One of the most frustrating tasks is finding files or folders on a computer - especially if you are like me and are horrible at organizing and filing - not to mention the historically the search function in Windows has been poor at best. But help has come! Windows Vista comes with a new and improved search engine that makes locating files, folders and programs much quicker and easier than prior versions of Windows.

The built-in search engine in Windows Vista searches by application and file name along with metadata and the full text content of files. The search results are grouped by different categories including:

• Programs


• Favorites/Internet History


• Files (documents)


• Communications (email messages, contacts and tasks)

The search box is available from the Start menu, within software programs and in Windows Explorer. To search for an object start typing the search terms in the Instant Search Box and as you type the search term Windows will start the search and displays all the results that relate to the search term.

To help narrow the search results or locate files with limited information there are ways to filter the search to obtain more accurate results.

• NOT> - use between search terms to include first term but not the second. Example: Allison NOT Nunn will return all items that contain Allison but not Nunn


• not - will return items containing all search terms. Example: Allison not Nunn will return all items containing the words Allison, not, Nunn.


• OR - returns items contain search individual search terms or all search terms. Example: Allison OR Nunn will return items that contain Allison, Nunn or both.


• or - will return items that contain all search terms. Example: Allison or Nunn will return items that contain Allison, or, Windows.


• “ “- returns the exact search phrase. Example: “Allison Nunn” will return all items that contain the phrase Allison Nunn.


• ( )- will return items containing the search term in any order. Example: (Allison Nunn) will return any items that contain Allison or Nunn in any order.
  
• AND - returns items that contain both search terms. Example: Allison AND Nunn will return items that contain both Allison and Nunn.


• date: > or date: - will return items with a date greater than or less than the specified date. Example: date: >10/12/07 will return all items with a date after 10/12/07 while date: <10/12/07 will return items with a date before 10/12/07.

Addition Search Notes:

• The Boolean operators (NOT, OR, AND) used in a search phrase must be type in all UPPERCASE.


• Two Boolean operators cannot be used in the same search phrase.

Happy Searching!