Hello, all. I'm writing to try and find a solution for the Windows 7 search. I've read a number of the forums listening to other people's problems and solutions regarding Windows 7 search and have tried just about all of them. Let me explain my situation:
I recently upgraded the hard drive in my computer from an HDD to an SSD. My laptop was originally configured as a RAID 0 array, where Windows 7 Search always worked. I could type in the names of Word Documents, MATLAB files, music, pictures, etc. and everything would come up, no problem. I could also search for the contents of certain files, such as a MATLAB script that contained the function "num2str," and Windows Search would find it for me, no problem. This was particularly useful for me as I'm a graduate student and it was very easy for me to search for a paper with a previous cite, etc. and find it.
However, when I upgraded, my SSD is fairly small (120 GB) and I have a 20 GB of documents/data from experiments, as well as all my music, pictures, and videos. So I elected to scrap the RAID array, do a clean install, and use the SSD as my boot drive (C:\), where Windows, Office, and all my other programs would be installed, and use the second hard drive in my computer (a 500 GB HDD) as my Storage Drive (B:\), where I could keep all of my personal files and not have to worry about space issues. The B: has a file structure that mirrors that of the C:, with Program Files and Users folders, as well as My Documents, My Music, My Pictures, and My Video folders that are referenced using the Libraries feature to the B: instead of the now empty folders on the C:. However, for whatever reason, Windows Search refuses to find anything on the B:, even if, while I am in the Documents Folder which contains a folder Work (Documents\Work), and I search for Work in the Documents Window, I return no search results. Windows Search will still work on C:, though. In fact, when I search for something from the start menu, any results are explicitly from C:, despite the fact that B: is searchable and has been indexed.
Here's what I've tried up to this point:
1. Checked to see if I have the invalid registry entry referred here. http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7files/thread/cc378149-8765-498a-9480-b1b494e1a1a9 My system doesn't have it.
2. Used the Indexing Options to add the B: to the search, (I currently have Windows Search looking through both B: and parts of C:), and have rebuilt the index several times.
3. Ensured that the entire B: has Full Control file permissions for Authenticated Users, System, and Administrators. The Users profile has Read & Execute, List, and Read permissions.
4. B: Properties include the checked box: "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed..."
5. Both drives are formatted to NTFS (Read somewhere that might be an issue)
6. Search Troubleshooter says it can't find a solution, asks me to look online.
My apologies for the verbose post, but I wanted to provide as much detail as possible. I'm really stumped as to what to do from this point on. I find it particularly frustating when I am looking right at a file, search for it, and return no search results. My friend, who has a similar setup with the SSD/HDD configuration, has lamented that "Windows 7 Search has sucked" and that he never uses it. I know that Windows 7 Search works, and is a valuable tool I use every day, so I'm hoping someone can possibly come up with a solution I have not already listed.