Almost all users who switched from Windows XP to “Seven” were disappointed by the more meager set of search functions, since, at first glance, the search for programs and files in Windows 7 is not equipped with the usual filters. However, if you know the basic techniques for using the system in order to find the necessary data on the computer, it will not require a significant investment of time and effort, even for novice users. Below are all the main methods on how to quickly find any file or program on a computer with Windows 7.
Using the Start button
You need to do the following:
Note: As you can see from the example above, this same method allows you to find the program, not just the files.
As an example of quickly finding and launching a utility, consider launching the “Console”. You can simply type “cmd” in the same column, and a link to open the “Command Prompt” will appear in the top line.
Using a special search interface "Windows 7"
Of course, the relevance of this method has almost completely disappeared after specialists from Microsoft introduced a search field directly in the start menu, but knowing about its capabilities will be useful for any owner of a computer running a “Seven”.
The following sequential steps are required:
Via Explorer
The algorithm of actions consists of the following stages:
How to configure search parameters
The following steps need to be taken:
Quick search by file type
In the case when the user knows the type of file being searched, you can specify its extension, and only specific types of files will be displayed: images, videos, text, audio, etc.
To perform the operation only among “Word” files, you need to type the extension “*.doc” or “*.docx” in the column. Instead of *, enter characters from the document name. The procedure for Excel is similar, only “*.xls” or “*.xlsx” is used.
Examples for searching images, videos, text and audio files:
*.jpg, *.avi, *.txt, “*.mp3”. 
Search by content
In "Seven" there is a convenient opportunity to find required file and according to the text it contains. For example, the user knows that inside the document there are definitely characters printed sequentially and next to each other - “Shovel”.
To identify the location of a file with such a word, you will need to perform the following steps of sequential actions:
Note: the search procedure will now take the user several times longer, so it is recommended to use this filter only when the others do not allow you to obtain a successful result.
Fixing search parameters
Users usually need to use the same search parameters. In Windows 7, there is a convenient option for saving them in order to eliminate the time wasted on re-entering them in the future.
For this purpose, it is enough to specify the necessary parameters once and, having received the result, click “Save conditions”. Next, a menu will be displayed in which you should type the name of the request and click “Save”.
During the next search with similar parameters, the user will only need to enter the “Favorites” section and click on the previously specified name of the request.
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 everything 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 feature 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 necessary information, 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.
In the operating room Windows system standard tools are provided that search for folders and files on external and local media, which is available to every user, regardless of the OS version. This is why users are often interested in how to enable search in Windows 7.
How to properly enable search in Windows 7?
To launch the search engine in Windows version 7, you will have to open Explorer and find a suitable folder in it. After the procedure, the corresponding search process begins, and in the case when it is not known in which folder the desired file is located, select the “My Computer” section so that the device activates searches across all disks at once.
Through the search line, they search for files of any format by entering a basic word or an entire phrase. The search is carried out by analogy with the work of any search engine. Gradually entering a word into a line starts the system and it analyzes the files, displaying the finished result on the monitor.
Using search filters
At the very beginning, it seems that the usual filters for the XP version are not available for search in the seventh version. This opinion is not correct. Entering a phrase in the line that appears causes a list of files corresponding to what you are looking for to appear at the bottom. If necessary, the conditions can be changed. To do this, click on the required filter and set its value.
Instant Search
In the seventh version of Windows, you can search for files in this way:
- Press the “Start” key and enter the required word in the search line. As you enter information, the “Start” window itself begins displaying the analyzed results. When there are a lot of them, and the user wants to get acquainted with them in more detail, he should click on the dropped queries.
- After this, the corresponding window opens. There the files are sorted, and the search query is highlighted in yellow.
- You can refine your search by scrolling to the end of the list. In the section to repeat the search, enter suitable option. The indexer goes through files by default, excluding system and file programs. This increases the speed of operation and reduces the size of the indexer databases.
Saving search terms
Sometimes files need to be searched using identical search phrases. The saved list of conditions allows you to avoid wasting time on entering a parameter each time. To do this, you set search conditions, wait for results, and then save the conditions. In the window that opens, enter the name of the file to request again.
When you need to search for a saved search, you can mark the shortcut in Favorites. Good luck!
The Windows 7 operating system has many different features and utilities that make life much easier for the user. Sometimes, the user accumulates a huge amount of information, folders and files on his computer, which are not systematically located on the computer and make them difficult to find. Then finding the desired file or folder becomes difficult, and sometimes impossible, without special Windows 7 operating systems. Then the file and folder search system in Windows 7 comes to the rescue.
Let's take a closer look at everything possible ways locating a file or folder in Windows 7.
How to find a folder or file in Windows 7
There are three simple ways find the desired folder with files or the files themselves among a lot of other information in operating system Windows 7:
- Using the search field in the Start menu;
- Using the search field in a folder or library;
- Or using advanced search beyond folders and libraries.
Let's look at each method in more detail.
Search box in the Start menu
The easiest way to find folders or files on your computer is to use the search box in the Start menu. To do this, just open “Start” and write any name in the search field, which is located at the bottom next to the computer shutdown button. After this, the Start menu is transformed into a list possible options files and folders with the same name.
Moreover, with such a search, a list will be displayed not only of files and folders with the same name, but also files where this word may be mentioned in one form or another inside the file or its properties. In addition, please note that only those files that have been indexed are displayed in the list. However, most files are indexed automatically.
