Advanced search in Windows or how to find a file in Windows? How to find files on your computer How to set up a search in a folder in Windows 7.

Over a long period of time working with a computer, a huge number of files and documents accumulate on it. To avoid cluttering the desktop, files are transferred to other storage locations. As a result, a huge number of folders and subfolders appear and it becomes increasingly difficult to find the desired file. After all, it’s difficult to remember exactly which “new folder” it is in. Fortunately, Windows has a convenient search system built into it that will help you find a file on your computer, even if you don’t remember its exact name.

If you can’t find the file you need, the first thing you should do is look at the “Trash” system folder on your desktop. Suddenly you accidentally deleted it, and because of this you cannot find it in its usual place. It’s better to check right away so that you don’t later clear all the files, permanently deleting the information. Although, in fact, information deleted from the recycle bin can be restored using special programs. But this is a completely different topic, so if you are interested, read this article.

To search for files on a computer running Windows XP, do the following:

1. Give the command “Start - Search”.
2. Click on "Files and Folders" to launch the Find Files and Folders Wizard.
3. Select a category, for example "Video". You can select one, several or all categories at once. Click the Find button.

Windows will find all of the above files on any PC disk partitions and external storage devices (including network ones). For example, when you put together all the movies and videos, it's time to use the search, for example, only for video files. It is also worth refining the search in order to quickly find a specific file by entering at least part of its name.

The asterisk character replaces any number of letters and numbers in the file name. For example, instead of the keyword “asterisk” you can enter “sound” - all variants of this word in the name of the searched file will be searched, for example, a file named “No sound.mp3”. Specifying only the file name extension, for example, *.docx, will detect all your Word documents in this format, for example, the file “resume.docx”.

It is also possible to assign a file search on a Windows PC to hidden files and folders.

To find files based on a keyword in a document, do the following:

1. Give the already familiar command “Start - Search” and in the “Word or phrase in file” column, indicate a keyword, for example, “abstract”.
2. In the file name, specify the extension, for example, “.doc”.
3. Also specify the search location, for example, drive C. Check the desired options, for example, search in hidden and system folders, and click the “Find” button.

All documents containing the word “abstract” in DOC file format will be found.

How to find files on a PC with Windows 8/8.1/10/10.1

Having updated the version of Windows to 8 or 10, the user will notice that the search tools are assembled and configured more conveniently than in previous versions of this OS. Although at first it may be inconvenient to use them.

Search files on PC by name

1. Give the command “This PC – Search” (search tab). In the Windows search box, enter part of the file name (or the whole name, if you remember it). Press "Enter" on your keyboard.
2. The required file (or files) will be found (or will be found).

Search files by name extension

By remembering the file name extension you were working with, you can search for it by that name. For example, archive files most often have the extension .rar or .zip, program files (including installation packages) - .exe or .msi, etc. As a result, when searching for files by extension, you will most likely discover your loss.

It happens that you do not remember the file extension, because the Windows system does not display any file extensions by default. To enable them, do the following:

1. Give the command “Start – Control Panel – Folder Options”.
2. Go to the command “View – Options – Change settings for files and folders”.
3. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types." For more experienced users, the “Hide protected system files” feature may be useful.
4. Click the “Apply” and “OK” buttons successively.

Windows Explorer will restart and display file extensions. Having matched the one you are looking for with the extensions of similar files (by the type of file icon), enter its extension in the already familiar search bar and press the “Enter” key. Windows will find the missing file.

For example, a video clip in AVI format has disappeared. Open the familiar file search panel and enter the file extension .avi. Press Enter and review the files found.

Search files by occupied disk space

Having guessed that, for example, a two-hour movie has a large volume, for example, a video file in UltraHD format (“rip” from a Blu-Ray disc), you can enter, for example, a command to search for files larger than 10 GB.

Windows uses a command format to search for a file by size: “System.Size:>size_in_megabytes”. For example, in this case it will be the command “System.Size:>10240MB”.

