Celegans

"John Barnes" <jbarnes@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:etlCKFXeIHA.1824@xxxxxxSorry, but the "*" is irrelevant to my argument. And, checking or
unchecking "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (might be slow)"
doesn't change anything.

When searching, Vista only reads certain file extensions -- whether or not
indexing is being used.

Once you figure out that Vista is not searching a particular file extension
of interest, the user must figure out how to add a "filter" so Vista
understands that extension. I'm not sure where the instructions are for
adding a new filter, but I would need to add dozens and dozens of new
filters so Vista would understand my files. That is not practical.

Figuring out that Vista is ignoring particular extensions can take quite a
bit of detective time -- I spent weeks when I was new to Vista trying to use
search before I concluded Vista's search was flawed. Most people just won't
know that Vista isn't returning all the hits.

I have told Microsoft developers about scientific data that uses the same
extensions two different ways, and there are two versions of those two
different ways. Writing a "filter" so Vista can search that file extension
with four variants would be futile. Why not provide a way to search all
files when needed, regardless of whether they are indexed, and regardless of
their file extensions? Windows 95 could do that, why can't Vista?

Run a controlled experiment yourself of Vista's flawed search:

Create a new directory, say "TestSearch".
Create a file, say "test.txt" that has the word "Vista" in the file.
Copy test.txt and rename it to be "test.R".
Copy test.txt and rename it to be "test.pas".
The files "test.txt", "test.R" and "test.pas" are now identical.

From Windows Explorer, right click on the TestSearch directory and select
"Search...".
Enter "Vista" in the search box.
Vista finds only the "test.txt" file.

Select Advanced Search.
Check the "Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (might be slow)".
Press the search button.
Vista still finds ONLY the test.txt file. The files test.R and test.pas are
invisible to Vista's search.

I would welcome any configuration ideas on how to get Vista to search and
find the files, test.R or test.pas, in the above controlled experiment. I
have turned indexing on, indexing off. I have re-indexed my whole machine.
Nothing seems to work, and I've only been looking for a solution since July
2007.

If you program in R (.R files) (http://www.r-project.org/), Vista is
worthless for finding old code snippets. If you code in Delphi (.pas
files), Vista is worthless in finding old code snippets. There are many
files that Vista simply ignores. My guess is that Vista refuses to search
about 15-20% of files important to me.

All I'm asking for is the capability that was in Windows Explorer since
Windows 95. Why is this too much to expect from Vista or Microsoft?

And if there is no way to do the file search that was available in Windows
95, why doesn't Microsoft give me permission to downgrade from Vista
Ultimate to Windows XP so I can get a search that works?

C.E.