Windows 10: Windows Explorer search - no search results in subfolders

I apologize if I get some of the terminology wrong. Hopefully the screenshots will help. Basically if I open Windows Explorer and select Pictures from the Navigation page, I can search for a file (IMG_2354) and find it correctly. The file is located in (C:\Users\<username>\Pictures\camera_originals). However, if I drill down in Windows Explorer to the 'camera_originals' directory, the search does not work (please see screenshots).

I've tried adding files to the index and rebuilding the index. There is no change. The only thing I can think of causing a complication are user directories (Documents, Pictures, Videos, etc..) are on a separate drive from my c drive. My c drive is a small SSD, so I have junctions pointing the e drive. This has been working fine for over a year, though, and the search problem is just starting. Any ideas where to start?

This is the search that works:
search-ms:displayname=Search%20Results%20in%20Pictures&crumb=System.Generic.String%3AIMG_2353_2017&crumb=lo cation:C%3A%5CUsers%5C<username>%5CPictures


This one does not:
search-ms:displayname=Search%20Results%20in%20camera_originals&crumb=System.Generic.String%3AIMG_2353_2017& crumb=location:C%3A%5CUsers%5C<username>%5CPictures%5Ccamera_originals







:)

 

Print to pdf on windows 10 doesn't include file name correctly in search index

When I create a file with MS Print to PDF, I can see and access the file in the Documents folder I assign it to. However if I search using the file name through Windows Explorer in the Documents folder (or the specific subfolder the target files are stored
in), the file is not found.

Windows Explorer search finds PDF files that were created using Nitro or Adobe Acrobat and stored within the Documents folders as expected.

However, I discovered that if I search the C:\ directory, the files created with MS Print to PDF are included in the search results with the correct path to the subfolder within Documents.

The above holds true for files created both before an after the Windows 10 fall upgrade. Do I have something set incorrectly on my PC or is this a common problem?

Phil

 

How can I SEARCH for my files in Windows 10?

Ablem,

You can search from within File explorer [the Windows 10 version of Windows explorer].

Look in the upper right of a File explorer window and you'll see the search bar where you can type in the search term you want.

To search in a particular folder & its subfolders, navigate to it in File explorer before entering the search term and the search will be confined to within the currently selected folder.

 

Hello and welcome to TF,

Have you tried checking the windows search index service in services.msc?

Right click bottom left of your screen >>> Run >>> type in "services.msc" >>> look for a service called either "Windows Search" or "Windows Search Index" and double click it. Now click on "stop">>> restart your pc >>>open services.msc again and click on start. Now check if it's working.

Let me know if this helped.

 

Hi, not sure about this one- but the fact that you say it's only started to be a problem recently is significant, suggesting some change or corruption.

1. Do you have a system restore point or disk image created before this started happening you could use?
2. Try using the Windows Search Troubleshooter.
Troubleshoot Problems in Windows 10 with Troubleshooters Performance Maintenance Tutorials
http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/re...-fix-problems/
Then if that doesn't work see that article about resetting Windows search.

 

Maybe I should have said I just noticed it recently. Perhaps it's always been an issue, but it seems to be the sort of thing I would have quickly noticed. The Windows Search Troubleshooter couldn't find anything. I'll try a restore point when I get home.

 

No luck there, either. I guess it's not the biggest issue in the world, and I can find the files if I know where to initiate the search, just hoping it's not the sign of something larger.

 

Presumably when you navigate to the 'camera_originals' folder, you can see the files there, can you?

It's hard to imagine displaying a folder with a file name present, searching with a string that matches that name, and it not being found.

 

Yes, the file is there. The search is successful if I do it in Explorer from the Pictures directory, or Quick Access or even 'This PC', but once I start drilling down, it's like it doesn't exist.

 

Ok, try the troubleshooter if not already run and search reset in my post above.

Also post a screenshot of when you have that folder open showing the files (not the search result).

Try the same scenario, but under a different parent folder (not Pictures) - create the folder containing 2 or 3 pictures. Allow search to update its index.

 

So here's a picture of the file in it's folder:





Even weirder - if I search from c:, I can find the file:





If I drill down to *any* sub-folder (in this case Users), no dice:





If I search for *any* file named "IMG*", which there are thousands, I get nothing, even when doing the search from the folder the files are in:







I get similar behavior with mp3 or mp4 files. If I search the whole c: or e:, I can find thousands. Drill down to my User directories and nothing comes up. This is a head scratcher.

Search reset has not helped.

 

It must be that. Never having used junctions I can't comment, I'm afraid.
I would guess it's the difference between a logic representation and the physical reality.

What happens if you open explorer at the actual folders on E: ?

Somehow you can navigate an apparent folder structure, but as a starting point for the search, Windows isn't seeing that as equivalent to the physical folder containing the files, or a point in the hierarchy above them.

Try creating a simple set of, say, 3 nested folders, no junctions, with a distinctively named file in each. Let search index them. Then demonstrate you can find them with explorer open at different folders.

If it is to do with how you've set up your folder structure, and it used to work but now now, that's even stranger.

Normally relocating user folders is done by using the Location tab in Properties. (Some users get themselves into real difficulty using that though, I think by incorrectly specifying the new location).
E.g.
Move Location of Pictures Folder in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials

 

I think you nailed it. I can find the file if I search on E: and any subfolder in that drive. Not sure it's worth troubleshooting any more at this point. It is definitely odd that Windows will find it at the Pictures directory level (whether looking at C: or E: drives), but once you drill down in C: it loses sight of it. Either way, think I just know to search from E: from here on out.

I tried doing the move location to E: initially, but if I installed an application on C:, many of them would recreate the directories on C:, which was frustrating. I'd then have 'Pictures' under C:\Users\ and on E: - I gave up and just made junctions, which has worked wonderfully so far (except for this week's revelation). Maybe I spend some time seeing if I get get Windows search/index to follow junctions - that should solve it. If so, I'll update this thread.

Thanks for the help!

 

- sounds like progress, if not a solution.

Maybe someone somewhere can give a precise explanation of what's going on.

It might be interesting to compare how a 3rd party search tool (free, often recommended) - find as you type- copes.
E.g.
Locate32 (which I prefer); Everything by void tools - more services and background CPU use I found- Ultrasearch.

It's really handy to have one of those as well. Fast MFT indexing, no content indexing although there are some extra options which support search in found text files, reg ex search, fill-in fields for date, size limits etc etc.

Unlike Windows search, you don't have to think.