File search utility in Windows 8. Search by people and postal addresses. How to use search results
Search using the Start menu is a great tool for quick opening programs and tools for optimizing the OS, which people use quite rarely.
The Start menu can help relieve the taskbar and desktop from software and shortcuts that are not used often.
In the eighth Windows versions, despite the absence of Start, the search is opened using the Win and W key combination, and the program menu can be opened using the Win + Q combination.
And, if installing Windows 8 does not cause special problems, then you need to clarify several points with the search. Well, the time has come to do this and make your work at the computer easier.
1. Quickly launch the found search result
Many people have probably noticed that when searching in Start, the first result may or may not be highlighted. When it is not highlighted, the View other results option is highlighted. This item is located above the search field.
The top result is highlighted only when it is a program or control panel item. Below you can find out that the first category includes not only programs from Start.
This provides the ability for a person to run the selected result using Enter keys without removing your hands from the keyboard. This will save time and you will know what to look for.
2. Search by name particles
Everyone understands that if you write the exact name of an element, it will quickly be found. But you can speed up the process by entering the first letters.
Please note that the detected element will not only be located in position 1, but will also be highlighted in blue, so all that remains is to press the Enter key.
Partial name searches can only be performed in following cases, if their shortcuts are located in Start.
3. Search for programs, regardless of location
Many people have folders where they store portable programs, which do not need to be installed. Usually the shortcuts are missing from Start and they fall out of the search. But this can be fixed. Create a shortcut and move it to the Shell:Programs folder.
Now you will be able to quickly find software even by some of its names.
This trick works great with any type of shortcut. You can place shortcuts to documents and files in the folder. IN in this case a search in Start will place them in Programs.
4. Search taking into account typos and spelling errors
You may not believe it, but thanks to a search you can even find the word “aboy”.
When you use a computer for a long time, it can accumulate over time. great amount information (we are talking about Windows) - various programs, files. It is not always possible to remember what is where, and for beginners it is sometimes difficult to find the programs they need. In order not to climb through folders manually in search of the desired file or not to search for the necessary Windows programs and tools through a special control panel, you can use the built-in search and quickly find necessary information or program. In this article I will show you how to search for the information and programs you need on computers with an operating system installed Windows system(on Windows example 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10).
In the article, I consider the 3 above systems as examples, since they are by far the most common. For example Windows XP and Windows Vista have long been outdated and are used by a minimal percentage of users.
Search in Windows 7
In Windows 7, search is located in the Start menu and in all Explorer windows.
Let's first consider the most accessible search, which is the fastest to open - search in the Start menu. It's located at the very bottom of this menu:
Right there you just need to type the name of the desired file or program in whole or in part (just the beginning, for example) and Windows will try to find what you are looking for.
Example of program search
Let's say you want to find and run Windows tool to remove programs. In Windows 7 it is called "Add or Remove Programs".
To find this tool, in the search you just need to type “programs” (1) and after a few seconds a list will appear where you can already see the tool we need (2):
All you have to do is click on the search result and required program will open.
Also in this window you can see the “Programs and Features” and “Uninstall a Program” tools. It's all the same.
Example of searching for a file or folder with files
Let’s assume that on my “C:” drive in the “Documents” library there is a file with a work report called “Report for 2015”.
To find this file through the search, just type part of the name, for example “report” or “report”, and Windows will try to find everything that is with that name on your computer.
For example, I typed the query “otch” (1) into the search and my file (2) was found.
In Windows 7, you can quickly open the search tool using the keyboard shortcut: Win+F.
Search in Windows 8 and Windows 10
In Windows 8 and Windows 10, searching for information is no different in principle from what it was in Windows 7. The only difference is in the interface of the operating systems, since new Windows it's quite different.
How to open and use search in Windows 8
Let's look at the search capabilities using Windows 8 as an example. There is also a search through the Start menu. The search button in this menu is located at the top right (magnifying glass icon).
Before searching for something, you can select a search area, namely, search in parameters, files, pictures or videos from the Internet, and also everywhere at once. To select an area, click the default area (1) and select the desired one from the list (2). If you don’t know where to look, put “Everywhere”, you will find most of everything.
For example, I want to find and open the panel Windows management. I selected the “Everywhere” area and entered “Control Panel”. The results appear below. What was found in Windows will be displayed in the very first options (1)?, before the line. After the dash there are options for searching via the Internet (3).
If you click on the search button (4) with a magnifying glass icon, a more detailed list of results will open, including search results for Internet sites.
Another option to open the search: while on your desktop, move your mouse cursor to the lower right corner and hold for a couple of seconds.
A panel will appear on the right, where you will see a search button at the top:
Everything works exactly the same. Let’s say you have a file somewhere on your computer called “List of Workers.” Having selected the search area (in the example “Everywhere” was selected), I enter part of the name, for example “list” (1). The results appear below, among which will be the file you are looking for (2), which can be immediately opened from this list.
In Windows 8, you can quickly open the search tool using the keyboard shortcut: Win + F.
