How to find only what you need. How to find a file on a windows computer. Fixing search parameters

The large volume of modern discs allows you to store many documents or multimedia files. Therefore, without initially subjecting your directories to a certain structuring, you can get complete chaos on your hard drive. If this has already happened, and you forgot the location of any files, it will not be easy to find them without knowing how to use the built-in search of the operating system.

Search by file name

Knowing the name of the document, you will greatly facilitate your task and after a short period of time you will already see the file you are looking for on the computer screen. There are several ways to find it by name in Windows 7.

Through the start menu

There is a search field in the start menu of the operating system. To find the required document through this field, you must:

1. Click on the "Start" button.
2. Find a field.
3. Enter a name to search for.
4. Check out the suggested results.

After entering the proposed name of the document, you will immediately be shown a list of found files:

In this case, Windows 7 was looking for a document called "Agency". As you can see from the previous screenshot, the first suggested option is the file you are looking for.

How to find in a folder?

There is another way to find documents. In every directory Windows Explorer 7 there is a corresponding field:

Therefore, knowing the name of the file and its location, you can:

1. Open the desired folder in Explorer.
2. Enter the name of the document in the field.
3. Get a result.

In this example, the search was conducted on the template "Biology". As a result, the following files and folders were found:

Knowing the location of the object is not necessary. It simply speeds up the search for files by the operating system. Because modern computers have high performance, the duration of finding the necessary information with a known location and with an unknown one is practically the same. If you have no idea in which folder or even on which drive the file is saved, you can search the entire computer:

Additional filters

With a common file name, you run the risk of seeing several thousand options that complicate the choice of the desired document. If you know the modification date of the file or its size, you can specify them when searching (by entering the pattern in the field, you will see the suggested filters):

You can also scroll down the found list and limit the search range by clicking the "Other" button:

After such a click, Windows 7 will display the settings window:

In this window you must:

1. Select the desired folders to be searched.
2. Confirm the selection with the "OK" button

After the actions taken, the number of items found in the list will decrease significantly, so finding the right one will become much easier.

How to find inside files?

The methods discussed above make it easier to search by name. But what if you don't know the name? In this case, you should know approximately the text of the document you are looking for. Windows 7 can also find files by their content. This function was not introduced in vain, because it is easier for a computer user to remember what is inside a document than to try to restore its name in memory.

By default, this way of finding files is disabled in the operating system. To enable it, you must:

1. Open Computer in File Explorer.
2. Press and release the ALT button (this action allows the top horizontal menu to appear, which is normally hidden).
3. Select "Service".
4. Go to the "Folder Options" sub-item.

After clicking on the specified submenu, Windows 7 will display the following window:

In it you must:

1. Go to the "Search" tab.
2. Mark the item responsible for scanning the contents of objects;
3. Confirm the changes with the "Apply" button.

The procedure is shown in the following screenshot:

This method significantly slows down the search for the desired object, but sometimes it is simply irreplaceable (for example, if several people use the computer). Therefore, if you don't want to wait and don't want to spend time scanning inside all documents, you can turn this option on or off as you see fit. After changing the settings, the search for the file is carried out according to the same scheme as described above, without any changes.

An example of finding a document by its content

You can find an object by any phrase, but it is especially easy to search for a file with poems. After all, it is easier to remember a line from a poem than a phrase from an accounting report. However, in the second case, a few of the most common words in the document will help you find any report.

For example, you have somewhere a document with Shakespeare's sonnets, and you remember a phrase from one sonnet: "Will you compare me." To find this collection on your computer, you need to:

1. Open "Computer" in Explorer.
2. Go to the desired folder (if known).
3. Enter the phrase you remember in the search field.
4. Get a result.

In this way, any information is found, provided that it is stored on your disk.

Almost all users who switched from Windows XP to the Seven were disappointed by the poorer set of search functions, since, at first glance, the search for programs and files in Windows 7 is not equipped with the usual filters. However, if you know the basic methods of using the system, in order to find the necessary data in a computer, it will not take a significant investment of time and effort even for novice users. Below are all the main methods on how to quickly find any file or program on a Windows 7 computer.

Using the start button

You need to do the following:

Note: as you can see from the example above, this same method allows you to find the program, not just the files.

As an example of quickly finding and launching some utility, consider launching the "Console". You can simply type “cmd” in the same column, and a link to open the “Command Prompt” will be displayed in the top line.

Using a special search interface "Windows 7"

Of course, the relevance of this method has almost completely disappeared after the introduction by Microsoft specialists of the search field directly in the start menu, but it will be useful for any owner of a computer running on the Seven to know about its capabilities.

The following sequential steps are required:

Through Explorer

The algorithm of actions consists of the following steps:

How to configure search parameters

Several steps need to be taken:

Quick search by file types

In the case when the user knows the type of file he is looking for, you can specify its extension, and only specific types of files will be displayed: images, video, text, audio, etc.

To perform an operation only among Word files, you need to type the extension "*.doc" or "*.docx" in the column. Instead of *, characters from the document name are entered. The procedure for "Excel" is performed similarly, only "*.xls" or "*.xlsx" is used.

