Start menu search like Windows 7

qwertymikey · 03 Sep 2018

Hello,

I have lots of files in my pc and I usually search them by typing phrases I remember are containted in them. This used to work fine in windows 7's start menu, but windows 10 does not show all the files. It shows a few in the best match window, and then I have to filter them by documents or any other type of file. This is not helpful because I would like to see all the filetypes altogether without filtering, and there is no "See more results" option either (which shows all files in file explorer)

Is it possible to set the windows 10 start menu to search like this, or any other similar program

bro67 · 03 Sep 2018

Use Classic Shell or Start10 to change the Start Menu. There are better file explorer programs out there. You can specify still using wildcards, what file extension you want or type.

notnats · 03 Sep 2018

I would definitely recommend the Classic Shell. Classic Shell - Start menu and other Windows enhancements

lolnothankyou · 04 Sep 2018

Apart from ClassicShell you can try Everything but I don't know for which extensions it allows to search the file contents. It's free, portable, uses very little resources and quick on finding stuff

dalchina · 04 Sep 2018

Indexed content search is not supported by Everything by voidtools

Does Everything search file contents?

Yes, "Everything" can search file content with the content: search function.

File content is not indexed, searching content is slow.

FAQ - voidtools

nor by Locate32 which I use.

Content search is supported in that found files are then searched for content.

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Taskbar search box

(I used Win key + S)

If my results exceed the size of the box, there's a scroll bar to the right (not shown here- it hides).
If I scroll down, there's a hint- continue search using file explorer.

Windows does provide content indexing, as you know. This has limits.

First, if you have explorer open at, say, H: and some files on H: are content indexed, finding content in them will be slow as the search progresses through the hierarchy. Thus it has to progress slowly thourgh many non-indexed files before it finds indexed items. Not particularly rational.

Second, search specification - the format used- is actually quite arcane and incompletely documented.
Advanced Query Syntax | Microsoft Docs

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Classic Shell / Open Shell start menu (free) - latest version - allows the search box to be configured more conveniently to suit your needs.

Here's Classic Shell - same search:

vaerui · 04 Sep 2018

lolnothankyou said:

ClassicShell

Can you share more info ?

dalchina · 04 Sep 2018

Classic Shell no longer in development, and now open source - Windows 10 Forums

- now under development as Open Shell for post 1803 builds.

Search and you will find...

notnats · 04 Sep 2018

vaerui said:

Can you share more info ?

http://classicshell.net/

Classic Shell™ is free software that improves your productivity, enhances the usability of Windows and empowers you to use the computer the way you like it. The main features are:

Highly customizable start menu with multiple styles and skins
Quick access to recent, frequently-used, or pinned programs
Find programs, settings, files and documents
Start button for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
Toolbar and status bar for Windows Explorer
Caption and status bar for Internet Explorer

The latest stable version of Classic Shell is 4.3.1

I have been using this little program since I got my Windows 10 computer in 2016. My computer is fully up to date and I am happy to say, even though it is no longer in development by the creator, the program works wonderfully and exactly the same way it has worked since I installed it. Great program!