Windows search doesn't always work

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  1. Steve C
    Posts : 7,904
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       New #11

    The registry fix worked for me. You do need to be very careful in editing the registry and ensure you have a system backup. Many on the forum including me recommend Macrium Reflect Free.
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  3. roy111
    Posts : 668
    Win 10 pro
       New #12

    AncientNoodles said:
    Have you by any chance disabled the "let apps run in the background"-setting in your privacy settings? Doing that will cause problems for search and indexing.
    Thanks you resolved my search problem!
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  4. Cerawy
    Posts : 1,031
    ㅤ
    Thread Starter
       New #13

    AncientNoodles said:
    Have you by any chance disabled the "let apps run in the background"-setting in your privacy settings? Doing that will cause problems for search and indexing.
    Yes, I just did. I tried searching for slimdrivers, shows nothing. I check in my programs folder and slimdrivers is right there.
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 42,985
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #14

    Can you see it in your start menu? The shortcut is what's important here, not the installation folder.
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  7. Cerawy
    Posts : 1,031
    ㅤ
    Thread Starter
       New #15

    Nope, but after I added slimdrivers to the start menu as a shortcut, windows finds the program. Very strange. It didn't find the program before even though it was installed on my C drive.
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  8. dalchina
    Posts : 42,985
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #16

    Great- that's because it's the content of the folders containing the shortcuts that are indexed. That said, you'd hope programs would create shortcuts appropriately.

    Indexing the installation folders wouldn't be terribly helpful, as you'd end up finding dlls and exe files and the like.

    Note: many of us find Classic Shell (free) a far more rational, complete, effective and problem free start menu that is configurable, has configurable search (using its own database for the start menu, uses Windows search and can support a web search too), fully supports drag and drop, and rt click options allow you to conveniently open the folders containing the start menu structure.

    Oh, Win 10's start menu also doesn't present deeply nested hierarchical menus correctly- it presents the shortcuts from folders > 3deep as a list.. Win 10's start menu gives me
    Help
    Help
    Help
    Help
    etc

    - all from different programs.

    It isn't capable of correctly and reliably representing menus inherited from earlier Windows versions.
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  9. Cerawy
    Posts : 1,031
    ㅤ
    Thread Starter
       New #17

    dalchina said:
    Great- that's because it's the content of the folders containing the shortcuts that are indexed. That said, you'd hope programs would create shortcuts appropriately.

    Indexing the installation folders wouldn't be terribly helpful, as you'd end up finding dlls and exe files and the like.

    Note: many of us find Classic Shell (free) a far more rational, complete, effective and problem free start menu that is configurable, has configurable search (using its own database for the start menu, uses Windows search and can support a web search too), fully supports drag and drop, and rt click options allow you to conveniently open the folders containing the start menu structure.
    I'm already using classic shell. But I still have a problem with windows not finding programs, it's annoying to have to look for them manually. I want the programs and files to show up when I search for them.
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  10. dalchina
    Posts : 42,985
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #18

    Cortana search only finds what's been indexed. It will NOT find any sort of executable file incl dlls.
    It needs help with prioritisation using the filters available e.g. documents, apps, music, videos...


    Windows file explorer search
    - does NOT prioritise what's been indexed on a drive in providing results when searching a partially indexed drive
    - only finds what's below the point in the file hierarchy where it's open
    - will search (eventually) on anything below that point
    - also uses regular expressions and Advanced Query Syntax (just search for that)

    For content searching you need the relevant ifilters installed (e.g. for pdf, docx etc).

    How do you do search fast and conveniently?
    Use a free 3rd party tool.
    I prefer Locate32; others like Everything by Void tools (use the beta version to get extra options) or Ultrasearch.
    These create an index fast across all disks/partitions and keep that updated. They do not index content.

    The above or similar has been posted numerous times- hope it helps.
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  12. Cerawy
    Posts : 1,031
    ㅤ
    Thread Starter
       New #19

    What I want really is to find all my files and programs using the search bar on classic shell, I am not interested in installing third party search tools to find my programs.
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  13. dalchina
    Posts : 42,985
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #20

    Then use Windows search to index everything. And make sure you have all the right ifilters.

    Classic Shell is a 3rd party tool.

    By not using those you are choosing to miss out. Your choice. Good luck.
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