[batpark]

 I continue to have trouble using SEARCH in W8.1. It seems (?) the operation looks only in C:\ and not in my external drives (in D:\ and F;\). Two questions:

 

1. Can someone clue me on INDEXING all my files? --- That I have not indexed all my files may be the reason SEARCH does not look beyond C:\. HOW do I go about indexing all my drives? Where can I learn about indexing?

 

2. What good third-party alternatives (preferably free ones) can I try for searching and/or file management?

 

Thanks.  ...batpark

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Hello batpark, There are untold varieties of file managers out there, and I've played with nearly all of them. I keep coming back to xyplorer. It has again been recently made available in a freeware version, which has only minor differences to the paid for version.

 

Its also available as an installer or portable, and the search features in it are amazing. have a look here   http://www.xyplorer.com/free.php

Edited by nordvark, 08 November 2015 - 04:16 PM.

[nordvark]

Hello batpark, There are untold varieties of file managers out there, and I've played with nearly all of them. I keep coming back to xyplorer. It has again been recently made available in a freeware version, which has only minor differences to the paid for version.

 

Its also available as an installer or portable, and the search features in it are amazing. have a look here   http://www.xyplorer.com/free.php

Edited by nordvark, 08 November 2015 - 04:16 PM.

[batpark]

nordvark: I have tried to d/l xyplorer, as you suggested, but have not been able to so. Not sure where I am going wrong. Will try again .... but maybe I should understand the difference between "install" and "portable versions. Can you please enlighten me?  ...batpark

[batpark]

nordvark: I <seem> to have completed the installation. But I don't see any icons of it; should I see any?

 

How can I tell for sure that xyplorer is really there?

 

What do I do to START using xyplorer?

 

Thanks for your patience. ... batpark

[Ztruker]

Does it show in the Start menu?

[nordvark]

Also did you download the installer version or the portable (zipped) one?

 

The installer version does just that, it installs like say word or Avast or any other program you see in your list of programs, and usually has a desktop icon.

 

A portable (zipped) version would just be a download to wherever your browser downloads normally go, this could be anywhere depending on what you set downloads to, you probably already know this location. If you find it will be compressed (zipped) youll need to unzip it with something like 7zip, which will put it in a folder called xyplorer. Inside that folder you will see an xyplorer.exe file, and when you double click it the application will open. 

 

Portable apps are good in as much as theres no install, read no files all over the place. the portable files in this case are only contained only in the xyplorer folder and dont show in your list of installed programs. To remove a portable application you simply delete its folder.

 

If you have the portable version let us know and will advise how to make a desktop icon for it?

 

Let's know if you have any problems finding your download, and also what browser you are using?

 

cheers

 

cheers 

Edited by nordvark, 19 November 2015 - 09:58 PM.

[batpark]

Nordvark, ztruker:  I <seem> now to have installed XyplorerFree (good). But I don't know how to use it (bad) to do the thing I most wanted --- to locate files on the C:drive and on external drives that contain a designated target word (eg Lemonade).

 

I see from the XyplorerFree index that the app can find files by Age, Date, Size, etc. but I do not see “by contained word or string.” Can it be that XyplorerFree does NOT do that kind of search? Or am I missing something?

 

If Xyplorer does NOT do that kind of search, can someone tell me of an app that does --- an app equivalent to the Search function in XP that I relied on.

 

Continued thanks for your patience and help. …. batpark

[nordvark]

Before we go any further can I ask do you want to search for "filenames" or words inside a file?

[batpark]

Nordvark: <<do you want to search for "filenames" or words inside a file?>>     words inside a file

[nordvark]

Xyplorer will do that.

 

open xyplorer, click find files in the edit menu, select the drive or folder you want to search by using the name and location tab. Just use the location section at this stage, then select the contents tab and fill in what you want to search for. Set your filters on the right hand site and select find now.

 

[batpark]

Nordvark: "Xyplorer will do that."

 

Thanks once again. Your last note did it. Finally, I seem to be able to navigate within  xyplorer. I really appreciate your patience.  ... batpark

[nordvark]

Xyplorer has a learning curve, but its well worth taking the time and getting to know it. I have half a dozen or more file managers in my portable apps folder but its the one I keep coming back to. I you decide you ever need more than the dual panes that xyplorer has, have a look at QDir, it has up to four panes, can be very handy moving files around.

 

Good luck with it and cheers