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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(Link will expire in 30 days).

 

[UK-Tim]

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

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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

 

[UK-Tim]

I started to wonder about the search "failing after a few months" (possibly quicker) aspect, and was assuming that some piece of rogue software was turning off the indexing. However the indexing service was set to manual on the working & failing XP installations, but switching it to "Automatic" does fix the failing installation.

This makes me think, that some variable value is overflowing somewhere in the OS, as reducing the file count and defragging doesn't help. My own XP pc does move an awful lot data about these days, perhaps a terabyte a month at a guess.

Anyway setting the indexing service value to automatic is certainly alot less troublesome than copying over a fresh installation, but now I'm wondering if there might be other benefits (or problems) to be noticed from indexing, time will tell.

 

[old pc]

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

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duck.ai

(Link will expire in 30 days).

That is not duck duck! it is a fake duck duck! why? because Duck Duck Go will run on any browser

 

[old pc]

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

I dont know if this will meet your requirements. But “Notepad” has a search facility

MS word; there you will find a data base facility

 

[UK-Tim]

As an update to this problem, I found the search getting bogged down while searching compressed files.

To stop this happening, I ran this command line before starting the search:-

c:\windows\system32\zipfldr.dll /u

then reinstated the service after the search with the same command line minus the "/u"

c:\windows\system32\zipfldr.dll

I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but I couldn't find the previous post.