replacement search for windows 7 , any recommendations ?

At the end of the day all I want is a decent search facility that will work
well (as in searches everything) and that could possibly work from hitting
F3 on the keyboard.

Will give google desktop a look , if it is not barred from our work PC's ....
 
was looking for *.ost on c drive including subfolders

Windows search found nothing :(

everything found it here :)

C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Outlook

From what I can work out search does NOT search any hidden folders EVEN
if you allow them to be visible :(
 
As I said though, my Windows search did find all the files there, be they .pst, cache files, the .inf file and the .obi file which also reside.

I can't offer a reason why yours doesn't work, but it's clear that for others, myself included, that it is working fine.

pst_search.png
 
Did a bit of research (sponsored by Windows 7:Inside Out).

Windows search uses the index from:

Start menu, Search Home folder, libraries and homegroup locations.

So, from these locations, if it's not in the index, it won't show up.

If you search from the Computer window, local drive root or local file folder, it will search for your term even if it's not in the index.

To check what's being indexed, search ;) for index and select Indexing Options (in the control panel).

You can also modify your folder's search options by:
Folder Options>Search:
When searching non-indexed locations>include system directories, and
How to search>Don't use the index when searching in file folders...

You can also specifically look for extensions by typing: ext:*.ost
It'll search subfolders when you add the wildcard.

Finally, to quickly add a location to the index, add the folder to a library. It'll then be indexed... apparently.

Finally, finally... if you want to obsess over your indexing status, look out for the Indexer Status gadget by Brandon Paddock.
 
You could just put all your drives in the included folders in the Indexing Options. Usually the first thing I do.

I too have no trouble finding files with Windows Search. Obviously you did something impolite to Windows Search in the past and it doesn't like you! :p

Still, everything is better than anything and nothing. Or something....

:D
 
Yeah , Indexing is set on ALL my drives at the moment
Mind you it still doesnt stop search from being blind to *.ost files

I notice that you CANT get index to work of certain folders AND
there is no way of overriding this , way to go MS. eg Appdata will not
be indexed and there is no option to allow it to be :(
 
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