How-To Guides: Finding Files

It happens to all users. You know you’ve saved a file, but it’s not where you expect it to be. You might first check your recycle bin, just to make sure you have not accidentally deleted it.

Not in your recycle bin? You can still find the missing file if it is anywhere on your computer by using a feature that is built into Windows called "Search” (or “Find” in earlier versions of Windows).

Follow these steps:

1) Click on the START button. Click on Search (or Find).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2) The following window will appear. Since we are looking for a file, select “For Files or Folders”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3) You can search for documents, pictures, music, or videos. Select "All files or folders."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4) The following window will appear which asks you to define the criteria you want to use for your search. You can search for all or part of a file name or any word or phrase within the file. You can also search for files created on certain dates or files of certain sizes.  Windows allows you to search by part of the name if you cannot remember the exact name of the file but may remember one or more words from the name. For instance, you created a file named "PreK Letter for Zoo Field Trip". Instead of searching for that exact name, we will enter "Zoo" in the search box so Windows will find every file that has “Zoo”in the name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5) Windows located lots of files with the word "Zoo" in them. Adding another word to the search, will reduce the results. Search for “Zoo Field Trip” and your results will be significantly fewer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6) Usually you will search for the name of a file. However, if you cannot recall the file name at all you can also search by any word or phrase in the file. Try to choose a unique word that will not be found in too many other files.

One of the most important areas on the Search screen is the box labeled "Look in." This is where you can tell the computer where to search for your files.  Usually you will want to search the C: or hard drive but if you click the down arrow next to the "Look in" box you will see that you can also search the My Documents folder, the computer desktop, the floppy drive, and any other drives that may be attached to your computer. Limiting the area that you search will speed up the search considerably.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) When the search is completed, you can open your file from the Search screen by double-clicking on the file name. The search results box will also identify the location of the file. You will want to note that location so you can find the file the next time you are looking for it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next time you can’t remember where you saved a document or any other file, don’t panic, just open up the Search feature to locate it quickly and easily.

 

 

[Posted on May 2, 2006]