Frustrated with search!

nguchiro

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Why oh why have MS made search so damn difficult? I am trying to find all videos in my computer and I simply cannot. It only finds the videos in the generic my videos folder. Damn I am so frustrated I want to throw my brand new laptop out the window :mad: Will someone please help me! By the way I am using Classic shell and never use metro nor want to. If anyone can help me I will be in gratitude.

They should shoot the guy who designed the search in win 8
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    compac CQ58
    CPU
    AMD
Microsoft Windows Search was best in Windows XP SP3, and has gone downhill ever since IMO.

You are obviously OK with 3rd party apps, so why not try SEARCHMYFILES from here:

Alternative to Windows Search For Files + Duplicates Search

You can tailor searches with this sophisticated tool from NIRSOFT.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center
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    PC/Desktop
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    HP COMPAQ Presario CQ57
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    AMD E- 300 APU with Radion HD Graphics 1.30GHz
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    inbuilt
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    4GB
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    no Start menu modifications
    Upgraded with no issues to 8.0 and to 8.1
If you are using Classic Shell it should find all those videos "if" you have selected the proper search criteria. So, open the Classic Shell interface, check your search option settings, and try to search for videos by file extension (eg, .avi, .mov, .mp4, etc). So, if you are trying to just use "videos" as a search phrase, I doubt if that will work. Good luck.

Screenshot (61).png

Screenshot (62).png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
[FONT=WOL_Reg]If search results don't contain matches from file contents, the location you're searching isn't in the search index. To include file contents for a single search, tap or click the [/FONT][FONT=WOL_Bold]Search Tools[/FONT][FONT=WOL_Reg] tab, tap or click [/FONT][FONT=WOL_Bold]Advanced options[/FONT][FONT=WOL_Reg], then choose [/FONT][FONT=WOL_Bold]File contents[/FONT][FONT=WOL_Reg]. To add the location to the index so that file contents are always included in searches, tap or click the [/FONT][FONT=WOL_Bold]Search Tools[/FONT][FONT=WOL_Reg] tab, tap or click [/FONT][FONT=WOL_Bold]Advanced options[/FONT][FONT=WOL_Reg], then choose [/FONT][FONT=WOL_Bold]Change indexed locations[/FONT][FONT=WOL_Reg].[/FONT]
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
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    6 GB
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    1280 x 1024
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    12 TB in 6 disks
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    TX650
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    G15
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    Intellimouse 3.0
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    100 Mbits
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    Chrome
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    Trend Micro
Good suggestion from .
I approach the option a little differently. Control Panel - Indexing Options.

In the first window, I have carefully selected all those parts of my hard disk that I think I would be needing to search in.

I then go into the Advanced tab and, very important, I "rebuild"

Right or wrong method, there is nothing that eludes me in a search of my HD.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
The Classic Shell search interface does not rely on "how much" of one's hard drive is actually indexed. In fact, the search results are totally dependent upon its own settings as identified in my previous post; therefore, the search results will always be the same without regard to whether or not the hard drive is fully, partially, or not indexed at all. The inherent Winows indexing is only there to speed up those files and folders that are most commonly searched; however, I will say that I have no idea how the indexing affects any searches done with Metro because I do not use it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Yeah, search was better in earlier versions of windows, before they messed it up.

As for your question, if you search from the File Explorer window, navigate to the drive you want to search, type "Kind:" into the search box and you can then select "Video" from the dropdown box. Or just type "kind:=video " in the search box.

Kind.jpg


More detailed info at the following link:
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/21310-search-find-more-filters-operators.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8 64-bit
The Classic Shell search interface does not rely on "how much" of one's hard drive is actually indexed. In fact, the search results are totally dependent upon its own settings as identified in my previous post; therefore, the search results will always be the same without regard to whether or not the hard drive is fully, partially, or not indexed at all. The inherent Winows indexing is only there to speed up those files and folders that are most commonly searched; however, I will say that I have no idea how the indexing affects any searches done with Metro because I do not use it.

No rudeness, but do you have any link to documentation that I could read up on that. My proposal certainly works for me. You can easily test it for yourself. It makes no difference Modern search or the power menu search.
Make a fictitious, but ver unique, filename in a non indexed location and search. I don't think you will get a result - I wouldn't, anyway. Now include it in the index and rebuild, and search again. It will find it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
Hi davehc,

I'm not sure what you are referring to when you are asking for documentation. I have indexing completely turned off and I can find anything you can on my C drive and, because I have no need for the continual overhead caused by the continuous indexing cycle, I have completely disabled thw Windows search service and wiped the indexing content clean. To verify my findings, simply turn off the Windows Search Service and/or disable indexing and see what you can't find.

Also, please be aware that I never intended to discredit your findings as there is always more than one way to skin a cat; however, I kept my focus on the OPs original concern which centered on the issue that he was using Classic Shell and couldn't find all his video files. Now, when I tested his search using Classic Shell, I had to search by extension but it did find all occurrences on the C drive as I reported.

However, everyone else decided to take a different route with their suggestions and all were reasonable alternatives so I'm not sure how you are connecting your recommendation to mine because there are two different methodologies being used.