Examples for searching images, videos, text and audio files:

*.jpg, *.avi, *.txt, "*.mp3".

Content search

In the "Seven" there is a convenient opportunity to find the desired file and the text that it contains. For example, the user knows that inside the document there are precisely consecutive and next to each other printed characters - "Shovel".

To identify the location of the file with such a word, you will need to perform the following stages of sequential actions:

Note: the search procedure will now take the user several times longer, so it is recommended to use this filter only when the rest did not allow you to get a successful result.

Fixing search parameters

Users generally need to apply the same search parameters. In Windows 7, there is a convenient opportunity to save them in order to eliminate the time spent on re-entering them in the future.

For this purpose, it is enough to specify the necessary parameters once and, having received the result, click "Save conditions". Next, a menu will be displayed in which you should type the name of the query and click "Save".

During the next search with similar parameters, the user will only need to enter the "Favorites" section and click on the previously specified query name.

Every day we search for something on Google. I probably google something 200 times a day. I check any information, learn something new, instantly find the answer to my question. There was a question - I drove it into the search line - I got the result. What could be easier? But sometimes there are difficulties in finding specific information. A few tricks will help you always find what you are looking for.

We have already written about the secrets of Google search more than once. I decided to check out what tricks are still working and refresh your memory a bit.

Search for a specific phrase

Sometimes it is necessary to find a phrase exactly in the form in which we enter it. For example, when we are looking for the lyrics of a song, but we know only one phrase from it. In this case, you need to enclose this phrase in quotation marks.

Search by specific site

Google is a great search engine. And often it is better than the built-in search on sites. That is why it is more rational to use Google to search for information on a website. To do this, enter site:lenta.ru Putin made.

Finding words in text

If you need all the words of the query to be in the text of the results found, type in front of it allintext:.

If one query word should be in the body and the rest anywhere on the page, including the title or URL, prepend the word intext:, and write the rest before that.

Search for words in the title

If you want all query words to be in the title, use the phrase allintitle:.

If only part of the request should be in the header, and the rest - elsewhere in the document or page, put title:.

Searching for words in a URL

To find pages that have your query in their URL, type allinurl:.

Search news for a specific location

If you need news on a specific topic from a specific location, use location: to search Google News.

Search with some number of missing words

You need to find a sentence in a document or article, but you only remember the words at the beginning and at the end. Enter your query and indicate the approximate number of words between the words you remember. It looks like this: "Near the seaside AROUND (5) is an oak tree."

Search if you forgot a word or number

Forgot a word from a saying, song, quote? No problem. Google will still help you find it. Put an asterisk (*) in place of the forgotten word.

Search for sites that link to the site you are interested in

This item is useful for blog or website owners. If you are wondering who is linking to your site or even to a particular page, then just enter link:website.

Exclude results with unwanted word

Let's imagine a situation. You have decided to go on vacation to the islands. And you don't want to go to the Maldives at all. To prevent Google from showing them in search results, you just need to enter "Island holidays - Maldives". That is, put a minus before the word Maldives.

You want to find all your competitors. Or you really like the site, but there is not enough material on it, and you want more and more. Enter related:lenta.ru and enjoy the result.

Search "either-or"

There are situations when you need to find information about two people at once. For example, you want to laugh at Vova, but have not decided which one - Zelensky or something else. It is enough to enter "Vladimir Zelensky | Zhirinovsky", and you will get the result you need. Instead of the symbol "|" you can enter English OR.

Finding different words in the same sentence

To find relationships between objects, or just to look for mentions of two individuals together, you can use the "&" symbol. Example: Freud & Jung.

Search by synonyms

If you're as lazy as I am, then you don't have the patience to google multiple times for different synonyms for the same word. For example, cheap firewood. The "~" character can make your life a lot easier. We write “~cheap firewood” and get results for the words “cheap”, “inexpensive”, “affordable” and so on.

Search in a specific range of numbers

A very useful Google search secret if you need to find, for example, events that happened in certain years, or prices in a certain range. Just put two dots between the numbers. Google will search in this range.

Search for files of a specific format

If you need to find some document or just a file of a certain format, Google can help you here too. Just add at the end of your request filetype:doc and instead doc substitute the format you need.

10 more useful features

1. Google can work as a good calculator. To do this, simply enter the desired operation in the search box.

2. If you want to know the meaning of a word, and not just look at pages on the topic, add to the word define or "meaning".

3. You can use the search engine as a unit and currency converter. To call the converter, type a query with a translation, for example, "centimeters to meters."

4. WITH Google you can check the weather and time without having to go to websites. Type in the queries “weather “city of interest””, “time “city of interest””.

5. To view the results and schedule of matches of a sports team, simply type its name in the search engine.

6. To translate a word into any language, write in the search bar "translate „ right word“into English (any other) language”.

7. For the query "sunrise" city of interest "" Google shows the time of sunrise and sunset (for the latter - the corresponding query).

8. cache:site.com- sometimes a very helpful function of searching for a site in the Google cache. For example, when newsmen delete news. They can be read thanks to Google.

