Using the Search Tool - Tip of the Week

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

 

Are you missing something? Is there adocument or spreadsheet you swore you saved but now you can't find? Here's how to find lost files or documents in the Windows XP® operating system if you don't remember where you put them:

Click on the Start button, then click on where it says Search. The word "Search" has a picture of a magnifying glass beside it.

In the Search Tool box that pops up, on the left, above where the cute little doggie is wagging its tail, click on "All Files and Folders."

In the white box below where it says "All or Part of the File Name," type the name of your missing document. If you can't remember the exact name, type at least one word or part of the name. The search tool will look for every file in your computer with that word or name in it.

Click on "Search."

You will see the doggie ferociously looking for a bone (perhaps?) and, hopefully you will see icons of documents appear in the box. Maximize the box so you can see the results better. (Do this by clicking on the middle gray square at the very top righthand corner of this search box.)

After the doggie is done looking, hopefully your missing document will be located in the box. You can either double click on it to open it right there, or find out just where exactly on your computer it is. In the box, underneath where it says "In Folder," lies the path to your document! For instance, if beside your document it says
C:\MyDocuemts, your file is in the hard drive (C) in the My Documents folder. Or maybe it says C:\My Documents\AOL Downloads. Then you have to go to your My Documents folder and look inside the AOL Downloads folder to find it!

It's a good idea to Minimize the Search Tool while you hunt for your document. That way, if you forget the path it gave you to your file, you can maximize the box and refresh your memory.

Once you've successfully located your file, you can close out of the Search Tool with the red X is the upper righthand corner.