Finding files on the hard disk containing specific text– Windows 8
I know that I created a file using Word and saved it at some time in the past. Now I need that file and I have no idea what I call it, but I do know that I use a specific and unique phrase in it. I'm sure that Windows probably includes such a utility?
Where is it, and how do I best use it?
Thanks.
Ross
windows-8.1 microsoft-word search
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
add a comment |
I know that I created a file using Word and saved it at some time in the past. Now I need that file and I have no idea what I call it, but I do know that I use a specific and unique phrase in it. I'm sure that Windows probably includes such a utility?
Where is it, and how do I best use it?
Thanks.
Ross
windows-8.1 microsoft-word search
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
1
Windows Search built into Windows since, well forever, has this capability. Just setup the search to look into the contents of the file pretty much the same way, exactly, how you have done it since well forever.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:22
You can also just look for*.*.docxthen sort by date.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:24
Or ..doc if it is an older word document.
– Moab
May 17 '15 at 18:18
I have found that the search in the Windows Explorer is very very slow, however…
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:41
Here's some other SuperUser threads that tackle this: superuser.com/questions/60173/… and superuser.com/questions/25092/…
– snowdude
May 29 '15 at 16:19
add a comment |
I know that I created a file using Word and saved it at some time in the past. Now I need that file and I have no idea what I call it, but I do know that I use a specific and unique phrase in it. I'm sure that Windows probably includes such a utility?
Where is it, and how do I best use it?
Thanks.
Ross
windows-8.1 microsoft-word search
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
I know that I created a file using Word and saved it at some time in the past. Now I need that file and I have no idea what I call it, but I do know that I use a specific and unique phrase in it. I'm sure that Windows probably includes such a utility?
Where is it, and how do I best use it?
Thanks.
Ross
windows-8.1 microsoft-word search
windows-8.1 microsoft-word search
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
asked May 15 '15 at 17:18
greenbergreenber
30841230
30841230
1
Windows Search built into Windows since, well forever, has this capability. Just setup the search to look into the contents of the file pretty much the same way, exactly, how you have done it since well forever.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:22
You can also just look for*.*.docxthen sort by date.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:24
Or ..doc if it is an older word document.
– Moab
May 17 '15 at 18:18
I have found that the search in the Windows Explorer is very very slow, however…
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:41
Here's some other SuperUser threads that tackle this: superuser.com/questions/60173/… and superuser.com/questions/25092/…
– snowdude
May 29 '15 at 16:19
add a comment |
1
Windows Search built into Windows since, well forever, has this capability. Just setup the search to look into the contents of the file pretty much the same way, exactly, how you have done it since well forever.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:22
You can also just look for*.*.docxthen sort by date.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:24
Or ..doc if it is an older word document.
– Moab
May 17 '15 at 18:18
I have found that the search in the Windows Explorer is very very slow, however…
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:41
Here's some other SuperUser threads that tackle this: superuser.com/questions/60173/… and superuser.com/questions/25092/…
– snowdude
May 29 '15 at 16:19
1
1
Windows Search built into Windows since, well forever, has this capability. Just setup the search to look into the contents of the file pretty much the same way, exactly, how you have done it since well forever.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:22
Windows Search built into Windows since, well forever, has this capability. Just setup the search to look into the contents of the file pretty much the same way, exactly, how you have done it since well forever.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:22
You can also just look for
*.*.docx then sort by date.– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:24
You can also just look for
*.*.docx then sort by date.– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:24
Or ..doc if it is an older word document.
– Moab
May 17 '15 at 18:18
Or ..doc if it is an older word document.
– Moab
May 17 '15 at 18:18
I have found that the search in the Windows Explorer is very very slow, however…
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:41
I have found that the search in the Windows Explorer is very very slow, however…
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:41
Here's some other SuperUser threads that tackle this: superuser.com/questions/60173/… and superuser.com/questions/25092/…
– snowdude
May 29 '15 at 16:19
Here's some other SuperUser threads that tackle this: superuser.com/questions/60173/… and superuser.com/questions/25092/…
– snowdude
May 29 '15 at 16:19
add a comment |
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
Simply open Windows Explorer and click into the search box. You should see the "Search Tools" appear in the top bar. Click on "Advanced options" and you will see some selections for "In non-indexed locations", make sure that "File Contents" is selected. Note that this will slow down your searches - probably rather a lot! But this ensures that the contents will be searched even if your file is hidden away in a location that Windows Search does not index.
You could also make sure that Windows Search Index is indexing all possible locations.
Be warned though that I've never found Windows Search all that reliable.
UPDATE: If you are not finding Windows Search all that reliable, you could try a GREP tool for Windows. Please note that I've not tried any of these (I use SharePoint for document management).
dnGrep seems the most likely candidate. It has a plugin to read Word 2007+ files
Funduc have a free macro for Word that might do what you want. They also have more powerful but non-free tools.- The free Windows GREP tool will search in binary files but I don't know whether it will pick up text in docx files.
- The shareware PowerGREP will search in both .doc and .docx files but it is incredibly expensive! EUR119 for a single license! There is a free trial though.
Common Resource Grep is free but is Linux only.
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
yes, that has been my problem: it's a nice novelty but I've never found it the 100% accurate. Anybody know of any freebie third-party apps that are 100% accurate?
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:39
add a comment |
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Simply open Windows Explorer and click into the search box. You should see the "Search Tools" appear in the top bar. Click on "Advanced options" and you will see some selections for "In non-indexed locations", make sure that "File Contents" is selected. Note that this will slow down your searches - probably rather a lot! But this ensures that the contents will be searched even if your file is hidden away in a location that Windows Search does not index.
