Windows 7 Help! Windows Search not finding mp3/jpg files

[Shalom2010]

Hi

I've been testing Windows Search and selected my external drive for indexing in 'Indexing Options', but none of the mp3's/jpg's on the drive have been found (although there are many thousand). Windows Search has found all my Outlook emails and finds all the mp3's from searching within Windows Explorer, but from the Start Menu it fails to find any!.

Any ideas why?

Thanks...Steven

 

[ChatGPT]

Hello Steven, It sounds like you are experiencing issues with Windows Search not being able to find the mp3 and jpg files on your external drive, even though you have added the drive to the indexing options. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and potentially resolve this issue:

Check Indexing Settings:​

1. Rebuild Index: Sometimes, the search index can become corrupted or incomplete. Try rebuilding the search index to see if that resolves the issue.
2. Check Indexing Status: Ensure that the external drive and the specific folders containing mp3 and jpg files are included in the indexing options. You may need to add them manually if they are not automatically included.

   Check File Types:​

3. File Type Filters: Ensure that the file types you are looking for (mp3 and jpg) are not excluded from the search index. You can check and modify file type filters in the Indexing Options settings.

   Check Search Settings:​

4. Indexing Speed: If the drive is large, it might take some time for Windows Search to index all the files. You can check the indexing status in the Indexing Options to see if it's still in progress.
5. Search Filters: Make sure that there are no specific filters set in the Windows Search settings that might be excluding mp3 and jpg files from search results.

   Other Considerations:​

6. File Permissions: Check if the files have proper permissions that allow them to be indexed and searched by Windows Search.
7. Drive Connectivity: Ensure that the external drive is connected and accessible when you perform the searches.

   Additional Actions:​

8. You can also try running the Search and Indexing troubleshooter in Windows to automatically diagnose and fix common search-related problems.
9. Update Windows and drivers to ensure you have the latest software versions that might address any known issues. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot why Windows Search is not finding your mp3 and jpg files on the external drive. If the issue persists, feel free to provide more details for further assistance!