Search and Find All Files including Hidden and System Files

Search function that comes with Windows system is a handy utility to locate and fine files or documents in the computer. To use the search utility, just click Start and then Search. Or alternatively, you can press F3 in any Windows Explorer windows to open the search pane. From there in the Search left pane, just select what do you want to search and key in the the full or part of the name of the file.

However, if you encounter problem that the Search doesn’t return any result even though you’re pretty sure that the file exists, that’s because Windows searches only for file types it recognizes. Windows recognized file types are listed in the “Registered file types” list which can be viewed by go to Tools and Folder Options and then click on File Types tab in Windows Explorer. Unless the file types listed here, else it will be ignored by Windows search.

To search for all possible files regardless of its file extensions, choose “All files and folders” when prompted to select what do you want to search. Ensure that All Files and Folders under “Type of file” is selected in the Search Companion pane. (If Type of file option is missing, click More Advanced Options). Check (select) also Search system folders, Search hidden files and folders, and Search subfolders options if needed.

In Windows 2000, click Search Options, check (select) Type, and select All Files and Folders in the resulting drop-down menu. Beside, check Advanced Options and make sure Search Subfolders is checked. Optionally, if you want to find system and hidden files, choose Tools in Windows Explorer, then click on Folder Options and click the View tab, and in the “Advanced settings” list, select Show hidden files and folders. Uncheck Hide protected operating system files (Recommended) option, click Yes to acknowledge the warning, and finish by clicking OK.

Alternatively, edit the registery as below:

1. Launch the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to the following tree:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\
   CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex

3. Double-click the FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions icon in the right pane, change the 0 in the “Value data” box to 1, and press Enter.

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This entry was posted on Sunday, May 7th, 2006 at 6:12 pm and is filed under Operating Systems. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.