Anybody having trouble w/ Windows Explorer search?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers around issues with Windows 10 Explorer's search functionality, particularly a problem where users cannot input search queries due to a non-responsive text box. Many users report similar experiences, suggesting that this issue may have arisen following a recent Windows update. Common temporary fixes include restarting the computer or stopping the Windows Search and Cortana processes, though these solutions are often ineffective. Users express frustration with the search capabilities, noting that the system frequently fails to locate files, even when they are present.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of Windows 10 operating system features
  • Familiarity with Windows Search and indexing settings
  • Basic troubleshooting skills for software issues
  • Knowledge of alternative search tools like Agent Ransack and Everything
NEXT STEPS
  • Research how to rebuild the Windows 10 search index effectively
  • Explore alternative file search utilities such as Everything and Agent Ransack
  • Investigate Windows 10 search settings and advanced indexing options
  • Look into community forums for recent updates or patches from Microsoft regarding search issues
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for Windows 10 users experiencing search functionality problems, IT support professionals troubleshooting Windows issues, and anyone seeking efficient file search solutions within the Windows environment.

  • #61
Klystron said:
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 in the day (early '70s -- I was 12 or 13) a DEC 10 for time-sharing and an IBM OS/VS2 (later -> MVS) machine for batch was a system manager's dream -- later, the manager whom I'm thinking of went to work for Cray . . .

In the late '80s some people were running DOS/VSE (which has different JCL) under VM --

CICS (a transaction processing subsystem) still runs everywhere.
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.
In my opinion, Windows XP search is better than Windows 7 or 8 or 10 search.
 
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  • #62
sysprog said:
In my opinion, Windows XP search is better than Windows 7 or 8 or 10 search.
RIGHT! If someone wants a searching program nearly as good on a modern Windows today, he must download something and install it. One possibility, SearchMyFiles.
 
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  • #63
sysprog said:
In my opinion, Windows XP search is better than Windows 7 or 8 or 10 search.
Not sure I ever even had XP but what are the features there that are not in 7 and 10? I find that 7/10 search is excellent. What am I missing?
 
  • #64
phinds said:
Not sure I ever even had XP but what are the features there that are not in 7 and 10? I find that 7/10 search is excellent. What am I missing?
XP searching allowed the user to specify some details about the file to be searched. W10 allows user to just open a text field from taskbar and write some text for the file or filename user wants.
 
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  • #65
In XP search, we could easily specify content inside files, as well as wildcard file names and dates, and other 'details' (as @symbolipoint said it), and we could easily exclude results that were not what we were seeking.
 
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  • #66
@phinds , are you talking about searching for a file by name? Like, "I had a file called mycurrentproject.docx, but I'm not sure where it is saved?"

When I need to do that, I use the command prompt window and the "dir" command,
C: dir /s mycurrentproject*

or

dir /s *current*

I have never had much luck with the Windows Explorer searches, so I started doing it this way years ago.In win 10 the command prompt is hiding in PowerShell; you have to type "cmd" there.
 
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  • #67
gmax137 said:
@phinds , are you talking about searching for a file by name? Like, "I had a file called mycurrentproject.docx, but I'm not sure where it is saved?"

When I need to do that, I use the command prompt window and the "dir" command,
C: dir /s mycurrentproject*

or

dir /s *current*

I have never had much luck with the Windows Explorer searches, so I started doing it this way years ago.In win 10 the command prompt is hiding in PowerShell; you have to type "cmd" there.
The problem with that is that you can't cut/paste into and out of the command prompt, nor can you just click on the result, both of which make it a pain to use for this purpose.

Besides which, explorer is an EXCELLENT tool.
 
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  • #70
It has done this (losing the ability to search) to me once, after a Windows update. A reboot or two later and it was fine, and it hasn't happened since. If it recurs my plan is to reinstall Windows from scratch; it's about 18 months since I last did that which is about the median interval for my main PC.
 
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  • #71
gmax137 said:
In win 10 the command prompt is hiding in PowerShell; you have to type "cmd" there.
In Windows 10 the command prompt is in C:\WINDOWS\system32, and PowerShell is in

C:\Windows\System32, also. . .

1586597738041.png
1586597867491.png


1586598780594.png


1586599984511.png


You can use PowerShell to run cmd, but you don't have to. . .

