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Vista - index and search weird behavior

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Old 04-27-2009   #1 (permalink)
Gizzo


 
 

index and search weird behavior

use Vista Business with latest sps and updates. I have a folder under
my user profile folder, let's name it folder1. It's the same level as
documents, pictures, etc. It is indexed. Index has been complete.

This is the weird behavior:

when i go to folder1 and search nothing appears. It's blatantly a bug
because I search a text in the first filename i see yet it still turns
out nothing!

But when I search from my user profile folder, it finds something from
folder1.

I have rebuilt the index many times over.

any idea why this happens and what's the solution?



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-27-2009   #2 (permalink)
+Bob+


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior

On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo <gbacareza@xxxxxx>
wrote:
Quote:

>any idea why this happens
It happens because Vista's parentally controlling search mechanism and
interface is unusable.
Quote:

>and what's the solution?
Install Agent Ransack from http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

Disable Windows Search indexing service.

Viola! Searching will be logical, intuitive, complete, over all drives
and directories and performance will improve greatly overall.


My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-27-2009   #3 (permalink)
Gene E. Bloch


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior

On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo wrote:
Quote:

> use Vista Business with latest sps and updates. I have a folder under
> my user profile folder, let's name it folder1. It's the same level as
> documents, pictures, etc. It is indexed. Index has been complete.
>
> This is the weird behavior:
>
> when i go to folder1 and search nothing appears. It's blatantly a bug
> because I search a text in the first filename i see yet it still turns
> out nothing!
>
> But when I search from my user profile folder, it finds something from
> folder1.
>
> I have rebuilt the index many times over.
>
> any idea why this happens and what's the solution?
There's a setting somewhere that prevents or allows indexing and searching
inside of files.

Ah yes - it's on the Search tab in Folder and Search Options. Read all of
the choices on that tab - it's not 100% straightforward.

--
Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-28-2009   #4 (permalink)
Gizzzo


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior

On Apr 28, 12:34*am, +Bob+ <nomailple...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo <gbacar...@xxxxxx>
> wrote:
>
Quote:

> >any idea why this happens
>
> It happens because Vista's parentally controlling search mechanism and
> interface is unusable.
>
Quote:

> >and what's the solution?
>
> Install Agent Ransack fromhttp://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
>
> Disable Windows Search indexing service.
>
> Viola! Searching will be logical, intuitive, complete, over all drives
> and directories and performance will improve greatly overall.
Thanks for the suggestion but I want to exhaust all solutions before I
use another tool. Are there stuff I need to configure in indexing or
search?
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-28-2009   #5 (permalink)
Dave-UK


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior


"Gizzzo" <gbacareza@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:10d89f0d-47bb-41bc-82f0-db8fc1fa7db7@xxxxxx
Quote:

> On Apr 28, 12:34 am, +Bob+ <nomailple...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

>> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo <gbacar...@xxxxxx>
>> wrote:
>>
Quote:

>> >any idea why this happens
>>
>> It happens because Vista's parentally controlling search mechanism and
>> interface is unusable.
>>
Quote:

>> >and what's the solution?
>>
>> Install Agent Ransack fromhttp://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
>>
>> Disable Windows Search indexing service.
>>
>> Viola! Searching will be logical, intuitive, complete, over all drives
>> and directories and performance will improve greatly overall.
>
> Thanks for the suggestion but I want to exhaust all solutions before I
> use another tool. Are there stuff I need to configure in indexing or
> search?
I tried to setup and use Vista's search but found it was just not worth the hassle.
I was never 100% sure that the search had found everything and having any doubts
about the results makes the search useless.
I ended up disabling the search indexing service and using Agent Ransack.



My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-30-2009   #6 (permalink)
Gizzzo


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior

On Apr 28, 4:40*pm, "Dave-UK" <h...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

> "Gizzzo" <gbacar...@xxxxxx> wrote in messagenews:10d89f0d-47bb-41bc-82f0-db8fc1fa7db7@xxxxxx
Quote:

> > On Apr 28, 12:34 am, +Bob+ <nomailple...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

> >> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo <gbacar...@xxxxxx>
> >> wrote:
>
Quote:
Quote:

> >> >any idea why this happens
>
Quote:
Quote:

> >> It happens because Vista's parentally controlling search mechanism and
> >> interface is unusable.
>
Quote:
Quote:

> >> >and what's the solution?
>
Quote:
Quote:

> >> Install Agent Ransack fromhttp://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
>
Quote:
Quote:

> >> Disable Windows Search indexing service.
>
Quote:
Quote:

> >> Viola! Searching will be logical, intuitive, complete, over all drives
> >> and directories and performance will improve greatly overall.
>
Quote:

