File search

[UK-Tim]

Hi Guys,

Can anyone direct me to a File search application that will work on XP in a similar way to XP's own file search?

I specifically want to list all files by date order, named "*.c*", from a named directory, including all it's sub directories, and
which contain the text string "LCD_MODE_24BIT". To find the file, where I first used the text string, some ten years ago.

"Sometimes" XP's own search utility will do this for me, but at the moment, XP's own search returns nothing. (a bug I guess)

So far I've tried:-

Quick Search 5.35
Duplicate File Finder
UltraSearch

 

[ImWolf]

I asked the local AI bot your question, and this is what it spit out.....

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[UK-Tim]

I asked the local AI bot your question, and this is what it spit out.....

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View a conversation shared from Duck.ai - free, private AI chat by DuckDuckGo. Save it to your own chats and continue privately.

duck.ai

(Link will expire in 30 days).

Unfortunately your AI link would not display in my browser (Mypal 74), however while peeling potatoes for lunch, I realised that if I booted on partition 2, there was a newish install of XP, which if I was lucky, the file-search would still be working correctly. It was, and I directed it's search to the programming partition, and after 10 seconds I had my answer. I had first used the "LCD_MODE_24BIT" string in April 2019.

That said, I'm still no wiser as to why the XP search always stops working after a while.

 

[UK-Tim]

Looking as to why the XP search always stops working after a while. I searched and saw this link:-

my windows search is not working on x.p. - Microsoft Q&A

my windows search is not working how can i fix this

learn.microsoft.com

(I do hope it's not what your AI found, Because that would make me look very silly!!)

Anyway, I did step B & C below, and Bingo, My search (on partition 1) is working properly again.


b. Click the "Start" button, then click "Control Panel". Double-click "Administrative Tools". If you do not see this icon, click the "Switch to Classic View" link on the left side of the window.


c. Double-click "Services". Double-click "Indexing Service" in the window that opens. If the value shown next to "Startup Type" is "Manual" or "Disabled", click the drop-down menu and select "Automatic", and then click the "Start" button. Click "OK". This should resolve the problem with the index; do not continue through the steps below unless the problem persists. If the Indexing Service is already enabled, close the "Services" window and minimize the "Administrative Tools" window.

 

[ImWolf]

Looking as to why the XP search always stops working after a while. I searched and saw this link:-

Sounds familiar from years gone by..... enabling Indexing does slow the system down a bit, but slows you down a lot more trying to find things when needed if it's not enabled. :b