How to open and use search in Windows 10
In Windows 10, search is located on the Windows taskbar by default:
Clicking this button will open a search window. In the bottom line (1) we indicate the search query. Let's say I want to find and open the Windows tool for removing programs from my computer, so I enter the "uninstall" part of the query (1) into the search bar. Search results will appear above, among which I see the one that suits me “Add or remove programs” (2).
You can select a search area by clicking on the default area:
From the list that opens, you can select a specific Windows area to search, for example, search by photos, programs, documents, etc. If you want to search in all areas at once, select “All”.
Another search example. Suppose there is a “My Database” file somewhere on your computer. I enter part of the name into the search, for example “Base” (1) and in the results I get what I need (2).
In Windows 10, you can quickly open the search tool using the keyboard shortcut: Win + S.
Search through "Explorer" in Windows 7, 8, 10
It happens that there is no point in searching for a file throughout the computer, so as not to waste extra time, because searching for a file throughout the computer can take a long time, depending on the amount of information on the computer, and especially since you know approximately in which folder or on which This file can be located on your local disk. To do this, it is easier to use the search by separate folder or local disk, i.e. through the Windows Explorer program. Let's look at an example at Windows based 7.
In Windows 8 and 10, searching through Explorer is absolutely no different!
Search in Explorer is located at the top right (1). When you open a folder, the search bar will indicate where the search will be performed (where you are now). For example, now I have the folder open Program Files"(2).
Let's say I want to find the "Drivers" folder in the "Program Files" folder where I am now. To do this, in the search at the top right (1) I write “drivers” or you can enter the first few letters (in case you don’t remember the full name). The results will appear below (2).
All that remains is to open it directly from the search results required file, folder or program!
It can also sometimes be useful to use a filter when searching, for example, to search for files, folders and programs by a certain size or modification date. When you enter the name of what you are looking for, the filter modes will appear below:
Let's look at another example...
Somewhere on the C: drive I have a file for work called “Publish on the site.” Knowing that the file is located on the C: drive, I need to open Windows Explorer, and then in it this local disk. In the search, I type the beginning of the file name “published” (1) and the system finds the file I need (2), indicating below its location on the computer.
Tip for finding files. When searching for files in Windows, you can search by file extensions. For example, if you want to find all files with the extension .txt, then type *.txt in the search. Where * will mean that files with any names will be searched, but with the extension .txt.
Conclusion
Use it Windows search to quickly open programs and files that you have located somewhere deep in Explorer. This way you will save time. And of course, you shouldn’t try to search for the required file or folder manually all over your computer for a long time, since first of all you should use a regular search.
Have a nice day and good mood! ;)
Search functions in Windows 8 have gained new development. “Eight” makes it possible to search for information not only on local computer, but also in Windows Store, and on the Internet using Bing - search engine Microsoft service. There are also more places from which you can search, and it has become much more convenient and easier to use. However, first things first.
Smart search from the home screen
In the top right node home screen Windows 8 has three small icons. To search, click on the “Magnifying Glass” icon and start typing your query.
It is enough to enter a few characters into the search bar for the system to offer a number of options. All you have to do is click the appropriate one.
Next to the search field there is a filter button that allows you to select what and where to search: a file, parameter, image, video from the Internet, or all together (“everywhere” option).
By the way, to search for information while on the home screen, you don’t even have to launch the search function. Any text that you start typing on the keyboard will itself be inserted into the search bar.
If you enter a query and do not select anything from the list of suggestions, pressing Enter or the “Find” button (the “Magnifying Glass” icon) will open a window with all the results that match the query.
Right-clicking on any of the files will open a short summary at the bottom of the screen. context menu: Open the location or copy this file.
If you were looking for materials on the Internet, right-clicking on what you found will open a button to go to the site.
The video menu allows you to filter what you find by length and resolution.
Images from the Internet have the richest filter. Here you can set the picture size, type, layout (horizontal or vertical), color scheme (black and white or color), and also open the “People” application.
Search from pop-up panel
Another “Search” button is also located in the pop-up sidebar (Charms Bar in Windows 8), which appears with right side screen when you hover over the upper right corner.
In addition, open sidebar can be pressed Windows keys+ C, and to call only the search (in a separate panel) you need to press Windows + F.
Search from the Windows button context menu
The Windows button replaced the Start button in the G8. Clicking on it now opens the initial Windows screen 8, and many useful features moved to the context menu of this button. Among them is search. To use it, open the menu and click the “Find” command.
Search from Windows Explorer
To search for data through Windows 8 Explorer, each folder has a small input field marked with a “Magnifying Glass” icon. Just type in it key phrase– and in a couple of minutes the system will display a selection of files and directories whose names include this request.
Search parameters and filters are set in the settings of the menu of the same name. By clicking the “Search” button on top panel folders, you can set:
- Search Location - Only current folder or the current one and all nested ones.
- Time range - when the file was created or modified.
- File type (document, picture, music file, postal message, contact file, playlist and much more).
- File sizes range from empty (0 kb) to gigantic (>128 mb).
- Other file properties include tags, type, rating, folder path and shooting date.
Nearby, in the “Options” section, there are buttons for viewing the query log, setting locations, saving specified conditions, and closing the search window.
