Anybody having trouble w/ Windows Explorer search?

[QuantumQuest]

There is no drop-down list when this happens. When you click the search box, literally nothing happens. No cursor, no drop-down list, nothing. It's like the box isn't even there.

In some cases even if the cursor isn't there, you can still type letters and do the search using the Enter key. If this is not the case then you can restart Windows Explorer using the Task Manager.

 

[phinds]

Followup to my previous post:

 

[symbolipoint]

phinds,
Like I said, I also have not been satisfied when trying to FIND anything through Windows Explorer (as you are trying to show in post #32). I have found better results when SEARCHing using the SEARCH bar in the task bar, especially when I can avoid letting Cortana get into it. One of those third-party File Search tools should be a better option.

 

[QuantumQuest]

It doesn't matter WHAT I'm searching for because, unlike Russ, I do get the search box, I just can't type anything into it. There is no dropdown list and I don't recall ever seeing one in the past.

I see. Does restarting just Windows Explorer help?

 

[phinds]

I see. Does restarting just Windows Explorer help?

Sometimes. The only completely reliable fix is to reboot the machine, but as I've already pointed out, that is a BIG pain in the butt for me.

 

[symbolipoint]

Sometimes. The only completely reliable fix is to reboot the machine, but as I've already pointed out, that is a BIG pain in the butt for me.

This feeling is understandable. Nobody wants to constantly SEARCH for something (through Windows Explorer), the search fail, and then restart the computer - every single time.

https://www.voidtools.com/support/everything/whats_new/

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_my_files.html

 

[phinds]

@symbolipoint I see in an email that you had a comment (now deleted from the thread) about not being satisfied with Explorer's ability to find things. I want to be clear to everyone that I have NEVER had that problem. When search works it always does exactly what I need for it to do.

 

[phinds]

This feeling is understandable. Nobody wants to constantly SEARCH for something (through Windows Explorer), the search fail, and then restart the computer - every single time.

https://www.voidtools.com/support/everything/whats_new/

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/search_my_files.html

Already got Explorer++ since this problem came up but I find it useless for my needs plus being somewhat unfriendly. I'll take a look at the other one.

OK, took a look at it, very unfriendly, won't even search just the folder I want to search. Useless.

I appreciate your attempts to help but those 2 aren't doing it for me. I'd rather reset the computer than use either one of them.

 

[symbolipoint]

phinds, about #37 & #38
I rarely enough use either of those I quoted. I myself am now glad to have it, but Windows search feature itself usually finds for me what I look for when necessary. I forgot all about searching for folder or directory. Maybe soon I'll take the chance to look in the application to see if there is a way to do a search for a folder.

 

[symbolipoint]

Already got Explorer++ since this problem came up but I find it useless for my needs plus being somewhat unfriendly. I'll take a look at the other one.

OK, took a look at it, very unfriendly, won't even search just the folder I want to search. Useless.

I appreciate your attempts to help but those 2 aren't doing it for me. I'd rather reset the computer than use either one of them.

You are I assume, satisfied with what you have now for searching on your computer, but in case anyone is still interested in more alternatives for search-utilities, read this: https://listoffreeware.com/list-of-best-free-desktop-file-search-software/

 

[phinds]

You are I assume, satisfied with what you have now for searching on your computer ...

I am more than satisfied with Windows Explorer, I just want the damned thing to WORK (all of the time --- the way it has for decades up 'til recently)

 

[member 656954]

There is no drop-down list when this happens. When you click the search box, literally nothing happens. No cursor, no drop-down list, nothing. It's like the box isn't even there.

I've experienced this, on and off, for about a year. It is mostly okay, but every now and then, search just goes AWOL. After a few days, it comes back. I've looked at what patches are applied in the period, and there is never anything obvious to cause the behavior. Indeed, sometimes, there are no patches applied at all. Rebooting does not fix it, resetting the indexing does not fix it, so I just have to live with it, which is irritating but not life threatening at least.

The other annoying search 'feature' is with OneDrive. Possibly because files live in the cloud, Windows Search does not index their contents, so I can be looking for work files that I know I has some useful text or diagram, and it won't find them. I've started using Dropbox as my WIP directory and have forced OneDrive to keep all files resident on my big PC so files can be indexed. That's not possible on the laptop though, as the SSD is too small, so it is not an ideal solution.

 

[sysprog]

I always keep Windows Update and its re-enablers disabled -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it; I probably don't need or want the newest and greatest -- if I need or want something newer or somehow more worthy, I'll go find it -- don't push it on me -- I think that it's best practice to back up your stuff on your own devices -- make at least 3 copies; at least 1 copy on each of 3 different devices.

 

[member 656954]

I think that it's best practice to back up your stuff on your own devices -- make at least 3 copies; at least 1 copy on each of 3 different devices.

Backup is vital. I use Crashplan because your files go to their cloud automatically and it can cope with intermittent backup locations like a USB disk drive that you only occasionally plug in. But however it's done, it's got to be done!

I always keep Windows Update and its re-enablers disabled

I won't push you but I will conclude you like to live dangerously, @sysprog

 

[phinds]

I always keep Windows Update and its re-enablers disabled

So you don't want to get security updates?

 

[sysprog]

So you don't want to get security updates?

