the addresses of all necessary directories are displayed, click the button "Search".
7. The program searches for objects in the specified directories. During this procedure, a list is constructed at the bottom of the window from the names of elements that meet the specified conditions.
8. Clicking on the column names "Name", "Folder", "Size", "Date of" And "Type" You can sort the results according to the specified indicators. For example, if you know the format of the file you are looking for, then by sorting all the names by type, it will be easier for you to find the only option you need. Once you've found the item you want, double-click on it to open it LMB.

In addition, using Effective File Search, you can search not only by the name of the object, but also by the contents of the text file, that is, by the text contained inside.

Method 3: Search through the Start menu

In order to search for files, it is still not necessary to install third-party applications; you can limit yourself to the built-in tools of Windows 7. Let's see how this is done in practice.

In Windows 7, developers have implemented a quick search function. It consists in the fact that the system indexes certain areas on the hard drive and forms a kind of file cabinet. In the future, the search for the desired expression is carried out not directly in the files, but in this file cabinet, which significantly saves time in completing the procedure. But such a directory requires additional space on the hard drive. And the larger the size of the indexed disk space, the more volume it takes up. In this regard, often not all the contents of folders on a PC are entered into the index, but only certain most important directories. But the user can change the indexing settings if desired.

But there are cases when the search results do not contain the desired object, although you are sure that it should be located on the computer’s hard drive. Most likely, this situation is due to the fact that the directory where this file is located is simply not added to the index, as discussed above. In this case, you need to add the desired drive or folder to the list of indexed areas.

Now all marked areas of the hard drive will be indexed.

Method 4: Search through Explorer

You can also search for objects using Windows 7 tools directly in "Explorer".

As you can see, in Windows 7 there are quite a few ways to find a file both by name and content. Some users prefer to use third-party programs for this, as they find them more convenient than the built-in functionality of the operating system, designed for the same purposes. Nevertheless, Windows 7’s own capabilities in searching for objects on a PC’s hard drive are also quite extensive, which is reflected in a large number of filters for selecting results and the presence of a function for almost instantaneous delivery of results, thanks to indexing technology.

In order to find any object on your computer, just enter the name of the file or folder you need in the Start menu. The computer will search for all files containing this name in whole or in part. But this is not always enough to find all the necessary information on your computer. There are times when you need to find document(s) with certain words in the text, for example: “free computer courses”, but by default in Windows 7 this function is disabled.

Setting up file search in Windows 7

To do this, open “Computer”, click on the “Arrange” button on the left and select “Folder and Search Options”.

After such a small setup, the search will work by file names, as well as by its contents.

Finding files in Windows 7 in practice [check]

Let's check if everything works correctly. To do this, open “Computer”, enter in the search field the word that you need to find in the files. For example, I chose the word “quality”. When you enter a word or phrase, the search will begin automatically (no need to click anything).

After the search completes the task on this word, files containing the word “quality” will appear below. You should also know that after searching for the information you need, you need to change the default settings (which were). This is due to the fact that the search will take much longer, since it searches not only the file name, but also its contents.

For quick search in Windows 7 by content, it is best to go to the folder where your file may be located and search from there.

The large capacity of modern disks allows you to save many documents or multimedia files. Therefore, without initially subjecting your directories to a certain structuring, you can end up with complete chaos on your hard drive. If this has already happened and you have forgotten the location of any files, it will not be easy to find them without knowing how to use the built-in search of the operating system.

Search by file name

Knowing the name of the document, you will make your task much easier and after a short period of time you will already see the file you are looking for on your computer screen. There are several ways to find it by name in Windows 7.

Via the Start menu

The operating system's Start menu has a search box. To find the required document through this field, you must:

1. Click on the “Start” button.
2. Find the field.
3. Enter the name to be searched.
4. Review the proposed results.

After entering the expected name of the document, you will immediately be shown a list of found files:

In this case, in Windows 7, a document called “Agency” was searched. As you can see from the previous screenshot, the first option offered is the file you are looking for.

How to find it in a folder?

