Windows search problems

[a1adisco]

Hi, I've got a problem with windows search and wondered if anyone could help.

I keep my music on laptop in numerous files and folders. When I type a song in windows search, to find out in exactly what file, folder, etc it's in, sometimes windows can't find it. I know that I've got the song but nothing. If there is an underscore or apostrophe or other type difference, windows search just doesn't see it.

Does anyone know if there is a fix for this or if there is another search program out there to use instead of windows, that is more accurate.

Thanks

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Do you not use software to DJ with? That would make searching a lot easier.

[mr rusty]

we use media monkey as a track search engine, as it will "remember" any CD it is presented with in addition to on-board tracks. This means that you can search for a track and it will give you the CD name. Good way of finding that elusive track. Presenting all your CD's the first time is a pain tho!

I should add that we prefer to spin CD's rather than use PC based DJ software, and the old notebook we use for this hasn't got room for the whole CD collection....

[BeerFunk]

I don't understand why it wouldn't find it.. are you sure you have set the search location correctly, so it isn't searching the wrong drive?

If there is a file named 'Bananarama_-_Love_In_The_First_Degree_[Euro_Mix].mp3', windows search will find it if you match any of the words in that title.

[spin mobile disco]

If you are using xp or vista you may have indexing turned off. Drive indexing creates quick look up tables for files when searching. Right click on a song and click properties then advanced from the next screen it should have index this file for faster searching ticked. If its is not ticked you have to tick it for each music file (this can be done in batch mode)

[BeerFunk]

If you are using xp or vista you may have indexing turned off. Drive indexing creates quick look up tables for files when searching. Right click on a song and click properties then advanced from the next screen it should have index this file for faster searching ticked. If its is not ticked you have to tick it for each music file (this can be done in batch mode)
That's handy, but in this case, the files weren't showing up in the search at all!

[spin mobile disco]

Yes but you find them manually first then when set it should find them in future. Could also be a hidden folder that they are in windows does not search the windows directory or system directory by standard and music placed in these would not be found by a search

[PropellerHeadCase]

Or you could have a FAT (File Allocation Table) corruption (or the NTFS equivalent, whichever applies) that is not yet serious but will eventually cause you problems. Back up your drive and defrag it.

I say back it up because, a) you should, anyway, but b) if there is an allocation table issue it will generate a number of unusable files that used to be MP3s, and you may lose a handful of files altogether.

If after a defrag the problem still exists invest in Partition Magic (free trial) (http://www.soft32.com/download_151.html) as it's great for solving disk issues even when you don't have partitions.

[DJWayne]

this is a case of having badly tagged / named tracks.

windows will find whaat you are ooking for but in a literal search i.e if you type in bannanarama instead of bananarama then it wont find it. if you are using a pc to play tracks then surely you are using some sort of dj software that reads idv3 tags which will solve your problem. as if the trrack is tagged correctly but has a crappy filename then at least you can find it :)