In previous versions of Windows it was relatively easy to locate a file by typing in key words or phrases. Windows 10 either does not have that function or I am unaware on how to access it. Can I get some clear, precise step on how to do this?
Thanks for any help y'all can provide.
Mike
Hello ozone1216 Welcome to the Ten Forums!
What is new with 10 is Cortana! That allows not only web searching using the default Bing search engine but also replaced the old Search option found on the Vista. 7 Start menu. Cortana - Enable or Disable in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
Once enabled you can search the local drives as well as the web. The magnifying glass icon seen on the main taskbar is for Cortana there where you will need to go over the Settings option first. What MS did there was combine the old Search(local pc) with the web search rolled into one task.
This isn't a direct solution to your question but if you want to search for files on windows, especially when you have to search through lot's of files, i would recommend you to use https://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack
This is a free tool but is very fast and has lot's of features you can use to speed up the process.
1. Windows search is available in Explorer. I don't find it very intuitive; others have commented likewise, and only use it occasionally.
This includes wild card searches (*, ?) and see
Advanced Query Syntax (Windows)
By default, indexing is restricted to a very few areas. (see e.g. Control Panel, Indexing Options)
2. Cortana (the big search bar on the task bar or if you've hidden that, e.g. Windows key + S, includes a search of 'My Stuff' - files and folders- but limited to items which are indexed by Windows Search.
3. To note: Settings are searchable because of Windows indexing of Users (some part of).
Tools like
Everything (by Void Tools) or
Locate32
create a very fast index of- yes- everything by file/folder name, and provide simple to extensively customisable search on a find-as -you-type basis.
There are several 3rd party alternatives while the Start menu in Vista, 7 had previously seen the Search line at the bottom of the menu itself. Stardock's Start10 even in the Modern and Modern with Tiles as well as the Win 7 theme includes the same "Search all programs and files" that is missing with the new Start menu in 10.
On a similar thread some months back someone had pointed to the Everything app as one of the programs suggested at the time. Eventually I paid the $4.99 for the Startdock replacement finding that to be what I would stay with. Here's a quick look at how fast things will appear as soon as you start entering text on the search line.
Last edited by Night Hawk; 05 Apr 2016 at 23:58. Reason: additional information added
Quote