How to Search and Open Hidden Files and Folders in Windows 8
Many system files and folders are hidden from the user's view and are not displayed in Explorer. This was done primarily to protect against accidental deletion, but in some cases such secrecy does more harm than good. For example, when you want to find and manually remove a virus or find data that it has hidden.
Do hidden files and folders visible in Windows 8 in several ways.
- open the control panel (the easiest way to do this is through the context menu of the Windows button);
Start Search works almost the same as the search in the Start menu in Windows 7. From the desktop, click WIN key(or CTRL + ESC) and you will see a search interface with a panel. The search bar will give you options like searching by apps, settings, and files, plus icons for each search-enabled Metro app.
As you type a word into the search bar, corresponding results will appear on the left side of the screen. By default, apps (both desktop and Metro style) are selected, but you can change the search filter to Options (including Control Panel) or Files.
To search for applications, just use the WIN+Q key combination on the start screen or desktop. Although this is not required, because by default it is applications that are searched.
The search for parameters is activated by the key combination WIN+W. You can start searching for settings from start screen, from your desktop, or from any Metro app. Similarly, file search is activated by the key combination WINKEY+F.
To start searching the Metro app, use the keyboard shortcut WIN+Q. This only works with applications that support Windows 8 Search Charm. Although many applications can do this, including most built into Windows 8, like Bing and Xbox.
Search in the weather app
The nice thing about Windows 8's built-in search is that it's very flexible. For example, you can search in Internet Explorer, which activates search engine browser. By selecting another Metro app from the search bar list, you can redirect the same search request to it, such as your mail, music Microsoft collection Marketplace (via Xbox Music), or anything else.
Search also offers suggestions for queries that appear below the search field. It will also reorganize the list compatible applications in the search bar so that the apps you search for most often are at the top.
Overall, the search is one of the most successful Windows features 8.
The search engine in Windows 8.1 has been completely redesigned. It is so different from Windows 7 and Windows 8 that some users may have difficulty understanding how to use it. That's why we decided to create complete guide by search with screenshots and examples.
How to search using the Search panel
From the Start screen, simply enter keyword(A). As soon as you click on any letter or number key, the Search panel will appear on the right side of the screen and display search results based on what you entered.
If you want to find something while in desktop mode, just press Win + s on your keyboard or move your mouse cursor to the lower right corner of the screen and select “Search”. Then you need to enter your search query.
What search results look like
Apps that match the search query are listed first, followed by options, and then files. Depending on the search query you enter, you may only see some apps, settings, and files. The thing is, there simply isn't enough space in the Search bar to show them all.
The search results are followed by suggestions based on relevant keywords from the search query. These suggestions are provided by the search engine. Bing system. It does this, among other things, based on the user data it has and your search history.
One important difference between local search results and keyword-based suggestions is that there is always an icon next to each of the local results. You will never see icons for offers.
How to filter search results
In Windows 8, search results were automatically filtered by category. Windows 8.1 doesn't have this, but you can easily do it manually.
To filter the search results, you need to click on the “Everywhere” filter immediately above search bar. This will open a drop-down menu with search categories/filters, including Everywhere, Options, Files, Online Images, and Online Videos.
Search filter the default is “Everywhere”. If you select "Options" then operating system will only display links to options found in the Control Panel or PC Settings menu.
If you select "Files", then in the search results you will only see files that match your search query. When you use the two remaining filters (Web Images and Online Videos), the Search panel will show you keywords based on data from Bing for a specific search query.
Experiment with these filters to better understand how they work.
How to use search results
Now let's look at how search results are used. When you perform a search, you will have four important elements that you can interact with:
Filters– in the previous section of the article we have already shown how they work.
Search button– allows you to open search results in full screen mode. This window displays both local results and Internet search results (Bing).
searching results– clicking on any of them will open the corresponding element.
Keyword-based suggestions– when you click on any of the suggested keywords, a full-screen window will open with the corresponding search results. Search results will include local results and Internet search results (Bing).
As mentioned above, when you click on the search button (or Enter on the keyboard), a full-screen window with search results will open. The first results in this window are local results - these can be files, applications and settings.
If you scroll to the right you will see results from Windows Store, from the Internet (sites, images, videos), as well as related search queries.
It's worth noting that the page can scroll forever - Bing is constantly loading new search results so you can find what you're looking for.
Right-clicking on search results opens a context menu with options.
If this is a website, then you can copy its link.
In the case of files, the context menu allows you to copy the selected file or open its location.
When you right-click on the Internet images section, you will be able to filter them by various criteria, including size, color, and type.
In the case of video, these criteria include length and resolution.
The top left of the search window always displays a colored rectangle with the current search query.
Clicking on this triangle opens the Search panel. This way you can enter another keyword and get started quickly new search.
Conclusion
Search in Windows 8.1 is definitely much more powerful than it was in Windows 8. Integration with Bing opens up even more possibilities, and searching for something on the Internet no longer requires you to open your browser first - you can find what you're looking for directly from the home screen. And if users appreciate this feature, it could have an impact positive influence on Bing's market share.
Have a great day!
