Search functionality

[Shree]

I tried Windows Vista search to find files that have been created after a certain date - nothing found,despite I had clearly some new files. I hope they will fix this This is so frustrating - my laptop was Trojan infected and I was trying to find out files that were created beyond certain date. No use, search could not find anything,even though there were several new files. I just wish I can revert some older versions of window where search was flawless..

 

[Lorien]

Check out the following article and especially how to make sure files and folders are included in the index and rebuilding the index (which you should do): http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69581-indexing-options.html.

Also at the top of that tutorial are a number of reference tutorials concerning searches that may assist you in constructing searches that do what you want. Vista is quite different from XP and does take some getting used to and just a little bit of training (and these other tutorials will help a lot).

One thing that might help in this search is to be sure to check the box to include unindexed and system files (may take longer) as what you are looking for may not be indexed and this will make sure the search captures them as well. You may also need to change the location from Indexed Locations to C:\ drive to make sure you look everywhere.

I hope this helps. If not, post back and we'll try to walk through the steps for your specific search to see if we can get it to work for you.

Good luck!

P.S. You may not believe this right now (I didn't at first either), but while it is somewhat more difficult to use properly and does require a bit of time learning the new methods and procedures (actually, quite a bit more time if you really want to understand and use it to full advantage), Vista Search is actually a more powerful tool than what XP offered and can even be much faster (depending on what you are looking for and how you have configured the index and whether the index is up-to-date). Even now, I have troubles and have to research the procedures for how to properly do advanced searches using the new query options. For example, in XP you used *.doc to get all .doc files whereas in vista you use EXT:doc. While *.doc will work in Vista, you will get more hits than you wanted as that searches the contents of files as well as the titles unless you tell it otherwise. If you use search frequently, take the time to review those tutorials (and perhaps others that they reference as well) as it will be time well spent and your searches, drafted properly and with an up-to-date index, will work just as well as they did in XP.

 

[Shree]

Thank you. I did not know that to move from older versions to vista, I have to go through some learning curve :D. The indexing option was excluding "Users" directory by default and Trojan had placed few files in that folder. Further, for file type there is no sort functionality to bring up those file extensions which have unchecked.

Whether selecting a drive for indexing is inclusive of all the combinations of file extensions that fall under the drive? otherwise files placed by the Trojan with some weired combinations of extensions will escape the Vista search.

 

[Lorien]

If you do it as I suggested above (choose the drive as the location and check the box to include non-indexed and system files), you should get everything everywhere even if the filetypes aren't included in the index (because you checked that box). If you search only by date (created or modified I believe are the options though I'm not certain), then it will include ALL files that meet the date criteria you set regardless of filetype (provided you do as I said above).

Are you absolutely certain you have gotten rid of the Trojan and any other malware on your system? I can request an expert stop by and assist you in confirming that if you want. Just let me know.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

 

[Shree]

Thank you. I have included entire C and D drives except Program files directory in C:\. Vista search is still not able to search for files that I have created couple of days ago.

I am searcing for all the files created after 10/01. Result: No files found. However, I had downloaded some .ppt files after 10/01 which I am studying right now. Forget about complicated files placed by Trojan, even basic ppt files are not getting detected.

I use Symantec endpoint protection - ran a complete scan and it removed some trojans. I also ran complete scan using Windows Malicious software removal tool - none detected. So currently, I am thinking that my laptop is free of Trojans

 

[pacinitaly]

try these



FSL - Super Finder

Locate32 Web Site - Screenshots

 

[Jacee]

Hi Shree, let's see if Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware finds any infected files ...

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop
|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46 Download
* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

* When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. Copy and Paste that log into your next reply.

 

[pacinitaly]

Hi Shree, let's see if Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware finds any infected files ...

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop
|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46 Download
* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

* When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. Copy and Paste that log into your next reply.

:huh: can you show screen print? for shree

 

[niemiro]

Hi Shree, let's see if Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware finds any infected files ...

Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop
|MG| Malwarebytes Anti-Malware 1.46 Download
* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.

* When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. Copy and Paste that log into your next reply.

:huh: can you show screen print? for shree

I shall do that. Give me a second.

 

[niemiro]

 

[Lorien]

Thank you. I have included entire C and D drives except Program files directory in C:\. Vista search is still not able to search for files that I have created couple of days ago.

I am searcing for all the files created after 10/01. Result: No files found. However, I had downloaded some .ppt files after 10/01 which I am studying right now. Forget about complicated files placed by Trojan, even basic ppt files are not getting detected.

I use Symantec endpoint protection - ran a complete scan and it removed some trojans. I also ran complete scan using Windows Malicious software removal tool - none detected. So currently, I am thinking that my laptop is free of Trojans

1. Don't forget to put *.* in the Search box otherwise it has nothing to look for and so it will find nothing. Otherwise, follow those other directions and you should get some results (or you can try the programs suggested by pacinitaly which may make things easier for you).

2. The tools you've used to verify you aren't infected and the method you are using to deal with the infections (by searching for files added when it could instead be files modified or files deleted and it could have altered the dates so they are far in the past) are not the best for making sure you are really clean. PLEASE start with the program Jacee recommended and post the results. She will probably have more for you to do after that. She will make certain your system is clean - please trust her as she is a bonified expert at this and can help you if you let her and follow her advice.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!