Search field in a folder or library
You can also search for files locally if they are stored in a specific folder or library. For this:
This search returns results even for part of a word. The search is carried out by name, internal text of the file and file properties. The library searches all folders within a particular library. It is not necessary to enter the full name. Just enter the part and find the file you need. Also, when displaying a search result, words will be highlighted in color for user convenience.
Among other things, you can enter several keywords, which will narrow the search area very significantly.
Advanced Search
If a folder or file cannot be found by searching specific folders and libraries, you can expand the search scope. For this.
Hello, friends! Before writing this article, I hardly used search in Windows. Why, if everything is already clear what is where. It was enough to look at 2-3 places. This took about 5 minutes. Moreover, as unnecessary, the search service was disabled, which provides enormous opportunities in . And the search service also automatically turns off indexing and it was not at all possible to find any files quickly through search. That is, out of ignorance, I turned off this universal thing. But this is no longer the same slow search in . It has evolved greatly into Windows Vista and took a huge step forward in . Here we will look at the main search capabilities in Windows 7, so that we can find the information we need even more efficiently.
First you need to show the main search window. It is called using the keys Win+F or F3 on the desktop.
The window is not bright and there is almost nothing to talk about here. The question immediately arises about the need for it in Windows 7. Most likely, it was left for those who recently switched from previous versions Windows. So as not to get lost.
The most accessible and easy to find search in Windows 7 is from the main Start menu. (You can read how to make a familiar Start button). Just open the main menu and the cursor is immediately placed in the search field. You start typing part of the file name and the results already appear. The speed of issuing results and its further sorting is surprising. We'll talk about this later.
The results are presented as groups of files from different categories. In the figure, these are Programs, Control Panel, Documents, Videos and Music. If you know which category your file might be in, go straight to it and search further. We will also look at this below.
From the Start menu it is convenient to search for programs or control panel items. Now there is no need to go the long way Start > All Programs > Accessories to select the Calculator. Just open Start, write “Ka” and the good old Calculator is already at hand.
For convenience, the width of the search field can be changed by dragging the border between address bar and a search field in the desired location.
You can and should combine different filters. For example, you sorted files by modification date, now you can sort by size. Click on the search field and select the Size filter. The window below will open in front of you with a range selection
If you need files up to 50 MB and between 100 and 200 MB, then search operators come to the rescue again.
size:<50мб + размер:>100mb<200мб — вот такой вот получился запрос.
Of course, typing it is inconvenient because everything slows down due to the search. Therefore, it is recommended to create a query in Notepad and copy it into the search bar.
As I wrote the article and tried different filters and sorting options, I managed to find such files in such places that you are amazed. Search in + indexing for efficiency like Google for the Internet.
In addition, you can search not only by modification date and size, but also by other file properties. For example, by extension, frame width and others. If the search did not give the desired result, then below you are offered the choice of searching in the Libraries (see in the next section) in the Home Group on all of yours, choosing another place to search, searching on the Internet and by the contents of the files.
When you select Other search location, a window will open where you can use checkboxes to select places where the required files may be. This could be flash drives or other storage devices.
Then click OK and the search will automatically begin in the selected locations.
If you select a location that is not in the index, the system will immediately alert you and warn you that the search may be slow. It is also suggested to add the selected location to the index
If you often look for this place, then you need to add it. If this is an isolated case, then most likely you can skip it. The index will be smaller and searching through it will be faster.
Search in Libraries
The library is a place where a lot of useful information is stored. On a computer it’s the same, only there the library is divided into four categories for easy searching: Music, Video, Images and Documents. You can add up to 50 folders to each of these libraries. + you can create your own libraries. To create a new library, right-click on “Libraries” > New > Library. Give the new library a name
It turns out the Library is virtual folder into which you can connect your real folders from various places in your . The library will be searched across all folders connected to it.
How to connect a folder to a library
Go to the library to which you need to connect the folder. In the “Includes” section, click on the link. In my case - 2 places
In the window that opens, click the Add button... and select the desired folder
Libraries are indexed by default and when the process is finished you will be able to instantly find the information you need.
The libraries have an expanded set of filters, which adds convenience to the search.
When you place the cursor in the search window, in addition to filters, your search queries that you entered in the past are also shown. If they suddenly start to bother you, you can easily remove them by hovering the mouse cursor over the desired one and pressing Del on the keyboard.
In Explorer, you can search in the folder you are in and all its subfolders. In the library you can search in all connected folders at once and since they are in the index it will be fast. Another advantage of using libraries is advanced filters for easy searching. I don’t know how you can bypass using the Libraries in .
Since Libraries are something virtual, nothing happens to your files when they are deleted.
Conclusion
Friends! In this article we have touched on a small part, the tip of the iceberg, called - search in Windows 7. We also figured out how to index files on and how this can help you find information faster. We dwelled in more detail on the search in Explorer. Thanks to convenient filters, you can search and find information much more efficiently.
I would also like to add that search terms can be saved. To do this, click on the button of the same name on the toolbar
All saved searches are located in the folder of the same name (Searches) in your profile.
To display the results for one of the searches, just go to the Searches folder in Explorer (on the left side of it) and select the desired one. The results will appear immediately.
More detailed information You can read about search in the operating system on the website http://www.oszone.net/11299/Search
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