With a high degree of probability, this movie will be found, for example, on an external (network) drive.

How to find hidden files

To gain access to hidden files, enable the function to show them.

1. Go to the familiar Windows Folder Options settings window.
2. Give the already familiar command to change folder and search settings.
3. Enable the "Show hidden files, folders and drives" option.
4. Click the "Apply" and "OK" buttons.

Repeat the search for the file using already familiar attributes: name and/or extension, size, etc.

Search files by keywords

Keywords in the file content (letters, documents, books, etc.) can be specified directly in the “File Name” field. So, if you are looking for course projects, write “coursework” in the file name.

Windows will display files with the available keywords (or phrases).

Third-party file search programs

The functionality of a file manager is endowed not only with the built-in Windows Explorer. In the past, these were Norton/Volkov Commander, Far File Manager, Total Commander, File Explorer and their analogues.

Searching for files using the Total Commander example

Text documents, regardless of their formatting, are searched by Total Commander by name, size and keywords (or phrases).

Windows will find the files you are looking for.

Finding a file on a Windows PC is not a problem. The main thing is that you do not erase it permanently by using other applications for this purpose. The Windows system already has the necessary tools for searching files, folders and disks, but if for some reason it does not suit you, use a third-party file manager, which may contain additional functions for searching files on disks.

Good afternoon friends! Today we will continue our lessons with the Windows 7 operating system and learn another secret - how to properly configure and search for files in Windows 7.

It would seem, what’s wrong with that? A search engine is a search engine. I switched to seven about a year ago. And to be honest, in XP I tried not to use the built-in search engine. Absolutely inconvenient. And what you need is either not found, or found, but the process sometimes drags on for several hours.

I didn't expect much from 7. But just the other day, this OS pleasantly surprised me. I needed to search for one file in Windows 7, I didn’t remember its exact name, but I typed part of the name... and received my file in less than 2-3 seconds. Now I only use the built-in search engine.

Indexing service in windows 7

Microsoft developers did a good job. 7's search tool compares favorably with previous operating systems of this family not only in quality, but also in search speed.

My favorite browser is Chrome, and its search engine is very similar to the mechanism in Windows 7. The search begins its work as soon as you enter the first characters. In addition, there is a hint system based on the history of previous requests. If too many results are returned for a search query, the system suggests using dynamic filtering based on various criteria - date, file size, type, etc.

The basis for such effective work of the OS search engine is a special indexing service. It launches along with the operating system, works in the background, and creates a special database of file information. Updating and restoring the index in the event of any failure also occurs automatically, without user intervention.

It should be noted that the OS allocates a certain system resource for the operation of this service. For the service to work effectively, but not to the detriment of other programs, it must be configured correctly. We will definitely talk about this today.

Instantly search for files in Windows 7

7 provides two ways to instantly search for files.

• 1. Search using the Start menu. Click on the “Start” button and enter the required search query in the search field below. For example, “Christmas tree”.

As you enter data, search results will be displayed directly in the Start window. It should be noted that the search is also carried out by the contents of the files.

If there are too many results and you want to get acquainted with them in more detail, click on the “View other results” button.

The “Search Results” window will open. The files here are already sorted by type and the search query is highlighted in yellow.

You can make your search more specific. To do this, scroll to the very bottom of the list of search results.

And in the “Repeat search in:” section, select the appropriate option.

If you assume that the file you are looking for is in the OS Library, then select this option.

If you know approximately which folder to search in, select the “Other...” option and specify a specific folder to search.

If you want to search on the Internet, click the “Internet” button.

If you want to repeat the search on the entire computer, click on the “Computer” button. By default, the indexer goes through all files except OS system files and program files. This allows you to increase search speed and reduce the size of the indexer database. But really, how often do we look for system files? It's not often. By selecting the “Computer” option, the system will repeat its search, but only more thoroughly and, accordingly, will take a longer period of time.

