Windows 10: How can I search my computer....is there a way on 10???

The 'Search Everywhere' dll stopped working in the 14xxx Builds and now it doesn't work in the 10xxx Builds either!

 

Ultra Search is great for an MFT search tool.
Instead of using a totally redundant Index, it uses partition and Disk MFT(your disk glossary basically) and brings up instantly all results.








Results for Control Panel files & folders(notice bottom left, 428 files found)
On my SSD the results were there as I typed, and instantaneous.

 

Of course there is, without 3rd party programs either. What are you searching for, typically ? Specific files, folders or programs to open; a Word doc or particular picture ? Being more specific can yield better suggestions.

The search box to the right of the Start button WILL search your computer and default to Web results if you don't have a match on your computer. You can ALWAYS find something in a folder using the search box in any explorer folder. Heck, you can just open a This PC window and search ALL your User files ! or if you're looking for a particular picture, start typing the picture name in a search in Pictures folder or whatever one you think it's in. screens (looking for San Francisco pictures on computer) -

 

The Search icon on the Task Bar searches BOTH your computer AND the web. You can configure it to only search your computer. It works the same as with the Search from the Charms in Win 8.x.

The Search icon in Win 10 also can be used to access Cortana. You can set up Cortana to use spoken commands to do searches and more.

 

One of the 1st things I did was Turn Cortana OFF, long time ago. *Smile

 

f you're looking to search in windows, press the microsoft key & S at the same time. A window will open up on the bottom left that says search windows..type in what you are looking for.

 

What I don't understand is why it is no longer possible to copy or cut from the search results in Windows 10, it's always been so easy before! The only option now is 'open file location'. Or am I missing something?

 

"The only option now is 'open file location'. Or am I missing something?"

Yes, r-click the results, like here -

 

I'm trying to guess what you are having difficulty with - and with which search..

So.. assuming it's File Explorer search, and assuming you mean you want to copy the path of a found result, then I think you'd need to add sthg like this to the context menu:
Registry Tweak to Add Option in Files and Folders Context Menu in Windows - AskVG

noting that selecting a found result then clicking in the address bar offers only the rather arcane search syntax expression e.g.
search-ms:displayname=Search%20Results%20in%20Data%20(E%3A)&crumb=fileextension%3A~<*.jpg&crumb=location:E% 3A%5C

 

Thanks, but I don't mean copy fom my computer, I meant from the search. Cortana offers me results, but the only option when I r-click on the result I need to copy is "open file location". I know I can copy or cut from the file location but I have never had to do it before. It was always possible to copy directly from the search results.

 

All you have to do is to click on start, and then start typing what you're looking for. This will autofill the Cortana Search box and it will find what you're looking for.

 

The new UI does that a lot, but MS is changing it in some places to allow you to copy the text in the window

Use the feedback hub App to either up-vote an existing report or create your own report.

As other members have expressed, Cortana Search is a bit weak and has been changing over the past year. For it to be a true search, IMO, there are many more changes required.

Unitl MS gets Cortan search right, you'll have to use File Explorer or a 3rd party search to find things on your machine.

Until MS allows text in the new UI to be copied, we'll just have to type more *Sad

 

I pretty much know where my files are. What I want to seach on is content, which means indexing, and it is in no way redundant. I have Windows 7 set to index all my 'folders of interest' with regards to content. It works great through Explorer. I have installed a couple of iFilters (that's what they're called - indexing filters, I guess) for various file types. I haven't set it up yet in Windows 10 - I believe it indexes only your user folder by default. One of these days I'll set it up.

In Linux, I use a fantastic indexing search engine called Recoll. Lightning fast, accurate and inclusive, easy simple searches, helpful GUI for setting up extremely powerful searches.

From their website:

"Recoll will index an MS-Word document stored as an attachment to an e-mail message inside a Thunderbird folder archived in a Zip file (and more...)."

They have been working on a Windows version, which actually might be usable by now... I'll have to check it out.

 

There is a way. I found an answer. A year ago lx07 posted an answer and it actually worked
"You should be able to turn off "Search online and include web results" in settings. Search for something and then click on the cog.."

WOO HOO and thanks to every one that helped me solve this problem.....

You all ROCK!!!!!!

 

That's incorrect. The search on the taskbar searches BOTH the web and your local computer. You can tell it to search just your local computer by prefixing your search with "mystuff:". As in mystuff:fileimlookingfor, or you can click the My Stuff button after you have entered a search term.

They appear to have changed this for the Anniversary update, and you should now prefix with "documents:" in 14393.

And again, you can also use the file search in File Explorer to search un-indexed areas, or to JUST search files.