No -- I decide what programs my computers run -- if I didn't order the pizza, I don't want it, and if it arrives at my door, I'll be nice to the nice delivery person, and call my lawyer to get on the case of that person's boss . . .

 

[symbolipoint]

I always keep Windows Update and its re-enablers disabled -- if it ain't broke, don't fix it; I probably don't need or want the newest and greatest -- if I need or want something newer or somehow more worthy, I'll go find it -- don't push it on me -- I think that it's best practice to back up your stuff on your own devices -- make at least 3 copies; at least 1 copy on each of 3 different devices.

If updates are still being distributed for the operating system, then they are USUALLY important. If person is on a current operating system or I mean fully modern, the present day thing the company (Microsoft for Windows) wants it users to be using, then disabling the updating is a bad thing.

 

[phinds]

No -- I decide what programs my computers run

And I take it you don't use a browser and so don't log on to forums such as this one or use the interenet in any other way?

 

[sysprog]

And I take it you don't use a browser and so don't log on to forums such as this one or use the interenet in any other way?

That's a non sequitur.

 

[symbolipoint]

No -- I decide what programs my computers run -- if I didn't order the pizza, I don't want it, and if it arrives at my door, I'll be nice to the nice delivery person, and call my lawyer to get on the case of that person's boss . . .

And I take it you don't use a browser and so don't log on to forums such as this one or use the interenet in any other way?

That's a non sequitur.

The "sequitur" of @phinds ' statement can be logically explained.

 

[sysprog]

If updates are still being distributed for the operating system, then they are USUALLY important. If person is on a current operating system or I mean fully modern, the present day thing the company (Microsoft for Windows) wants it users to be using, then disabling the updating is a bad thing.

I disagree at least for my part. I will allow nothing to automatically update any of my systems or any of those of any of my clients unless a client insists on the allowing of that for that client. Deciding whether and how to implement a suggested system update is an important part of my job.

 

[member 656954]

Deciding whether and how to implement a suggested system update is an important part of my job.

We're some distance from the OP, but yours is an interesting position, @sysprog. I know of systems that run apps that need to be tested prior to updates being applied. My uncle manages some old lab equipment that fits this category. But it is also a very dependent position your clients end up in. If you are not around to make the decisions, say you're on holidays, they may be unnecessarily exposed. I expect that's their assumed risk though. With business apps being increasingly SaaS and your on-premise equipment is restricted to local services like printing, it is also a risk that is reducing.

 

[phinds]

That's a non sequitur.

So you don't allow updates, and you don't recognize sarcasm.

If you use the internet and you don't allow Windows security updates, you are seriously opening yourself up to a virus.

 

[sysprog]

So you don't allow updates, and you don't recognize sarcasm.

If you use the internet and you don't allow Windows security updates, you are seriously opening yourself up to a virus.

I think that allowing automatic updates would be for me less than vigilant . . .

 

[sysprog]

We're some distance from the OP, but yours is an interesting position, @sysprog. I know of systems that run apps that need to be tested prior to updates being applied. My uncle manages some old lab equipment that fits this category. But it is also a very dependent position your clients end up in. If you are not around to make the decisions, say you're on holidays, they may be unnecessarily exposed. I expect that's their assumed risk though. With business apps being increasingly SaaS and your on-premise equipment is restricted to local services like printing, it is also a risk that is reducing.

(emphasis by underling added) My client knows where to go and what to do if I'm not there. There are programs that I wrote decades ago that still function errorlessly and don't require updates. If you've signed in (logged on) to a mainframe, you've (if your system includes CA-ACF2) possibly used a few lines of my code, but I didn't write the module, and it's not modifiable by an automatic update -- we don't do auto-updates on the mainframe -- updating things is a thought-through process.

 

[member 656954]

we don't do auto-updates on the mainframe

Fair enough, that's a whole other can of worms to Windows, which is what most PF'ers seemed to think the system was, myself included. I needed an IBM ZSeries admin a couple of years ago for a banking project and eventually found a guy in is his mid 60s who was happy to take the job. The hardware is venerable, and the people tending them even more so! Big iron, it's still running the world, just behind the scenes

 

[sysprog]

The hardware is venerable

The current version hardware is very advanced and up to date.

 

[member 656954]

venerable
/ˈvɛn(ə)rəb(ə)l/

adjective
accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.

Nothing to suggest it's not advanced and up to date. ZSeries is a computing work of art!

(And now we're seriously off topic, so lest we lock the thread up for it, rest assured, I think IBMs mainframes are terrific systems and that's all I'll say on that.)

 

[sysprog]

venerable
/ˈvɛn(ə)rəb(ə)l/

adjective
accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.

Nothing to suggest it's not advanced and up to date. ZSeries is a computing work of art!

(And now we're seriously off topic, so lest we lock the thread up for it, rest assured, I think IBMs mainframes are terrific systems and that's all I'll say on that.)

MVS (and its successors) = in my opinion the best OS.

 

[Klystron]

MVS (and its successors) = in my opinion the best OS.

True enough, just that I preferred DEC DCL control language to JCL and -- ugh -- DOS commands. Of course Sun Microsystems obsoleted PDP and VAX platforms in favor of Solaris and UNIX; so, moot point.

Back to MS Explorer search functions: my brother-in-law installed Mozilla Firefox browser on my laptop years ago. Functions much better than Explorer on several levels. Chrome OK if clunky.