Example:
To determine
whether a leftover file from some former program is still of use/referenced,
use the "Find" function to see if it is still being referenced
in any file. e.g. *.DLL, *.INI, *.EXE or *.386 file. This can be a little
elusive however because you wont always know whether they are also some
lost stranger or a particular file only uses the reference to that *.DLL
to load an error message. However; if no other reference is forthwith,
you can be assured that the *.DLL is a stand-a-lone, and then use "Find"
against the other few files and see what references they turn up.
- Start | Find | specify the drive you wish to search (or select My Computer
for every drive) and type the following line into the "Named"
box (search time is determined by the number of files or types listed to
be searched):
*.INI;*.DLL;*.EXE;*.386 (note the semicolon and lack of spacing) - Check "Include subfolders".
- Un-check or be sure that "Case Sensitive" is not checked in the Find's Options menu.
- Click the "Advanced" tab and type "the name you're searching for (wild cards can not be used)" into the box labeled "Containing Text". Do not include the file extension. Be sure that "Of Type" remains "All files and Folders".
- Click the "Find Now" button.
Note: Any file displayed in the found window can be right-clicked and a selection made from the context menu as appropriate for the type file.
Also:
If you're looking
for an evasive file that may be included in a *.ZIP file, then use the
"Find" command to look within those *.ZIP files for it.
- 1. Start | Find | File or Folder and specify the drive you wish to search (or select My Computer for every drive) in the "Look in" box.
- 2. Check "Include subfolders".
- 3. Un-check or be sure that "Case Sensitive" is not checked in the Find's Options menu.
- 4. Type "*ZIP" into the "Named" box.
- 5. Click the "Advanced" tab and type "<the name you're searching for (wild cards cannot be used)>" into the box labeled "Containing Text". The more characters in the file name, or by using all capital letters (since PKZIP stores them this way) and setting the "Case Sensitive" setting, will increase the likelihood of finding the correct file.
- 6. Click the "Find Now" button.
The files displayed in the found window will contain a copy of the file you were searching for.
In addition:
If you find
that your Find function is frustrating because it doesn't default to the
location you use the most, then change it by opening the Registry at keys:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\shell\find\ddeexec. Just left-click on the
(+) before each key title and when you arrive at the ddeexec key, double
click on Default in the right-hand window. Replace the %1s in the setting
"[FindFolder("%1",%1)]" with the drive and directory
you want. Example: Remove the first %1 (leaving the quotation marks) and
type D:\ remove the second %1 and type Win95 or for the drive's root only,
type D:\ for that entry too.
Contributed by Bill Gaston
Pardon ma ACKsent, ah'm from Austin, Tex_As, USA
PC Magazine Utilities and source code written by -RAE-
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Use FIND to Locate File References
Copyright © 2000 - 2008 Richard A. Ellingson