> > Thanks for the suggestion but I want to exhaust all solutions before I
> > use another tool. Are there stuff I need to configure in indexing or
> > search?
>
> I tried to setup and use Vista's search but found it was just not worth the hassle.
> I was never 100% sure that the search had found everything and having anydoubts
> about the results makes the search useless.
> I ended up disabling the search indexing service and using Agent Ransack.
So am I getting the notion to just give up on Windows Search and
Indexing without understanding why it happens? It's really interesting
because it's just another folder with the same type of files you see
in the Documents folder. If it's another type like a PST then I would
understand that maybe there may be some inexplicable reason why it
wouldn't work the same way, but the folder I'm referring to has the
same docs, xls, ppts, txts, pdfs as Documents but even when a file
name stares me in the face and i copy the filename and put in the the
search field, it cannot find it!!! really boggles me and I just cannot
give up and use another tool without first understanding why it
happens. I'm sure you guys also have that intellectual curiosity that
like a last song wouldn't just go away.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-30-2009   #7 (permalink)
Dave-UK


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior


"Gizzzo" <gbacareza@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:fece4556-ca94-4520-9227-17b03a90229b@xxxxxx
Quote:

> On Apr 28, 4:40 pm, "Dave-UK" <h...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

>> "Gizzzo" <gbacar...@xxxxxx> wrote in
>> messagenews:10d89f0d-47bb-41bc-82f0-db8fc1fa7db7@xxxxxx
Quote:

>> > On Apr 28, 12:34 am, +Bob+ <nomailple...@xxxxxx> wrote:
>> >> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo <gbacar...@xxxxxx>
>> >> wrote:
>>
Quote:

>> >> >any idea why this happens
>>
Quote:

>> >> It happens because Vista's parentally controlling search mechanism and
>> >> interface is unusable.
>>
Quote:

>> >> >and what's the solution?
>>
Quote:

>> >> Install Agent Ransack fromhttp://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
>>
Quote:

>> >> Disable Windows Search indexing service.
>>
Quote:

>> >> Viola! Searching will be logical, intuitive, complete, over all drives
>> >> and directories and performance will improve greatly overall.
>>
Quote:

>> > Thanks for the suggestion but I want to exhaust all solutions before I
>> > use another tool. Are there stuff I need to configure in indexing or
>> > search?
>>
>> I tried to setup and use Vista's search but found it was just not worth the hassle.
>> I was never 100% sure that the search had found everything and having any doubts
>> about the results makes the search useless.
>> I ended up disabling the search indexing service and using Agent Ransack.
>
> So am I getting the notion to just give up on Windows Search and
> Indexing without understanding why it happens? It's really interesting
> because it's just another folder with the same type of files you see
> in the Documents folder. If it's another type like a PST then I would
> understand that maybe there may be some inexplicable reason why it
> wouldn't work the same way, but the folder I'm referring to has the
> same docs, xls, ppts, txts, pdfs as Documents but even when a file
> name stares me in the face and i copy the filename and put in the the
> search field, it cannot find it!!! really boggles me and I just cannot
> give up and use another tool without first understanding why it
> happens. I'm sure you guys also have that intellectual curiosity that
> like a last song wouldn't just go away.
Well I admire your tenacity; I must be getting too old to find it interesting!
I just want the search to work and find things.
Good luck and let us know how you get on!




My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-30-2009   #8 (permalink)
Dave


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior

Well, WDS doesn't quite work as well as it should... but

Only certain folders are indexed. To add others, go to
Start - Control Panel - Indexing Options
click on "Modify" to change or add locations..
Then click on "Advanced" and "Rebuild" to rebuild the index.

Indexing Options
Advanced Search
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro.../advquery.mspx


Also, the search program needs an ifilter to search within a particular file
type.
Most of the common ones come with Vista. If you have files with an uncommon
extension, then you may have to add the extension to the search index.
Start - Control Panel - Indexing Options - Advanced - File Types

If you install a modern program that uses a certain file type, then the
appropriate ifilter should get installed by that program.
http://www.ifilter.org/faq.htm


--
Windows 7 beta
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview
http://download.live.com/wlmail


"Gizzzo" <gbacareza@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:fece4556-ca94-4520-9227-17b03a90229b@xxxxxx
Quote:

> On Apr 28, 4:40 pm, "Dave-UK" <h...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

>> "Gizzzo" <gbacar...@xxxxxx> wrote in
>> messagenews:10d89f0d-47bb-41bc-82f0-db8fc1fa7db7@xxxxxx
Quote:

>> > On Apr 28, 12:34 am, +Bob+ <nomailple...@xxxxxx> wrote:
>> >> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo <gbacar...@xxxxxx>
>> >> wrote:
>>
Quote:

>> >> >any idea why this happens
>>
Quote:

>> >> It happens because Vista's parentally controlling search mechanism and
>> >> interface is unusable.
>>
Quote:

>> >> >and what's the solution?
>>
Quote:

>> >> Install Agent Ransack fromhttp://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
>>
Quote:

>> >> Disable Windows Search indexing service.
>>
Quote:

>> >> Viola! Searching will be logical, intuitive, complete, over all drives
>> >> and directories and performance will improve greatly overall.
>>
Quote:

