How do I do a "files larger than" or "files smaller than" search?

Question

How do I do a "files larger than" or "files smaller than" search?

Anonymous

The only thing I see are RANGES of files, which is utterly useless to me. In fact, I can't think of a SINGLE time where I would have wanted to see files just from the silly ranges of sizes you offer.

Like, for instance, how would I see all files that are larger than 1mb? --And I don't want it to cut off at 16mb, I want it to keep going even if it finds files that take up 1tb. How do I do it? Larger than 1mb? Like I said, all I see are ranges that I can't really understand why anyone would find useful unless they actually WANT to miss files they were looking for.

How about if I want all the important config files and other assorted files from a program, but don't want the larger ones? Like 10mb or less? Am I supposed to do a search for *.*, list by size, and then scroll for miles and miles (and hope explorer doesn't crash because the file list is so huge) until I finally find the files I'm looking for, select the first one I want, then hold shift and hit the end key, THEN I can copy them wherever?

Do I need to download or purchase a separate searching program, or is this basic functionality actually something that can be done in Windows 8? I know, it was the same in Windows 7, and when I was having a hard drive crash that got me to upgrade to Windows 8 in the first place (well, it wasn't what got me to upgrade, it was an excuse to upgrade), I was forced to download a separate search utility so I could get my important files backed up before the drive completely went out. Even with the knowledge I have now, I couldn't have done it without the separate program (well, I could have with the whole *.* thing I mentioned above, but that's horrible, and on all previous versions of Windows, Explorer would crash if there were too many entries). Is that still the case in Windows 8?

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3 additional answers

Answer 1

The only thing I see are RANGES of files, which is utterly useless to me. In fact, I can't think of a SINGLE time where I would have wanted to see files just from the silly ranges of sizes you offer.

Like, for instance, how would I see all files that are larger than 1mb? --And I don't want it to cut off at 16mb, I want it to keep going even if it finds files that take up 1tb. How do I do it? Larger than 1mb? Like I said, all I see are ranges that I can't really understand why anyone would find useful unless they actually WANT to miss files they were looking for.

How about if I want all the important config files and other assorted files from a program, but don't want the larger ones? Like 10mb or less? Am I supposed to do a search for *.*, list by size, and then scroll for miles and miles (and hope explorer doesn't crash because the file list is so huge) until I finally find the files I'm looking for, select the first one I want, then hold shift and hit the end key, THEN I can copy them wherever?

Do I need to download or purchase a separate searching program, or is this basic functionality actually something that can be done in Windows 8? I know, it was the same in Windows 7, and when I was having a hard drive crash that got me to upgrade to Windows 8 in the first place (well, it wasn't what got me to upgrade, it was an excuse to upgrade), I was forced to download a separate search utility so I could get my important files backed up before the drive completely went out. Even with the knowledge I have now, I couldn't have done it without the separate program (well, I could have with the whole *.* thing I mentioned above, but that's horrible, and on all previous versions of Windows, Explorer would crash if there were too many entries). Is that still the case in Windows 8?

Hi

The Size 'Ranges' shown in the Search Tools are just examples of the most common Size search queries.

If they included every possible size and combination, the toolbar would probably cover around 25 pages that would take you an hour to find exactly what you are looking for? :)

You can use the basic Advanced Query Syntax for a more focused search. Here are some examples.

size:>=1MB <=3MB (Between 1MB and 3MB)

size: 1MB> (Up to 1MB)

size: <1MB (Smaller than 1MB)

size: >1MB (1MB and larger)

You can use KB, MB, GB, etc.

To learn more, use your favorite search engine to find Windows + Advanced Query Syntax.

Example:

TechNet Blogs: How To Tame Windows 7 and Outlook Search Syntax–Knowing The Syntax Makes All The Difference: http://blogs.technet.com/b/danstolts/archive/2011/06/08/taming-windows-7-search-syntax-knowing-the-syntax-makes-all-the-difference.aspx#sthash.OyZlFx3A.dpuf

Regards

Answer 2

Hi

Glad that information helped.

