Finding Lost Files
What We'll Learn
- Learn how to search for a file
- Explore the Search feature of File Explorer
Where Did It Go?
Sometimes we accidently save or move our file into a place we did not intend. Later, when we look for it, it isn't where we expect it to be. No need to panic, File Explorer has a built-in search capability that will help you quickly locate your missing files.
Exercise 1 - Finding a File by Name
If you know a part of the name of a file, you can easily search for it. Here's how: In Windows XP:
- Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Companion dialog box, click All files and folders.
- Type part or all of the name of the file.
- In the Look in box, click the location that you want to search.
- Click Search. The right pane will display any matching search results.
- <Right-Click> your matching file, and choose open in folder to view the file in its current folder.
- You can then move the file from there into a folder of your choosing.
In Windows 7: - Click Start
- Start typing the name of your file
- If it appears in the list above, <Right-Click> and pick Open File Location to view the file in its current folder
- You can click See More Results for a more comprehensive search
Exercise 2 - Finding a File by Date
Sometimes you can't remember the name of the file but you know when you created it. You can also use search to find a file based on the date it was last modified: In Windows XP: - Click Start, and then click Search.
- In the Search Companion dialog box, click All files and folders.
- Type part or all of the name of the file.
- In the Look in box, click the location that you want to search.
- Click on the When was it modified option
- Select an appropriate date or date range.
- Click Search. The right pane will display any matching search results.
- <Right-Click> your matching file, and choose open in folder to view the file in its current folder.
- You can then move the file from there into a folder of your choosing.
In Windows 7: - Click Start, and then Documents
- Click on the small Arrow to the right of search box in File Explorer
- Choose a date when you think the file was created or changed
- The computer will search for relevant files
- <Right-Click> your matching file, and choose Open File Location to view the file in its current folder.
Next
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