>> > Thanks for the suggestion but I want to exhaust all solutions before I
>> > use another tool. Are there stuff I need to configure in indexing or
>> > search?
>>
>> I tried to setup and use Vista's search but found it was just not worth
>> the hassle.
>> I was never 100% sure that the search had found everything and having any
>> doubts
>> about the results makes the search useless.
>> I ended up disabling the search indexing service and using Agent Ransack.
>
> So am I getting the notion to just give up on Windows Search and
> Indexing without understanding why it happens? It's really interesting
> because it's just another folder with the same type of files you see
> in the Documents folder. If it's another type like a PST then I would
> understand that maybe there may be some inexplicable reason why it
> wouldn't work the same way, but the folder I'm referring to has the
> same docs, xls, ppts, txts, pdfs as Documents but even when a file
> name stares me in the face and i copy the filename and put in the the
> search field, it cannot find it!!! really boggles me and I just cannot
> give up and use another tool without first understanding why it
> happens. I'm sure you guys also have that intellectual curiosity that
> like a last song wouldn't just go away.
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 04-30-2009   #9 (permalink)
Gene E. Bloch


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior

On Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:53:14 -0700 (PDT), Gizzzo wrote:
Quote:

> On Apr 28, 4:40*pm, "Dave-UK" <h...@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

>> "Gizzzo" <gbacar...@xxxxxx> wrote in messagenews:10d89f0d-47bb-41bc-82f0-db8fc1fa7db7@xxxxxx
Quote:

>>> On Apr 28, 12:34 am, +Bob+ <nomailple...@xxxxxx> wrote:
>>>> On Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:11:36 -0700 (PDT), Gizzo <gbacar...@xxxxxx>
>>>> wrote:
>>
Quote:

>>>> >any idea why this happens
>>
Quote:

>>>> It happens because Vista's parentally controlling search mechanism and
>>>> interface is unusable.
>>
Quote:

>>>> >and what's the solution?
>>
Quote:

>>>> Install Agent Ransack fromhttp://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
>>
Quote:

>>>> Disable Windows Search indexing service.
>>
Quote:

>>>> Viola! Searching will be logical, intuitive, complete, over all drives
>>>> and directories and performance will improve greatly overall.
>>
Quote:

>>> Thanks for the suggestion but I want to exhaust all solutions before I
>>> use another tool. Are there stuff I need to configure in indexing or
>>> search?
>>
>> I tried to setup and use Vista's search but found it was just not worth the hassle.
>> I was never 100% sure that the search had found everything and having any doubts
>> about the results makes the search useless.
>> I ended up disabling the search indexing service and using Agent Ransack.
>
> So am I getting the notion to just give up on Windows Search and
> Indexing without understanding why it happens? It's really interesting
> because it's just another folder with the same type of files you see
> in the Documents folder. If it's another type like a PST then I would
> understand that maybe there may be some inexplicable reason why it
> wouldn't work the same way, but the folder I'm referring to has the
> same docs, xls, ppts, txts, pdfs as Documents but even when a file
> name stares me in the face and i copy the filename and put in the the
> search field, it cannot find it!!! really boggles me and I just cannot
> give up and use another tool without first understanding why it
> happens. I'm sure you guys also have that intellectual curiosity that
> like a last song wouldn't just go away.
If you discover a good reference (Dave's post seems to be one, but it
addresses a limited area) let us know.

Vista search does work for me occasionally, but the books I bought are not
enough help in that area. They're two from O'Reilly, "Windows Vista - The
Missing manual" and "Windows Vista in a Nutshell". At least they got me
going in Vista.

I use Agent Rancid when Vista Search frustrates me.

Note: I really do call it Agent Ransack, but I'm in a weird enough mood ;-)

--
Gene E. Bloch letters0x40blochg0x2Ecom
My System SpecsSystem Spec
Old 05-01-2009   #10 (permalink)
+Bob+


 
 

Re: index and search weird behavior

On Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:20:47 -0700, "Gene E. Bloch"
<not-me@xxxxxx> wrote:
Quote:

>Vista search does work for me occasionally, but the books I bought are not
>enough help in that area. They're two from O'Reilly, "Windows Vista - The
>Missing manual" and "Windows Vista in a Nutshell". At least they got me
>going in Vista.
>
>I use Agent Rancid when Vista Search frustrates me.
>
>Note: I really do call it Agent Ransack, but I'm in a weird enough mood ;-)
The issue I have with Vista Search is that, aside from it's convoluted
and almost impossible interface and "language" choice, is that you
cant' trust it. Every time you turn around there is another little
facet you need to investigate, as Dave outlined.

As an example, consider the requirement to add file extensions to the
search tool for any extension the search tool has not been previously
informed of. That's absurd and incredibly bad design. Just as one
point, a search tool by definition needs to find something you are not
specifically sure of the name of... but you need to insure that the
search tool knows about those file types.Add to that MS's exclusion of
certain directories and file types that they parentally decided you
didn't need to search (HTF do they know what I need to search?).

We'll, I could write a book on all that is wrong with Vista search. At
a minimum, a search tool should search globally using the information
you give it as criteria - and there should be no exclusions. There
should also be an easy to understand intuitive, interface. This is
just not that complicated a process - but MS managed to make it so.

Bottom line, everyone should sun Vista search and use a third party
tool that actually does the job. (My WAG tells me Windows 7 will be
just as bad in this department).

My System SpecsSystem Spec
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