Comment:

My point was that the tools are there for those advanced users who spend the time to learn them. The vast majority of Windows users only use the search component to find a program or utility and the Charms/Search is all they need. It was the same way in Windows 7; they only used the Start/Search box.

As far as XP is concerned, hating a new version of Windows has become a tradition that actually started with XP. Even XP did not catch on until sometime after the first service pack 1 was released. Many people said that combining the 98x kernel with the NT kernel in XP would not work and this would be the end of Microsoft. Others said that it was just a plain vanilla version of windows with a stupid Mattel Toy UI. But now it's everyone's sweetheart. :)

The exact same thing happened with Windows 7 and it is now the bestselling version of Windows in history.

Ed Bott wrote a good article documenting a brief history of this behavior back in 2008 which still applies to what is happening with Windows 8.

Remembering Windows XP's early days:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/remembering-windows-xps-early-days/382

These Answers Forums came online during the Windows 7 beta. You can still go back and read the questions and comments to see what a disaster Windows 7 would be. :)

Regards

They replaced something you could do with the mouse with having to type commands. That is the de-evolution of user interfaces. The command line is NOT superior to a GUI in most cases.

These "advanced" search options USED TO be available in an easy-to-use visual format that hardly took any visual space at all. The fact that they'd replace it with a bulky menu that has 1/100 of the functionality is just strange to me. To get the basic functionality that used to be there with the mouse, you have to learn a new language that they don't document ANYWHERE in Windows. If they'd BOTHER to put a "click here for help" and give the syntax and usage, it'd be excusable. Seriously, this is as bad as people who make CLI programs that have no usage description when you type /? or /help or whatever.

How would ANYONE know about this syntax and language? Is that what "user-friendly" means now to Microsoft? Is the command line interface, with no usage description, the new touchscreen?

Again, thanks for the info.

Answer 3

Hi

Glad that information helped.

Comment:

My point was that the tools are there for those advanced users who spend the time to learn them. The vast majority of Windows users only use the search component to find a program or utility and the Charms/Search is all they need. It was the same way in Windows 7; they only used the Start/Search box.

As far as XP is concerned, hating a new version of Windows has become a tradition that actually started with XP. Even XP did not catch on until sometime after the first service pack 1 was released. Many people said that combining the 98x kernel with the NT kernel in XP would not work and this would be the end of Microsoft. Others said that it was just a plain vanilla version of windows with a stupid Mattel Toy UI. But now it's everyone's sweetheart. :)

The exact same thing happened with Windows 7 and it is now the bestselling version of Windows in history.

Ed Bott wrote a good article documenting a brief history of this behavior back in 2008 which still applies to what is happening with Windows 8.

Remembering Windows XP's early days:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/bott/remembering-windows-xps-early-days/382

These Answers Forums came online during the Windows 7 beta. You can still go back and read the questions and comments to see what a disaster Windows 7 would be. :)

Regards

Answer 4

Ok, that's helpful, thanks very much for that. And yeah, there are some powerful options, but so is the command prompt. There's not an interface I hate more than the command prompt, it's all about memorizing syntax and commands, it's the worst, and now I have to do it just to search for files. :(

That's a serious step backwards in my opinion. I'll know that there are options, but I don't understand why they would require people know something that they don't document anywhere within the operating system just to do something as basic as a search; that seems incredibly foolish of Microsoft to do.

They could have just added the options they used to have in XP. Did they really think XP gave them a bad reputation? Wasn't it the most popular operating system they made to date?

They don't need to list pre-made sizes at all, in fact, that's what I thought was so silly to begin with. OF COURSE they couldn't list all the combinations, that would be silly. They should have given you something to click on with pulldowns to adjust the size you want yourself. This idea that they can supply everything everyone wants with a few preset unchangeable options is just ridiculous.

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How do I do a "files larger than" or "files smaller than" search?

3 additional answers