1586601829667.png
You can also copy and paste in either program. . . . 😏
.
 
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  • #72
OCR said:
In Windows 10 the command prompt is in C:\WINDOWS\system32, and PowerShell is in C:\Windows\System32, also. . .
Yeah, PowerShell is the new improved version but I've never bothered to learn it, I just use the old DOS standard when I need cmd. Nice thing about Win10 is that you can put a link to it in the window that comes up when you click on the windows icon (lower left) or hit the Windows button, just like you can with PowerShell.

As I recall, however, there are a couple of old DOS cmd's that won't work in the Windows version but PowerShell is more powerful if you care to learn it.

The DOS cmd does not quite look like the version in PowerShell, it specifically mimics the old DOS window.

1586610015643.png
 
  • #73
I access command prompt via PowerShell only because in Windows explorer, you can shift right click and pick PowerShell off the menu (just like the way i could access cmd in previous windows versions).
 
  • #74
gmax137 said:
I access command prompt via PowerShell only because in Windows explorer, you can shift right click and pick PowerShell off the menu (just like the way i could access cmd in previous windows versions).
Huh? I must be doing something wrong. I can't get what you are saying to work as you say. Shift right-click WHERE?
 
  • #75
sorry. in windows explorer, click on the directory to select it, then shift-rightclick to open a menu. mine has "open"
"open in new process
etc
etc
" open PowerShell wi dow here"
click on that
edit: windows 10
 
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  • #76
gmax137 said:
sorry. in windows explorer, click on the directory to select it, then shift-rightclick to open a menu. mine has "open"
"open in new process
etc
etc
" open PowerShell wi dow here"

click on that
Yes, that is exactly what I did. There is no "open in new process" option.
 
  • #77
phinds said:
Yes, that is exactly what I did. There is no "open in new process" option.
Maybe this. . . ?

1586654749733.png

1586654838574.png


.
 
  • #78
sorry @phinds I'm just a user with very shallow understanding. I certainly can't explain why I see a different menu.
 
  • #79
phinds said:
The DOS cmd does not quite look like the version in PowerShell, it specifically mimics the old DOS window.

View attachment 260385
I changed the colors in mine. . . . 😉

1586656682017.png


.
 
  • #80
gmax137 said:
sorry @phinds I'm just a user with very shallow understanding. I certainly can't explain why I see a different menu.
Ah, I bet you mean this. . . ?

1586657985405.png


.
 
  • #81
gmax137 said:
Maybe this. . . ?

View attachment 260419
EXACTLY what do you do to get that menu? Are you running Windows 10 Home, Pro, what?
 
  • #82
OCR said:
Ah, I bet you mean this. . . ?

View attachment 260424

.
EXACTLY what did you do to get that menu? What version of windows are you running? Home? Pro? What?
 
  • #83
phinds said:
What version of windows are you running? Home? Pro? What?
1586658688727.png


1586658729608.png


.
 
  • #84
OCR said:
View attachment 260425

View attachment 260426

.
OK, you have HOME. Maybe that has some different menus than Pro (which is what I have). I ask again, EXACTLY what did you do to get the menu that includes "open in new process" ?
 
  • #85
phinds said:
EXACTLY what did you do to get that menu?
Hold the Shift key and RMC (right mouse click) on. . . This PC.

1586659501668.png


.
 
  • #86
Or this. . .

1586660410770.png


.
 
  • #87
OCR said:
Hold the Shift key and RMC (right mouse click) on. . . This PC.
Thank you. That is very clear. It gives me exactly the same menu as you with the single exception that there is no "open in new process" in mine.
 
  • #88
OCR said:
Or this. . .
Ah HA. THAT works on my system. Thanks. I see that this makes it easier to use Power Shell at the start since you can get to the desired folder via Explorer clicking rather than having to type type the whole path into Power Shell.
 
  • #89
phinds said:
Ah HA. THAT works on my system.
Very good. . . . 👍[/size] . ✔[/size]

.
 
  • #90
I have Windows 10 Enterprise; this is a company laptop. When I shift-right_mouse_click with the cursor on my "Documents" folder:
MENU1.jpg


But if I move up in Windows Explorer to the "This PC" folder and do the same I get a different menu:

MENU2_thisPC.jpg


So maybe there are settings our IT group includes when they build the laptop, the affect how this works.
 
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