Anybody having trouble w/ Windows Explorer search?

  • Thread starter Thread starter phinds
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Search Windows
Click For Summary
Windows 10 Explorer's search functionality has recently been problematic for many users, with reports of the search box becoming unresponsive and not allowing text input. This issue appears to have started around the time of a recent Windows update, causing frustration among power users who rely on efficient multitasking. Common temporary fixes include restarting Windows Explorer or the entire computer, but these are not always effective and can disrupt workflow.Users have noted that Windows search often fails to return relevant results, particularly for certain file types, leading to dissatisfaction with its reliability compared to Google search. Some have suggested using alternative search tools like "Everything" or "SearchMyFiles" for better results, especially when dealing with specific file queries.The conversation also touches on the broader implications of Windows updates, with some users expressing concerns about the necessity and impact of automatic updates on system performance and security. Overall, the thread highlights a significant frustration with Windows 10's search capabilities, prompting users to seek workarounds and alternative solutions.
  • #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.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
  • #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.
 
  • Like
Likes sysprog
  • #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.
 
  • Like
  • Informative
Likes phinds and sysprog
  • #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.
 
Last edited:
  • #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.
 
  • Like
Likes sysprog
  • #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.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes sysprog
  • #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.
 
  • Like
Likes sysprog
  • #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. . . . 😏
.
 
Last edited:
  • #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
 
Last edited:
  • #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.
 
  • Like
Likes phinds

Similar threads

Win 10 bug: "explorer" folder window spontaneously dies
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Where to find app data on SD card (Android)?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
Strange change in behavior of home/F11 and end/F12 keys on Dell laptop
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
4K
Windows live search gone or renamed?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
How to install "devcon" into the windows 8?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
3K
MH370, On-again, off-again search
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
SSD crash after Windows 10 update on Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon 5th Gen
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
Windows 10 Update - Caused Loop (Need a Computer )
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
4K
How to efficiently view the Start Programs menu in Win 10?
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
4K
Ubuntu 14.04, wireless network cannot connect
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K