Summary: It's very easy to have Windows locate a file on your machine, but it's also easy to overlook a setting that will allow it to miss some as well.
I'm looking for [... some filename ...] on my machine. I know it's here, but I can't track it down. What am I missing? How to I find the file?
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As you might guess that's a composite question - it reflects many different people asking roughly the same question in different ways.
How do I find a file?
There are a couple of ways, and there are a couple of "gotcha's" as well, so let's look at how to track down that file you're looking for.
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The traditional way to locate a file in Windows is the Search item on the Start menu.
Except that it's not always visible.
If you don't see Search on your start menu, then right click on Start and select properties. In the resulting dialog:
Click on Customize, then on the Advanced tab, and then in Start menu items scroll down until you see Search:
Make sure that's checked, and then OK your way back out.
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To search for a file, click on Start, then Search and then For Files or Folders...:
Now, one might think that searching for a file is as simple as entering it's name into the All or part of the file name: field, and most of the time that is, in fact, enough.
But that's not always the case so we're going to change a couple of search options.
Click on More advanced options:
Make sure that Search system folders, Search hidden files and folders, and Search subfolders are all checked. Many times the files that people are looking for, like email files, are in fact kept in hidden folders, and are not found unless these options are checked.
Now enter the filename and press Search, and if the file is on your hard drive(s), then it should show up.
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Now, personally, I find Windows' built-in search cumbersome. Since I'm kind of a old school command line kinda guy it's the Windows Command Prompt that I turn to.
Fire up a Windows Command Prompt (it's typically in Start, All Programs, Accessories). Enter:
cd \
to make the current directory the root of the drive. Now enter:
dir /s /a filename
Where "filename" is the full name of the file you're looking for. "/s" means "check all subfolders", and "a" means "show all files, including hidden and system files".
For example:
If you only know the part of the filename, you can specify "*" as a wildcard. For example let's say we know there's a file that begins with "pers", and it's a ".pst" file, we can search for "pers*.pst":
Personally I find the command line version quicker and easier, but it's a matter of personal preference. (The downside, by the way, is that the command line search will look at only one drive at a time. If you have another drive type that drive, such as "D:", followed by ENTER, and then repeat your search.)
What's important here is simply to remember to include hidden and system files and folders in your search to make sure you're really searching everything and everywhere.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - My "Search Companion" window comes up empty and I can't search. How do I fix it?
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Ask Leo! - Where is my Outlook "PST" file located?
Article C3009 - April 30, 2007
With Vista the Search world turns all upside down. The Search engine runs in the background all of the time as a low-level processes. It searches not only file names, but inside of files and e-mail too. For example, I recently wanted to find a PDF version of my wife's resume. I tapped the Windows key once, then typed "resume". Vista showed me all of the files in the machine that included "resume" in their file name, inside a document, or even in my Outlook e-mail. One whack at the Enter key launched to complete results in a new windows. Pretty nifty... can I say, "nifty?" Is that out of vogue? I suppose it's better than, "far out!"
Posted by: dave b at April 30, 2007 6:44 PMCould install a desktop search utilty from Google, Copernic or the like, which takes up resources, but for an instant search I also use File Seeker http://www.qytec.com/fileseeker.html
Posted by: David at May 5, 2007 12:25 AMwhich is blazingly fast.
A concise page with the instructions would help me, and I assume others. It would allow us to make a file of helpful hints to refer to when the problems discussed come up on our computers.
Posted by: Bernard Hausman at May 5, 2007 2:43 PMI'm a 75 year old NEW user. My buddy, who's much more experienced at this stuff ran a couple of "System Restores" after I managed to screw things up. Now every time I download something from M/S of Hp,and they have to shut down and restart, I get an error message that this thing can't locate 3 (or 4) DLL's. It seems to have renamed them amd I have no idea what the hell a Dll is, or how to locate them. I was able to print where they are and what their new names are. I just click OK, and go from there. I also get another Error message telling me that Vista some damn thing or another can't be located. I'm not running Vista. I have Win XP Svc. Pack 2. I've heard too many horror stories about Vista that has been loaded on a computer that's been running XP. This thing was "Vista Ready" when I bought it back in Nov. '06. Some people tell me that if Vista is alreaqdy installed on a new computer, it works fine. Any help you can give me with those DLL's will be greatly appredciated. I'll spring for a case of your favorite breakfast food. (How the hell does Pay Pal work? Is it reliable, secure etc?) I read the article and it sounds like this may be the answer to my problem, but I'd hate like to hell to completely destroy my OS. My "buddy" was suposed to show me how to make a set of backup discs, but hasn't had the time. I've been trying to get a set from HP, but so far all I get is the runaround and no positive answers. Any help will be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you. Your humble petitioner, Al. )Don't let the techie talk confuse you. I know Jack Shit, bit I've got a halfway decent memeory.)
Posted by: Albert Stefanik at February 20, 2008 9:31 PMExcellent tip!
Posted by: lorenzo at August 8, 2009 8:16 AMi had to use the "Windows Command Prompt" search to find my files...
Thx a lot!
How can locate system applications thru Search as there is no Search button on Vista?
Posted by: Sylvia at October 2, 2009 5:54 PMSylvia - Yes, there is although it's kind of hidden. When you click on the start button look right above your pointer. There is a search box right there. (You'll see a blinking cursor and "Start Search" in there.)
Posted by: Dani at October 3, 2009 8:25 AMwhen I try to send an email I get this error message
Posted by: Shawna at October 26, 2009 9:00 AMQuit outlook and use the inbox repair tool kit?? I cannot find it anywhere? I found my outlook pst but it will not open it tries to use the web to locate a program to open the file? so confused?