Searching for a file on a computer running Microsoft Windows

Legacy KB ID: 3542

Question

How do I find a specific file on a computer running Microsoft Windows?

Answer

Note: If you're using a version of Windows other than XP or Vista, your steps may differ slightly but are outlined well in Microsoft Windows Help. For details on finding files in Microsoft Windows XP, search Microsoft Help for "Searching for files and folders." For details on finding files in Microsoft Windows Vista, search Microsoft Help for "Find a file or folder."

Windows 7:

  1. Configure Windows to display hidden files and folders and file extensions:
    1. Right-click the Windows Start button and choose Explore.
    2. Click Organize and select Folder and Search Options.
    3. Click the View tab, select Show hidden files and folders and then clear the checkbox for Hide protected system operating files.
    4. Click Yes at the warning and then click OK.
    5. Close this window.
  2. Click the Windows Start button and enter all or part of the file name in the Search field.
    If you only know the file extension, substitute an asterisk (*) for the file name and include the extension. For example, enter *.qbw to search for QuickBooks data files or *.doc to search for Microsoft Word documents. The asterisk acts as a "wild card" and Windows will find any file with the extension used, regardless of filename.
  3. Click Search.
  4. If the file is not found, scroll to the bottom of the search results and, under Search again, click Custom, and then select Network.
  5. Enter *.qbw in the Search field and press Enter.
  6. To determine the directory path of a specific file, right-click the file and select Properties.

Note: The same file name might appear in multiple directories or folders. The same file name might also appear multiple times with different file extensions.

Windows Vista:

  1. Configure Windows to display hidden files and folders and file extensions:
    1. Right-click the Windows Start button and choose Explore.
    2. Click Organize and select Folder and Search Options.
    3. Click the View tab, select Show hidden files and folders and then clear the checkbox for Hide protected system operating files.
    4. Click Yes at the warning and then click OK.
    5. Close this window.
  2. Click the Windows Start button and enter all or part of the file name in the Search field.
    If you only know the file extension, substitute an asterisk for the file name and include the extension. For example, enter *.qbw to search for QuickBooks data files or *.doc to search for Microsoft Word documents. The asterisk acts as a "wild card" and Windows will find any file with the extension used, regardless of filename.
  3. If you don't see the file, click Search Everywhere.
  4. If you still don't see the file, click the Advanced Search drop-down arrow.
  5. In the Location field, select Computer (to search locally or on a mapped network drive) or Network (to search across the network).
  6. Select Include non-indexed, hidden, and system files (might be slow) and enter the name of the file for which you are searching in the Name field.
  7. Click Search.
  8. Your search results appear in the bottom section of the window. To determine the directory path of a specific file, right-click the file and select Properties.

Note: The same file name might appear in multiple directories or folders. The same file name might also appear multiple times with different file extensions.

Windows XP (Home and Professional Editions):

  1. Configure Windows to display hidden files and folders and file extensions:
    1. Right-click the Windows Start button and choose Explore.
    2. Select the Tools menu and select Folder Options.
    3. Click the View tab and clear the Hide extensions for known file types checkbox.
    4. Select Show hidden files and folders and clear Hide protected operating system files (Recommended).
    5. Click OK and close this window.
  2. Click the Windows Start button and choose Search.
  3. Click All files and folders.
  4. In the All or part of the file name field, enter all or part of the name of the file you 're searching for.
    If you only know the file extension, substitute an asterisk for the file name and include the extension. For example, enter *.qbw to search for QuickBooks data files or *.doc to search for Microsoft Word documents. The asterisk acts as a "wild card" and Windows will find any file with the extension used, regardless of filename.
  5. Click the Look in drop-down arrow and select the drive name, drive letter and folder combination you want to search.
    If you don't know where the file is stored, or if you cannot physically get to the computer where the file is stored, you can perform a global search by selecting My Computer (to search locally or on a mapped network drive) or My Network Places (to search across the network).
  6. Click More advanced options, select Search hidden files and folders and Search subfolders.
  7. Click Search.
  8. Your search results appear on the right in the Search Results window. The directory path to the located file(s) appears in the In Folder column.
Note: The same file name might appear in multiple directories or folders. The same file name might also appear multiple times with different file extensions.

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