There is another way to find documents. Each directory in Windows 7 Explorer has a corresponding field:

Therefore, knowing the file name and its location, you can:

1. Open the desired folder in Explorer.
2. Enter the name of the document in the field.
3. Get the result.

In this example, the search was conducted using the "Biology" template. As a result, the following files and folders were found:

Knowing the location of the object is not necessary. It simply speeds up the operating system's search for files. Since modern computers have high performance, the duration of finding the necessary information with a known location and with an unknown one is practically the same. If you have no idea in which folder or even on which drive the file is saved, you can search throughout your computer:

Additional filters

With common file names, you run the risk of seeing several thousand options, making it difficult to select the right document. If you know the modification date of the file or its size, you can specify them when searching (by entering a pattern in the field, you will see suggested filters):

You can also scroll down the found list and limit the search range by clicking the “Other” button:

After this click, Windows 7 will display the settings window:

In this window you should:

1. Mark the desired folders to be searched.
2. Confirm your selection with the “OK” button

After these steps, the number of found elements in the list will decrease significantly, so finding the one you need will become much easier.

How to find inside files?

The methods discussed above make it easier to search by name. But what if you don’t know the name? In this case, you should approximately know the text of the document you are looking for. Windows 7 can find files based on their contents. This function was not introduced in vain, because it is easier for a computer user to remember what is inside a document than to try to remember its name.

By default, this method of finding files is disabled in the operating system. To enable it, you must:

1. Open "Computer" in Explorer.
2. Press and release the ALT button (this action allows the top horizontal menu to appear, which is usually hidden in the normal state).
3. Select "Service".
4. Go to the “Folder Options” sub-item.

After clicking on the specified submenu, Windows 7 will display the following window:

In it you should:

1. Go to the “Search” tab.
2. Check the box responsible for scanning the contents of objects;
3. Confirm the changes with the “Apply” button.

The procedure is shown in the following screenshot:

This method significantly slows down finding the desired object, but sometimes it is simply irreplaceable (for example, if several people use the computer). Therefore, if you don't want to wait and don't want to waste time scanning inside all the documents, you can turn this option on or off as you wish. After changing the settings, the file search is carried out in the same way as described above, without any changes.

An example of finding a document by its content

You can find an object using any phrase, but it is especially easy to search for a file with poems. After all, it’s easier to remember a line from a poem than a phrase from an accounting report. However, in the second case, a few of the most frequently occurring words in a document will help you find any report.

For example, you have a document somewhere with Shakespeare's sonnets, and you remember the phrase from one sonnet: "Will you compare me." To find this collection on your computer, you need to:

1. Open “Computer” in Explorer.
2. Go to the desired folder (if known).
3. Enter the phrase you remember in the search field.
4. Get the result.

Any information can be found in this way, provided that it is stored on your disk.

The Windows operating system provides standard tools that search for folders and files on external and local media, which is available to every user, regardless of the OS version. This is why users are often interested in how to enable search in Windows 7.

How to properly enable search in Windows 7?

To launch the search engine in Windows version 7, you will have to open Explorer and find a suitable folder in it. After the procedure, the corresponding search process begins, and in the case when it is not known in which folder the desired file is located, select the “My Computer” section so that the device activates searches across all disks at once.

Through the search line, they search for files of any format by entering a basic word or an entire phrase. The search is carried out by analogy with the work of any search engine. Gradually entering a word into a line starts the system and it analyzes the files, displaying the finished result on the monitor.

Using search filters

At the very beginning, it seems that the usual filters for the XP version are not available for search in the seventh version. This opinion is not correct. Entering a phrase in the line that appears causes a list of files corresponding to what you are looking for to appear at the bottom. If necessary, the conditions can be changed. To do this, click on the required filter and set its value.

Instant Search

In the seventh version of Windows, you can search for files in this way:

• Press the “Start” key and enter the required word in the search line. As you enter information, the “Start” window itself begins displaying the analyzed results. When there are a lot of them, and the user wants to get acquainted with them in more detail, he should click on the dropped queries.

• After this, the corresponding window opens. There the files are sorted, and the search query is highlighted in yellow.

• You can refine your search by scrolling to the end of the list. In the section to repeat the search, enter a suitable option. The indexer goes through files by default, excluding system and file programs. This increases the speed of operation and reduces the size of the indexer databases.

Saving search terms

Sometimes files need to be searched using identical search phrases. The saved list of conditions allows you to avoid wasting time on entering a parameter each time. To do this, you set search conditions, wait for results, and then save the conditions. In the window that opens, enter the name of the file to request again.

When you need to search for a saved search, you can mark the shortcut in Favorites. Good luck!

Hello, friends! Before writing this article, I hardly used search in Windows. Why, if everything is already clear what is where. It was enough to look at 2-3 places. This took about 5 minutes. Moreover, as unnecessary, the search service was disabled, which provides enormous opportunities in . And the search service also automatically turns off indexing and it was not at all possible to find any files quickly through search. That is, out of ignorance, I turned off this universal thing. But this is no longer the same slow search in . It evolved a lot in Windows Vista and made huge strides forward in . Here we will look at the main search capabilities in Windows 7, so that we can find the information we need even more efficiently.

