Search doesn't find files in certain folders

I tried doing a search for SOL.EXE which is in the WINDOWS\SYSTEM32 folder. I set the search to start from the root folder, as I always do. When I ran the search, it didn't find SOL.EXE. Is the search function set to skip the SYSTEM32 folder? How can I get search to look on the whole hard drive?

 

I tried another search and it still didn't findit. Then I did a search for *.EXE and it doesn't find anything in any of the C:\WINDOWS folders. I have it set to check hidden and system folders and subfolders.

 

Get Agent Ransack and try the searches with that. Post back. Something is busted and that's the quickest way to make sure it's the Search tool in your XP system.

 

Agent Ransack found several Solitaire files, including something called a Solitaire prefetch. Definitely something wrong with XP's native search. So whatever, I'll just use Ransack from now on.

 

*Definitely something wrong with XP's native search*

By design:

The search companion will not search hidden files and folders, even if it says "search all files... ", will not search system files, will only look for files that can be created by the end user and employing registered applications.

Regards - Charles

 

I used TweakUI to disable the search companion and use the traditional search. Does your above statement still apply? If so, it's a poor way to do things, as I rely on the Windows search feature very heavily. However that Agent Ransack program is pretty sweet and very thorough.