Anyway, test it yourself (if you wish) and let me know if you think I am wrong.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
But if you have completely disabled indexing and search, what exactly do you search with? - Just curious.

Just tried your suggestion. I turned off search in services and in the settings in the charm options, Turned off indexing locations and, unfortunately, could not find some monor programs in my third partition.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
But if you have completely disabled indexing and search, what exactly do you search with? - Just curious.

Just tried your suggestion. I turned off search in services and in the settings in the charm options, Turned off indexing locations and, unfortunately, could not find some monor programs in my third partition.

First, please make note of my statement below that was included with my [DEL]original[/DEL] second post:

I will say that I have no idea how the indexing affects any searches done with Metro because I do not use it.

Next, bear in mind that I was focusing on the fact that the OP was using the Classic Shell search which works similarly to the Exploere search but with its own search parameters. (See my previous screenshots for all search parameters available in Classic Shell).

And finally, I just did an explorer search (outside of Classic Shell), with Windows Search and Indexing both turned off and here are the results. Pay special attention to the red boxes please:

pc.jpg

In summary, all of my attention was focused on why the OP could not find all of his videos files using the Classic Shell search.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Does the system run any better with Indexing shut off? Honestly, I've never been able to find anything since XP. I never use Metro to search for anything either, except for the store. I just shut off Indexer, I wanna see if that makes my POS system run better.

One thing I have noticed, is that from "My/This Computer" it never allows a search, or rather, it never STARTS a search. I would have to be in a drive. I remember XP would search my whole system including all of the drives. I don't know if this was due to a Problem with my OS installation or if Windows 7 and 8 are designed this way.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
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    2 GB/3GB
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    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
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    Water Cooled
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    Dell Keyboard
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    Cable Medium Speed
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    Chrome/IE 10
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    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I think we are talking at cross purposes so I'll be the one to drop out. I see the red box refers to the indexing being turned off.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Use several different computers during a day, so specs are irrelevant.
Well, I've never found a good solution for Searches from with Vista 7 and 8, if someone has one, I'm totally interested.


Excellent! Shutting off Indexer seems to have sped up my system a bit.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
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    Works 550w
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    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
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    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Well, I've never found a good solution for Searches from with Vista 7 and 8, if someone has one, I'm totally interested.

For NTFS only I use Everything Search. I see some new betas have come out. It appears now it has W8 support. The genius of Everything Search and WizTree disk space analyzer is that they both use MFT information. They only work on simple NTFS partitions. But that's all I ever use for Windows. Because they go right to the MFTs they are lightning fast. Everything Search you can configure which folder trees to search I believe. I haven't looked at the new beta yet. I've just been using it and it seems to do the job. WizTree is way cool. I keep my drives typically 70% or more free space. So WizTree fills in the disk usage data in about 2 seconds. I leave Windows Search service at Disabled.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
I'll try it, I loathe and despise the Windows Search.

EXCELLENT! "Everything" Returns results IMMEDIATELY - Just like the old Windows XP search use to do!

I HIGHLY recommend this.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
I'll try it, I loathe and despise the Windows Search.

I think you'll be happy with it. Try the latest beta. This author leaves versions at "beta" for a long time. But they are quite stable. It makes a small db file a MB or 2. Very lightweight. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
It found what I was looking for INSTANTLY, and the Windows Searches are STILL choking on it, both the Metro Search and the Bread-crummy Search.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
It found what I was looking for INSTANTLY, and the Windows Searches are STILL choking on it, both the Metro Search and the Bread-crummy Search.

You think Windows Search is awful (IMO it is)?
Try doing a GUI search in Linux.

I also always turn Windows Search service off.
 

My Computer

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  • OS
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 (64 bit), Linux Mint 18.3 MATE (64 bit)
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    n/a
    CPU
    AMD Phenom II x6 1055T, 2.8 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASRock 880GMH-LE/USB3
    Memory
    8GB DDR3 1333 G-Skill Ares F3-1333C9D-8GAO (4GB x 2)
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    ATI Radeon HD6450
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    Realtek?
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    Samsung S23B350
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
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    Western Digital 1.5 TB (SATA), Western Digital 2 TB (SATA), Western Digital 3 TB (SATA)
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    Tower
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    Wired Optical
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    Linux Mint 16 MATE (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 17 MATE (64 bit) - 2014-05-17
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    Ubuntu 10.04 (64 bit) replaced with Linux Mint 14 MATE (64 bit) - 2013-01-14
    RAM & Graphics Card Upgraded - 2013-01-13
    Monitor Upgraded - 2012-04-20
    System Upgraded - 2011-05-21, 2010-07-14
    HDD Upgraded - 2010-08-11, 2011-08-24,
If it helps you guys, I wrote a detailed article on how the Classic Shell Start Menu's search box works here: Classic Shell ? View topic - Search box usage for beginners as well as power users (it clarifies what all requires indexing, what doesn't) and lists the Advanced Query Syntax of Windows Search. For content like videos, you can include the folder in your Videos Library or in Indexing Options of Control Panel. Both will make it show up in the Start Menu's search box as soon as it's finished indexing.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Microsoft Windows
    Other Info
    I do the testing and give feedback on User Experience and ideas for Classic Shell.
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