• 2. The second option for instant search is to search in the Windows Explorer window. The principle of operation is approximately the same.

Setting up the indexing service

• 1. Go to “Start” -> “Control Panel” -> then in the search area enter “indexing” -> select the “Indexing Options” section.

• 2. In the window that appears, you will see all the folders for which the indexing service works. If you want to exclude any folder from the search (for example, you know that one of the partitions of your hard drive is used for backup, then, in principle, it can be removed from this list), click the “Change” button.

And uncheck the box next to the folder that you want to remove from the search engine. Next, click the “OK” button.

• 3. Next, click on the “Advanced” button. In the window that opens, on the “Indexing Options” tab, uncheck all two boxes. In 99% of cases we do not need these functions, and therefore there is no need for additional load on the indexing service.

• 4. If you want to transfer the index database from the system partition of your hard drive to another partition in order to free up free space on the disk, then to do this you need to specify a new folder in the “Index location” section on the same tab.

To successfully change the index database location, be sure to restart the indexing service or simply restart your computer.

• 5. Next, go to the “File Types” tab and edit the list of file types, leaving only the most essential (with which you work). This will significantly reduce the load on the system. By default, the indexing service processes almost all file types in use.

• 6. Finally, decide how the indexing service will process files.

If you select “Index properties only,” the indexer will process only the file name and its metadata (size, type, creation date).

If you select the “Index properties and contents of files” option, the document will be completely processed, including its contents. This will take longer and require additional system resources, but will increase the likelihood of search accuracy.

The choice is yours, my dear Reader.

• Next, click “OK” and “Close”.

Today we looked at the capabilities of the Window 7 search service and how to configure it. In the next article I will share with you another interesting tool (though from a third-party developer), which allows you to search adapted to the Russian-speaking population, taking into account declensions and cases.

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 see 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.

Many novice users are interested in how to find a file on a computer. Windows 7 or any other operating system is not that important. The principle of searching for documents on a computer is approximately the same. Especially when it comes to the Windows platform. In general, there are quite a few options for action. They are all very simple. But you will have to not only study them, but also understand some of the features of the search. So how to find file and folders in Windows 7? What does the user need to know about this process? Perhaps this procedure can be done even by those who are not yet familiar with the computer at all.

About search

The first thing you should pay attention to is that search in Windows is carried out, as a rule, without additional software. This is a standard feature found on all operating systems. You don't have to download additional programs to help you search for information on your PC.

How to find a file on your computer? Windows 7 or any other version of the operating system is not so important. You need to understand that the process is extremely simple. It is enough to know the name of the file or folder you want to find. And do not fall for offers on the Internet that supposedly allow you to quickly search for information on your computer. It has already been said - no additional programs are needed for this!

Location address

How to search for files in Windows 7? As soon as the data reaches the computer, it is assigned a special address. It is through this that information is searched. All documents in the operating system have a similar component. There is not a single file on the computer without an address.

Typically it consists of the name of the hard drive partition on which the document is located, followed by the path to the desired object. It consists of folders. For example: C:/Windows/system32/drivers/etc/host/.

Accordingly, the “host” document is located in the etc folder, which is placed in drivers. That, in turn, is located in a folder called “system32”, located in Windows on partition hard drive C. If you know the exact location of the document, you can quickly find it. This is why some recommend finding out or file. It can be used in the future. But more on that a little later. First, you should figure out how to find a file on your computer (Windows 7).

Manually

The first method is well suited when either the location of the document is known, or there is simply not the slightest idea of ​​what exactly the search subject is correctly called. We are talking about independent detection of a document in the operating system. It’s enough just to study the files and folders on your computer and think about where exactly this or that document might be located. This method is called Extremely Unstable. But if the user has at least an approximate guess about where this or that information may be stored, such a solution can help.

If you know the exact location address, you can simply go to it. On the computer, the user searches for the hard drive partition he needs and the folder in which the document is located. Next comes the opening of the latter. Inside, a specific file is manually searched.

