How to Locate Lost Computer Files

Nothing is more frustrating than being unable to find a work file or an important email document. The file is saved someplace deep within your computer's memory, but where? Users of Windows Xp and Vista can use the Search function to look for the missing file, but these searches often are very time consuming and quite frequently fail to find the missing file.

Recently new search engines have been made available that improve the success rate of finding 'lost' files and accomplish this with a significant increase in search speed.

Microsoft provides an improved search capability that is available for downloading free of charge at Microsoft.com. The Windows Search program quickly finds documents, email messages and attachments, and media files. It is compatible with Windows Xp and Windows Vista. The search is initiated by simply typing in key words found in the missing document, email, or attachment, and then the results are displayed quickly on the search screen. This is a real improvement over previous search functions.

Another improved search option is offered free of charge by Goggle. Goggle Desktop Search uses its' web based search engine to search your PC for files, documents, emails and attachments. Using Goggle Desktop you can quickly locate virtually any file within your computer quickly. The desktop search is conducted like any other Goggle search by entering key words in the Goggle search box and designating the search is a "desktop search". Goggle returns a listing in same format as other Goggle searches by listing all of the documents, files, emails and attachments contained the searched for words. You can download Goggle Desktop at http://desktop.google.com/

A third option offering improved search capabilities can be found at Copernic.com. This search engine provides even faster search results and offers a wide range of flexibility. On opening the Copernic desktop search program the user is given the option of searching his or her computer for a wide variety of files including:

email and attachments

Music files

Pictures

Videos

Contacts

Favorite sites

Files

Search History

The search begins with the user entering a key word or phrase contained in the document, file or email to be located. As soon as the word is entered the Copernic desktop search indicates the number of files or documents containing the key word that have been located in each of the above categories. Once the user clicks on the category, for example, "email". All of the documents (emails) containing that key word are displayed and can be opened by the user. If the entered Key word is also found within the music files, Picture files,Videos, contacts, favorite sites, or other files the results of the search will list the number of documents within each of those categories containing the key word.

In addition to providing great flexibility when searching for lost files, the Copernic search engine is accurate and very fast

By defining a specific file size , revision date, or folder the user can refine necessary Copernican desktop searches. This may help locate the file and reduce search time as the search fields are confined by the user,

I have found this search engine to be very helpful in locating 'lost' emails, attachments, and files as I as my system for naming and recording file names is inadequate.

Any of the three search engines mentioned above provide fast and efficient searches that far exceed that available in Windows Xp and Vista.

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