searching old Microsoft word files for text string

Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know exists
somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft Word2.0
file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and Copernic
search functions no longer find text strings within the old Word2.0
files. How might I identify a file containing the desired text string?
Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine search all night long.

Windsurfer LA

There is a freeware program called Agent Ransack that will do what you want.
Google it.
Louis

"windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know exists
> somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft Word2.0
> file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and Copernic
> search functions no longer find text strings within the old Word2.0
> files. How might I identify a file containing the desired text string?
> Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine search all night long.
>
> Windsurfer LA

FINDSTR-Windows Command
http://webtools.live2support.com/windows/findstr.php

-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

"windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know exists
> somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft Word2.0
> file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and Copernic
> search functions no longer find text strings within the old Word2.0 files.
> How might I identify a file containing the desired text string? Speed is
> not an issue, as I can let the machine search all night long.
>
> Windsurfer LA

Thanks for suggestion. My recollection is that I have tried Ransack in
the past, but took it off my machine because of an incompatibility
problem. Another person suggested the windows FindStr utility. I expect
it is much much much slower, but unlike Ransack, it does not use
computer resources when it is not needed. Given my infrequent need to
search old files, I'm going to try it first.

3c273 wrote:
> There is a freeware program called Agent Ransack that will do what you want.
> Google it.
> Louis
>
> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know exists
>> somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft Word2.0
>> file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and Copernic
>> search functions no longer find text strings within the old Word2.0
>> files. How might I identify a file containing the desired text string?
>> Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine search all night long.
>>
>> Windsurfer LA
>
>

Thanks for the suggestion.

I was unaware of the Microsoft Windows Find String capability. Given my
infrequent need for searching old files, the fact that it is undoubtedly
slow to search is not a problem.

Another person suggested Agent Ransack; I know I tried Agent Ransack and
that for some reason I decided to remove it from my machine, possibly
due to a software conflict.

Windsurfer LA


Bob wrote:
> FINDSTR-Windows Command
> http://webtools.live2support.com/windows/findstr.php
>
> -------
> *Report back, please*
> [When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying
> to so that others may learn and benefit from the issue]
>
> [How to ask a question]
> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>
> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know
>> exists somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft
>> Word2.0 file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and
>> Copernic search functions no longer find text strings within the old
>> Word2.0 files. How might I identify a file containing the desired text
>> string? Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine search all
>> night long.
>>
>> Windsurfer LA
>

You're welcome.

"windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:47efd03c$0$6515$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Thanks for the suggestion.
>
> I was unaware of the Microsoft Windows Find String capability. Given my
> infrequent need for searching old files, the fact that it is undoubtedly
> slow to search is not a problem.
>
> Another person suggested Agent Ransack; I know I tried Agent Ransack and
> that for some reason I decided to remove it from my machine, possibly due
> to a software conflict.
>
> Windsurfer LA
>
>
> Bob wrote:
>> FINDSTR-Windows Command
>> http://webtools.live2support.com/windows/findstr.php
>>
>> -------
>> *Report back, please*
>> [When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to
>> so that others may learn and benefit from the issue]
>>
>> [How to ask a question]
>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>>
>> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know exists
>>> somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft Word2.0
>>> file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and Copernic
>>> search functions no longer find text strings within the old Word2.0
>>> files. How might I identify a file containing the desired text string?
>>> Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine search all night long.
>>>
>>> Windsurfer LA
>>

Bob ... need a little more HELP... if possible...

You suggested using Microsoft Windows Command "FindStr " to find text in
an old Microsoft Word file that is not searched by the WinXP search tool.

I've used it and it does indeed find items on C:\ drive.
I need to be able to search my USB ported Q:\ drive

All these variations of the syntax still bring up the - can't find drive
- error message
/d:Q /d:Q, /d:"Q" /d: Q,

I also just noted that in one help file, Microsoft says that multiple
directories should be separated by a comma, while other sources say
multiple directories should be separated by a semicolon, so using a
comma after the drive letter may be inappropriate.

DO YOU KNOW; (1) Am I using the wrong syntax, or (2) will that function
not work with USB ported drives ??? I suspect I have syntax problem,
but my Google searches for formating examples have not been successful.

Thanks in advance for help.
Windsurfer

Bob wrote:
> You're welcome.
>
> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:47efd03c$0$6515$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>> Thanks for the suggestion.
>>
>> I was unaware of the Microsoft Windows Find String capability. Given
>> my infrequent need for searching old files, the fact that it is
>> undoubtedly slow to search is not a problem.
>>
>> Another person suggested Agent Ransack; I know I tried Agent Ransack
>> and that for some reason I decided to remove it from my machine,
>> possibly due to a software conflict.
>>
>> Windsurfer LA
>>
>>
>> Bob wrote:
>>> FINDSTR-Windows Command
>>> http://webtools.live2support.com/windows/findstr.php
>>>
>>> -------
>>> *Report back, please*
>>> [When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are
>>> replying to so that others may learn and benefit from the issue]
>>>
>>> [How to ask a question]
>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>>>
>>> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>> news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>>> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know
>>>> exists somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft
>>>> Word2.0 file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2
>>>> and Copernic search functions no longer find text strings within the
>>>> old Word2.0 files. How might I identify a file containing the
>>>> desired text string? Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine
>>>> search all night long.
>>>>
>>>> Windsurfer LA
>>>
>

The syntax would be

findstr "supercalifragilistic" Q:\SomeFile.doc

However . . . many text search programs fail to pick up
strings that are coded in "Unicode". I think that both find.exe
and findstr.exe belong to this class. To get around the problem
I wrote myself a little VB Script command line program that
will find just about anything in any file on any drive. If you don't
get anywhere with standard Windows tools then I'll let you
have a copy. Post a suitably disguised EMail address if you
wish to test it.


"windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:47f10a3d$0$30554$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Bob ... need a little more HELP... if possible...
>
> You suggested using Microsoft Windows Command "FindStr " to find text in
> an old Microsoft Word file that is not searched by the WinXP search tool.
>
> I've used it and it does indeed find items on C:\ drive.
> I need to be able to search my USB ported Q:\ drive
>
> All these variations of the syntax still bring up the - can't find drive -
> error message
> /d:Q /d:Q, /d:"Q" /d: Q,
>
> I also just noted that in one help file, Microsoft says that multiple
> directories should be separated by a comma, while other sources say
> multiple directories should be separated by a semicolon, so using a comma
> after the drive letter may be inappropriate.
>
> DO YOU KNOW; (1) Am I using the wrong syntax, or (2) will that function
> not work with USB ported drives ??? I suspect I have syntax problem,
> but my Google searches for formating examples have not been successful.
>
> Thanks in advance for help.
> Windsurfer

--
-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

"windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:47f10a3d$0$30554$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Bob ... need a little more HELP... if possible...
>
> You suggested using Microsoft Windows Command "FindStr " to find text in
> an old Microsoft Word file that is not searched by the WinXP search tool.
>
> I've used it and it does indeed find items on C:\ drive.
> I need to be able to search my USB ported Q:\ drive
>
> All these variations of the syntax still bring up the - can't find drive -
> error message
> /d:Q /d:Q, /d:"Q" /d: Q,
>
> I also just noted that in one help file, Microsoft says that multiple
> directories should be separated by a comma, while other sources say
> multiple directories should be separated by a semicolon, so using a comma
> after the drive letter may be inappropriate.
>
> DO YOU KNOW; (1) Am I using the wrong syntax, or (2) will that function
> not work with USB ported drives ??? I suspect I have syntax problem,
> but my Google searches for formating examples have not been successful.
>
> Thanks in advance for help.
> Windsurfer
>
> Bob wrote:
>> You're welcome.
>>
>> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:47efd03c$0$6515$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> Thanks for the suggestion.
>>>
>>> I was unaware of the Microsoft Windows Find String capability. Given my
>>> infrequent need for searching old files, the fact that it is undoubtedly
>>> slow to search is not a problem.
>>>
>>> Another person suggested Agent Ransack; I know I tried Agent Ransack and
>>> that for some reason I decided to remove it from my machine, possibly
>>> due to a software conflict.
>>>
>>> Windsurfer LA
>>>
>>>
>>> Bob wrote:
>>>> FINDSTR-Windows Command
>>>> http://webtools.live2support.com/windows/findstr.php
>>>>
>>>> -------
>>>> *Report back, please*
>>>> [When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying
>>>> to so that others may learn and benefit from the issue]
>>>>
>>>> [How to ask a question]
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>>>>
>>>> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>>>> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know
>>>>> exists somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft
>>>>> Word2.0 file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and
>>>>> Copernic search functions no longer find text strings within the old
>>>>> Word2.0 files. How might I identify a file containing the desired text
>>>>> string? Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine search all
>>>>> night long.
>>>>>
>>>>> Windsurfer LA
>>>>
>>

At a command prompt type Q: and press Enter.
-------
*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

"windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:47f10a3d$0$30554$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Bob ... need a little more HELP... if possible...
>
> You suggested using Microsoft Windows Command "FindStr " to find text in
> an old Microsoft Word file that is not searched by the WinXP search tool.
>
> I've used it and it does indeed find items on C:\ drive.
> I need to be able to search my USB ported Q:\ drive
>
> All these variations of the syntax still bring up the - can't find drive -
> error message
> /d:Q /d:Q, /d:"Q" /d: Q,
>
> I also just noted that in one help file, Microsoft says that multiple
> directories should be separated by a comma, while other sources say
> multiple directories should be separated by a semicolon, so using a comma
> after the drive letter may be inappropriate.
>
> DO YOU KNOW; (1) Am I using the wrong syntax, or (2) will that function
> not work with USB ported drives ??? I suspect I have syntax problem,
> but my Google searches for formating examples have not been successful.
>
> Thanks in advance for help.
> Windsurfer
>
> Bob wrote:
>> You're welcome.
>>
>> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>> news:47efd03c$0$6515$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>> Thanks for the suggestion.
>>>
>>> I was unaware of the Microsoft Windows Find String capability. Given my
>>> infrequent need for searching old files, the fact that it is undoubtedly
>>> slow to search is not a problem.
>>>
>>> Another person suggested Agent Ransack; I know I tried Agent Ransack and
>>> that for some reason I decided to remove it from my machine, possibly
>>> due to a software conflict.
>>>
>>> Windsurfer LA
>>>
>>>
>>> Bob wrote:
>>>> FINDSTR-Windows Command
>>>> http://webtools.live2support.com/windows/findstr.php
>>>>
>>>> -------
>>>> *Report back, please*
>>>> [When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying
>>>> to so that others may learn and benefit from the issue]
>>>>
>>>> [How to ask a question]
>>>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
>>>>
>>>> "windsurferLA" <ps144nyc@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:47ea7e93$0$1085$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
>>>>> Every once in a while I need to retrieve information that I know
>>>>> exists somewhere on the hard drive of my machine in an old Microsoft
>>>>> Word2.0 file. My tests seem to indicate that both with WinXP/SR2 and
>>>>> Copernic search functions no longer find text strings within the old
>>>>> Word2.0 files. How might I identify a file containing the desired text
>>>>> string? Speed is not an issue, as I can let the machine search all
>>>>> night long.
>>>>>
>>>>> Windsurfer LA
>>>>
>>