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Why doesn't Windows XP find all files containing this text?

I get asked this question often, but not often enough to remember the answer without a quick trip to Google.  By default, when searching for files containing a specific string, Windows XP only searches registered file types.  To change this behavior to search files of all types, run the following:

   mmc %windir%\system32\ciadv.msc

and then choose Properties from the Action menu and select "Index files with unknown extensions". 

It seems simple enough, but I can never remember it.  At least next time I'll know exactly where to go to get the answer.

Posted: Sep 09 2004, 09:34 AM by bkcarroll | with 9 comment(s)
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Maudit Qu??becois» Blog Archive » Rechercher dans un fichier sous Windows sa marche pas !? Voici la solution ! said:

Pingback from  Maudit Qu??becois&raquo; Blog Archive &raquo; Rechercher dans un fichier sous Windows sa marche pas !? Voici la solution !

# August 15, 2007 11:09 PM

John T. said:

Thanks!  This has been out here forever, but I just ran into the problem today.  Thought you might find it interesting that someone looked at a 2004 post now.

# September 19, 2007 3:03 PM

Steve M said:

I also thank you for your 2004 post.

# December 7, 2007 11:28 AM

Omair Saeed said:

Did helped me this time also

# April 30, 2008 6:23 AM

Preobrajensky Sergey Moscow said:

Thanks a lot !!

It was a PROBLEM really for me

# July 8, 2008 10:50 AM

Jantje. said:

But this seems to be a solution only when the indexing service is actually on. When not, it still not finds all file types :-(

# October 1, 2008 9:45 AM

Larius said:

Same here, I have the stupid Windows Indexing Service disabled, and although I can use the Windows Search to search for files / text in files, it will not find any files with unregistered extension. Why?

# November 16, 2008 2:50 PM

Larius said:

Hi, me again, I found a solution here: www.tacktech.com/display.cfm

It seems the Windows XP search is by default broken in that way, that not all files are searched and leaving the user in the dark. It worked perfectly in Windows 2000, I wonder what the Microsoft developers thought for what the search function would be used for? Maybe for finding files?

If I didnt wanted to find files, I simply wouldnt search, it should be the job of the search function to find all possible results, while it is the users job to specify the search criteria accuratly.

# November 16, 2008 2:56 PM

Dougie said:

Excellent - previously I needed to use unix utilities to find files.

I still need to use unix utilities to manipulate files when I have found them

# September 24, 2009 6:04 AM
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