Windows file search SUCKS. Make it suck less.

[martixy]

This is related to the techquickie video that just went up (I suppose techquickies don't get threads of their own, so this will do).

 

A long time ago, Microsoft themselves maintained a useful help page with advanced tips for using the file explorer search. It has since vanished, but through the awesome power of the internet archive, we can still access it.

Behold:

 

Advanced tips for searching in Windows

[ACEHACK]

Releases · microsoft/PowerToys · GitHub

use powertoys run instead.

[VFXGuy]

Agree

[Unhelpful]

41 minutes ago, ACEHACK said:

Releases · microsoft/PowerToys · GitHub

use powertoys run instead.

True... But we shouldn't have to. The blatant downgrade from Win7 is inexcusable. 

[martixy]

4 hours ago, JoeyDM said:

True... But we shouldn't have to. The blatant downgrade from Win7 is inexcusable. 

Why is it a downgrade? All the tricks and queries from the link work on W10.

 

5 hours ago, ACEHACK said:

Releases · microsoft/PowerToys · GitHub

use powertoys run instead.

Can the powertoys search do the same things from the link I posted?

[ACEHACK]

3 hours ago, martixy said:

Why is it a downgrade? All the tricks and queries from the link work on W10.

 

Can the powertoys search do the same things from the link I posted?

PowerToys Run utility for Windows 10 | Microsoft Docs

[garethsnaim]

I use everything search and the hot key to open it I changed to alt and space bar. Its a very good search tool

[martixy]

8 hours ago, ACEHACK said:

PowerToys Run utility for Windows 10 | Microsoft Docs

Does not actually answer the question.

 

But I have been meaning to try the fancy zones, so I downloaded powertoys and I can answer the question:

Powertoys Run does not support the advanced queries.

 

But hey, if a tech tips forum doesn't appreciate free tech tips, who am I to argue.

[WkdPaul]

* your thread was moved to the Windows section *

[Unhelpful]

14 hours ago, martixy said:

Why is it a downgrade? All the tricks and queries from the link work on W10.

I'm referring to the fact that Windows 10's search is atrocious compared to 7.

[fritzmg]

I would still recommend to only use Everything search by voidtools.com for Desktop file search. Set the search preferences to "Match path" and finding anything on your file system is a breeze, not to mention incredibly fast.