You could also make sure that Windows Search Index is indexing all possible locations.
Be warned though that I've never found Windows Search all that reliable.
UPDATE: If you are not finding Windows Search all that reliable, you could try a GREP tool for Windows. Please note that I've not tried any of these (I use SharePoint for document management).
dnGrep seems the most likely candidate. It has a plugin to read Word 2007+ files
Funduc have a free macro for Word that might do what you want. They also have more powerful but non-free tools.- The free Windows GREP tool will search in binary files but I don't know whether it will pick up text in docx files.
- The shareware PowerGREP will search in both .doc and .docx files but it is incredibly expensive! EUR119 for a single license! There is a free trial though.
Common Resource Grep is free but is Linux only.
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
yes, that has been my problem: it's a nice novelty but I've never found it the 100% accurate. Anybody know of any freebie third-party apps that are 100% accurate?
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:39
add a comment |
Simply open Windows Explorer and click into the search box. You should see the "Search Tools" appear in the top bar. Click on "Advanced options" and you will see some selections for "In non-indexed locations", make sure that "File Contents" is selected. Note that this will slow down your searches - probably rather a lot! But this ensures that the contents will be searched even if your file is hidden away in a location that Windows Search does not index.
You could also make sure that Windows Search Index is indexing all possible locations.
Be warned though that I've never found Windows Search all that reliable.
UPDATE: If you are not finding Windows Search all that reliable, you could try a GREP tool for Windows. Please note that I've not tried any of these (I use SharePoint for document management).
dnGrep seems the most likely candidate. It has a plugin to read Word 2007+ files
Funduc have a free macro for Word that might do what you want. They also have more powerful but non-free tools.- The free Windows GREP tool will search in binary files but I don't know whether it will pick up text in docx files.
- The shareware PowerGREP will search in both .doc and .docx files but it is incredibly expensive! EUR119 for a single license! There is a free trial though.
Common Resource Grep is free but is Linux only.
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
yes, that has been my problem: it's a nice novelty but I've never found it the 100% accurate. Anybody know of any freebie third-party apps that are 100% accurate?
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:39
add a comment |
Simply open Windows Explorer and click into the search box. You should see the "Search Tools" appear in the top bar. Click on "Advanced options" and you will see some selections for "In non-indexed locations", make sure that "File Contents" is selected. Note that this will slow down your searches - probably rather a lot! But this ensures that the contents will be searched even if your file is hidden away in a location that Windows Search does not index.
You could also make sure that Windows Search Index is indexing all possible locations.
Be warned though that I've never found Windows Search all that reliable.
UPDATE: If you are not finding Windows Search all that reliable, you could try a GREP tool for Windows. Please note that I've not tried any of these (I use SharePoint for document management).
dnGrep seems the most likely candidate. It has a plugin to read Word 2007+ files
Funduc have a free macro for Word that might do what you want. They also have more powerful but non-free tools.- The free Windows GREP tool will search in binary files but I don't know whether it will pick up text in docx files.
- The shareware PowerGREP will search in both .doc and .docx files but it is incredibly expensive! EUR119 for a single license! There is a free trial though.
Common Resource Grep is free but is Linux only.
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
Simply open Windows Explorer and click into the search box. You should see the "Search Tools" appear in the top bar. Click on "Advanced options" and you will see some selections for "In non-indexed locations", make sure that "File Contents" is selected. Note that this will slow down your searches - probably rather a lot! But this ensures that the contents will be searched even if your file is hidden away in a location that Windows Search does not index.
You could also make sure that Windows Search Index is indexing all possible locations.
Be warned though that I've never found Windows Search all that reliable.
UPDATE: If you are not finding Windows Search all that reliable, you could try a GREP tool for Windows. Please note that I've not tried any of these (I use SharePoint for document management).
dnGrep seems the most likely candidate. It has a plugin to read Word 2007+ files
Funduc have a free macro for Word that might do what you want. They also have more powerful but non-free tools.- The free Windows GREP tool will search in binary files but I don't know whether it will pick up text in docx files.
- The shareware PowerGREP will search in both .doc and .docx files but it is incredibly expensive! EUR119 for a single license! There is a free trial though.
Common Resource Grep is free but is Linux only.
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
edited May 18 '15 at 21:08
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
answered May 15 '15 at 19:57
Julian KnightJulian Knight
12.9k11535
12.9k11535
yes, that has been my problem: it's a nice novelty but I've never found it the 100% accurate. Anybody know of any freebie third-party apps that are 100% accurate?
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:39
add a comment |
yes, that has been my problem: it's a nice novelty but I've never found it the 100% accurate. Anybody know of any freebie third-party apps that are 100% accurate?
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:39
yes, that has been my problem: it's a nice novelty but I've never found it the 100% accurate. Anybody know of any freebie third-party apps that are 100% accurate?
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:39
yes, that has been my problem: it's a nice novelty but I've never found it the 100% accurate. Anybody know of any freebie third-party apps that are 100% accurate?
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:39
add a comment |
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1
Windows Search built into Windows since, well forever, has this capability. Just setup the search to look into the contents of the file pretty much the same way, exactly, how you have done it since well forever.
– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:22
You can also just look for
*.*.docxthen sort by date.– Ramhound
May 15 '15 at 17:24
Or ..doc if it is an older word document.
– Moab
May 17 '15 at 18:18
I have found that the search in the Windows Explorer is very very slow, however…
– greenber
May 18 '15 at 19:41
Here's some other SuperUser threads that tackle this: superuser.com/questions/60173/… and superuser.com/questions/25092/…
– snowdude
May 29 '15 at 16:19