First you need to show the main search window. It is called using the keys Win+F or F3 on the desktop.

The window is not bright and there is almost nothing to talk about here. The question immediately arises about the need for it in Windows 7. Most likely, it was left for those who recently switched from previous versions of Windows. So as not to get lost.

The most accessible and easy to find search in Windows 7 is from the main Start menu. (You can read how to make a familiar Start button). Just open the main menu and the cursor is immediately placed in the search field. You start typing part of the file name and the results already appear. The speed of issuing results and its further sorting is surprising. We'll talk about this later.

The results are presented as groups of files from different categories. In the figure, these are Programs, Control Panel, Documents, Videos and Music. If you know which category your file might be in, go straight to it and search further. We will also look at this below.

From the Start menu it is convenient to search for programs or control panel items. Now there is no need to go the long way Start > All Programs > Accessories to select the Calculator. Just open Start, write “Ka” and the good old Calculator is already at hand.

For convenience, the width of the search field can be changed by dragging the border between the address bar and the search field to the desired location.

You can and should combine different filters. For example, you sorted files by modification date, now you can sort by size. Click on the search field and select the Size filter. The window below will open in front of you with a range selection

If you need files up to 50 MB and between 100 and 200 MB, then search operators come to the rescue again.

size:<50мб + размер:>100mb<200мб — вот такой вот получился запрос.

Of course, typing it is inconvenient because everything slows down due to the search. Therefore, it is recommended to create a query in Notepad and copy it into the search bar.

As I wrote the article and tried different filters and sorting options, I managed to find such files in such places that you are amazed. Search in + indexing for efficiency like Google for the Internet.

In addition, you can search not only by modification date and size, but also by other file properties. For example, by extension, frame width and others. If the search did not give the desired result, then below you are offered the choice of searching in the Libraries (see in the next section) in the Home Group on all of yours, choosing another place to search, searching on the Internet and by the contents of the files.

When you select Other search location, a window will open where you can use checkboxes to select places where the required files may be. This could be flash drives or other storage devices.

Then click OK and the search will automatically begin in the selected locations.

If you select a location that is not in the index, the system will immediately alert you and warn you that the search may be slow. It is also suggested to add the selected location to the index

If you often look for this place, then you need to add it. If this is an isolated case, then most likely you can skip it. The index will be smaller and searching through it will be faster.

Search in Libraries

The library is a place where a lot of useful information is stored. On a computer it’s the same, only there the library is divided into four categories for easy searching: Music, Video, Images and Documents. You can add up to 50 folders to each of these libraries. + you can create your own libraries. To create a new library, right-click on “Libraries” > New > Library. Give the new library a name

It turns out that the Library is a virtual folder into which you can connect your real folders from various places in your . The library will be searched across all folders connected to it.

How to connect a folder to a library

Go to the library to which you need to connect the folder. In the “Includes” section, click on the link. In my case - 2 places

In the window that opens, click the Add button... and select the desired folder

Libraries are indexed by default and when the process is finished you will be able to instantly find the information you need.

The libraries have an expanded set of filters, which adds convenience to the search.

When you place the cursor in the search window, in addition to filters, your search queries that you entered in the past are also shown. If they suddenly start to bother you, you can easily remove them by hovering the mouse cursor over the desired one and pressing Del on the keyboard.

In Explorer, you can search in the folder you are in and all its subfolders. In the library you can search in all connected folders at once and since they are in the index it will be fast. Another advantage of using libraries is advanced filters for easy searching. I don’t know how you can bypass using the Libraries in .

Since Libraries are something virtual, nothing happens to your files when they are deleted.

Conclusion

Friends! In this article we have touched on a small part, the tip of the iceberg, called - search in Windows 7. We also figured out how to index files on and how this can help you find information faster. We dwelled in more detail on the search in Explorer. Thanks to convenient filters, you can search and find information much more efficiently.

I would also like to add that search terms can be saved. To do this, click on the button of the same name on the toolbar

All saved searches are located in the folder of the same name (Searches) in your profile.

To display the results for one of the searches, just go to the Searches folder in Explorer (on the left side of it) and select the desired one. The results will appear immediately.

You can read more detailed information about searching in the operating system on the website http://www.oszone.net/11299/Search