Search Windows Explorer

Question

If I have a folder open, at the top right is a search box.

But it never finds anything.

What is wrong?

This Windows 7 is SOOOO inferior to Window XP Pro   and they call this an upgrade???

Answer 1

Probably doing nothing wrong.

Did my example search in system32 work or did it fail?

I can't recreate the problem and I don't like to offer any idea that begin with the word "try" but now that you have an example up some other folks might have some ideas.

This has worked for some folks:

Navigate to this folder:

C:\Users*Your user name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\1033*

Rename the file StructuredQuerySchema.bin to something you can remember like:

StructuredQuerySchema.xxx

Reboot your system (may not be necessary) and check Search again.

If things are back to normal you can delete the StructuredQuerySchema.xxx file at your leisure.

Answer 2

Good job!

Answer 3

Hi and Welcome to Microsoft Answers!

The Windows Explorer search function uses an indexing tool within Windows. In short, it places little files everywhere that tell Windows where a file is located.

If the search is slow, it could be several reasons. The first reason would be outdated hardware. You mention Windows XP, which makes be believe you may have been previously been using Windows XP with this PC. If that is true, the hardware may not be suitable for Windows 7 and you should consider a PC upgrade.

Second, the indexer may not be turned on or working. You can follow this guide on adjusting these settings: https://www.w7forums.com/threads/enable-or-disable-search-indexing.3410/

Answer 4

Keeping in mind that we can't see what you are seeing it might behoove you to learn how to include a screenshot in your replies and this link will tell you how to do that:

How to include a screenshot in your post

Tell us what you are searching for...  a file, an image, a document, etc. and where are you telling the search to look.

Then create a simple test case that should always work and see how that does...

In Windows Explorer navigate to this folder:

Then in the search box enter a file that should definitely be found - let's use:

themecpl.dll

After entering themecpl.dll in the search box and pressing Enter do you or do you not see something like this:

If you do not see something like that, post a screenshot of what you do see.

Then conduct/perform one of your searches that fails and post a screenshot of that.

Answer 5

Thank you for that reply.

I checked out what you had written.

No, this is not an old computer.

Brand new came with Win-7.

Also checked out Windows Search - it was started, Auto-delayed.

I really need that search function.

Thanks.