Exact navigation to address

But this is only the first scenario. In practice, it is not often used if the user is not sure of the location of the document. How to find a file on your computer? Windows 7 offers one clever and interesting trick. It will only work when the exact location of the document is known.

It is not at all necessary to manually open all the folders in which the file is attached. If you have an exact location address, you can quickly open the source of the document. To do this, it is best to open "Libraries". Next, copy the file address into the address bar and press Enter. A folder will open in which this or that document or another folder is attached.

That is, when you need to find a host, you need to copy the inscription “C:/..../etc” into the address bar. Then the etc folder will open, in which you will need to manually find the required document. Nothing difficult or special. But so far we have considered situations in which the address is either known exactly or is known approximately. What to do if there is no such information?

Via "Start"

How to find files on a Windows computer (XP, 7, 8, 10 - it's not that important)? In general, you need to use a standard operating system function. It's called "Search". It is enough to know the name of the document that should be found.

The first way to actually do a quick search is to use the Start panel. How does an idea come to life with this opportunity? The user must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. Click on the "Start" button in the left corner of the screen. A small menu will open.
2. At the bottom of the service there is an empty field with a magnifying glass. On some operating systems, it says “Search programs and files.” You need to click there once with the left mouse button.
3. A slider cursor will appear. In the field you need to type the name of the file, program or folder.
4. Press Enter and wait for the results.

Nothing more is needed. A few seconds of waiting - and the results will appear on the monitor. Perhaps using "Start" is the most common option. But there are other ways. Searching for files on your computer in Windows 7 is carried out using different methods.

Through additional windows

You can implement your idea within a specific folder. This is not as difficult to do as it seems. Typically, the method helps when the user knows the approximate location of the document.

You must adhere to the following algorithm of actions:

1. Open the root folder in which the document may be located.
2. In the upper right corner, find a field with a magnifying glass.
3. Type the address or document name.
4. View the search results.

In example c, the situation will look like this: the user opens partition of drive C, then in Explorer finds the message “Search: Local disk (C:)”. In this field you need to write host and wait until all documents containing this word are found. Next, a specific document is manually searched among the entire list.

Filters

But that's not all. How to quickly find a file on your computer? Windows 7 or any other version of Windows is not so important. At least when it comes to newer types of Windows. You can use one trick. It will help you quickly find what you need among the results. The method is based on the previous method. We are talking about specifying search parameters.

The fact is that if you do not use filters, then often when searching you will have to look through a lot of documents and folders. It’s clear how to find a file on your computer. How to find what you need among the search results?

In this situation it is suggested:

1. Perform a search in a particular folder.
2. Click on the search bar in the upper right corner of the window.
3. Select the required filters and set their parameters. In this case, there is no need to erase the name of the file or folder. For example, you can select the document type. In the case of host, this is .txt.
4. Press Enter and look at the results again.

Accordingly, all documents and files that meet all search parameters will appear on the screen. This is how the built-in Windows function for quickly detecting the necessary software is implemented.

Search service

Now it’s clear how to find a file on your computer (Windows 7). But there is another option for the development of events. You can call a separate search service on your computer. To do this, you need to press a certain key combination. Then the entire operating system will be scanned and searched.

When using the standard function, you can follow the algorithm:

1. Press Win+F. A window with a bluish background will open. This is the standard Windows search engine.
2. In the search bar (upper right corner, field with a magnifying glass), type the name of the file or folder.
3. The user must press Enter and wait for the results. You can work with search filters in advance. This will reduce the results returned.

By content

There is one more, last trick. It's called "search inside files and folders in Windows 7". Many users are familiar with it. To bring it to life, you need:

1. Open this or that document/folder.
2. Press Ctrl+F.
3. In the field that appears on the right side of the screen, enter the name of the document/folder/word.
4. Click on "Enter".

This method is often used when working with Word. It not only helps you search for data in text, but also helps you search for documents.

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.