9. If you enter a flight number into the search box, Google will return full information about him.

10. To see a table with quotes for a specific company, simply enter the query “stocks of the company of interest”, for example, “Apple stocks”.

If you have your own ways to use Google more effectively and find the information you need faster, share your tips in the comments to this article.

Greetings to all readers, guests of the site and just looking for answers to computer questions!

Yesterday I spent quite a lot of time searching for one file that I had on my hard drive. I have not used it for a long time, and where it is - I completely forgot. And this is where the search came to my rescue. Therefore, I decided in today's article to describe such a topic - how to find a file on windows computer 10. It will be interesting! Go!

Standard Search

This way you can find a file by a word. There is a magnifying glass icon at the bottom of the screen. We click on it.

Let's say we are looking for some function of Windows. We write a piece of its name, and the system itself will provide options for the found components.

If you know in which group or folder the utility or file is located, then click here.

The system will display a list of partitions. You can select one or more sections. Then the search will be more accurate, and it will take less time.

And if you only know part of the file name, you can only enter that. The system will still find the data if it is on the hard drive.

Search through explorer

Thus, you can find a file by a word in the text or by the creation date. Open any folder and pay attention to this area.

It is in the folder in which you are located that the search will take place. We write the name of the file or folder, and the system will give us the results immediately.

You can apply a filter and search by size.

In principle, you can search by extension in the same way.

Search by date modified or created

Searching by the date the change was created works in much the same way. We open any folder and in the search bar we drive in the date of change: dd...mm.yyyy. For example, as in the picture below.

Please note that in this case there will be quite a lot of files.

Addition

Many resort to downloading a program that helps in finding files. For example, to find a game from the app store. The problem is that the tenth Windows is still very raw, and many software of this kind simply does not work on it. Therefore, I advise you to use only the built-in tools of the system.

Otherwise, you can simply clog the registry. Besides, such software on a new operating system, it cannot find data that has not been used for a long time.

Conclusion

Well, that's all the ways that will help you quickly find any file. The tenth Windows has everything for this and you do not need third-party software. By the way, here is a video that will help you understand how and what to do

I would also like to advise you to catalog all your data. Music in one folder, documents in another, and so on. Trust me, this will serve you well.

Well, on this I will say goodbye to you! The article will really be useful to everyone, especially those who have just moved to a new OS. Share it on social portals with your acquaintances, colleagues and friends. And also subscribe to updates of publications, and you will always know about the appearance of articles! All the best to you and see you soon!

Starting to use new system, I think you might have encountered the fact that file search in Windows 7 is organized a little differently from others operating systems. Now I will tell you about where to search in Windows 7, and also look at an example, search for files in Windows 7.

Setting up search in Windows 7

The Windows 7 menu has a built-in search bar that allows you to find not only menu programs by their name, but also files and folders. I should note that not all files are searchable, but only indexed ones, that is, those that the system has assigned a special number called "index". If your files and folders are in standard folders, then you don't need to set up indexing.

To configure, open the "Start" menu and type "search options" and in the results select "Change search options for files and folders."

In the "Search" tab, the parameters should be as in the picture below.

I don't advise you to choose to search by file name, although at first glance this seems like a good idea, in practice it will lead to the fact that the search will not only be incredibly long, but will also give a lot of extraneous results, and therefore will not be effective. In this window, all settings are set optimally, there is no need to change anything.

Now, similarly to the previous case, we find in the "Indexing Options" menu. In the window that opens, click "Edit" and now we can select all your data folders for indexing. Don't have to choose system folders Windows, select only the data you need. No need to choose like Plushkin. Will it come in handy!?

Another useful setting feature is setting indexing by extension. Click the "Advanced" button and select the "File Types" tab. Here you can add content indexing for files that you will search by content. For example, you want to search documents by content. Click on "doc" and select "Index file properties and content" at the bottom.

Now that you have everything set up, you can click "OK" and again "OK" to save the results and start searching in Windows 7 in practice!

Search in the start menu

V previous paragraph we easily found desired programs in the start menu using the search bar, I will only add that now that your indexing system is set up, you can search not only programs, but everything necessary files and folders, and they will be conveniently grouped by type.

To consolidate, so to speak, the material, let's repeat the steps that have already been voiced in the article. To start the search, you need to click on Start and at the very bottom enter the word or phrase of the element.

Searching with Windows Explorer

In the previous chapter of the article, you could open the search window from the start menu, the same effect can be achieved by opening File Explorer or Computer. You will see a search bar at the top right of the window. You can enter there the name of a file, part of the content of files or their extension, for which you have previously configured search by content.

But this is not all the possibilities. You can enter various filters there: type, modification date, author, and others. You can see the filters by placing the cursor in the search field in one of the "Libraries" folders, the wider the field, the more filters are visible. Each of the Libraries folders has its own filters, such as the length of a music file or the date an image was taken.

You can also see that now the search results can be ordered by selecting a method in the upper right corner of the window, and by scrolling down the results to the end, repeat the search in other folders of the "Libraries".

And finally, I’ll add that a similar file search in windows 7 is available everywhere. You can open any folder and start searching in it. And it's very convenient!

For those who are considering switching to Windows 8: