Start Menu search finding only folders

I recently had to reinstall Vista Business with SP2 due to a major
crash. After reinstalling, I set Windows to index the D: drive, which is
where I keep all my downloaded files, including pictures and PDFs. I
made sure various file types are being indexed, and appropriate ones are
being searched for content as well as file name.

When I try to search for files I know are in the index by typing a file
name in the Start menu, nothing comes up except FOLDER names that match
the search. When I click Search Everywhere, I get the full and correct
list of what matches that search. If I double-click one of these
matching files and open it, soon it WILL appear in the Start menu search
results, but the rest still don't.

I have rebuilt the index and waited for the indexing to be complete,
with no change. I have confirmed that the entire disk D: is being
indexed. I have also found that everything in my user profile, including
documents I wrote myself, shows up in a Start Menu search as it should.
This problem ONLY affects files on the second drive.

(Please don't tell me to use another search program or to search without
indexing. I want to FIX this problem, not avoid it.)

--
David Trimboli
http://www.trimboli.name/

On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:45:15 -0400, David Trimboli <>
wrote:

>I recently had to reinstall Vista Business with SP2 due to a major
>crash. After reinstalling, I set Windows to index the D: drive, which is
>where I keep all my downloaded files, including pictures and PDFs. I
>made sure various file types are being indexed, and appropriate ones are
>being searched for content as well as file name.
>
>When I try to search for files I know are in the index by typing a file
>name in the Start menu, nothing comes up except FOLDER names that match
>the search. When I click Search Everywhere, I get the full and correct
>list of what matches that search. If I double-click one of these
>matching files and open it, soon it WILL appear in the Start menu search
>results, but the rest still don't.
>
>I have rebuilt the index and waited for the indexing to be complete,
>with no change. I have confirmed that the entire disk D: is being
>indexed. I have also found that everything in my user profile, including
>documents I wrote myself, shows up in a Start Menu search as it should.
>This problem ONLY affects files on the second drive.
>
>(Please don't tell me to use another search program or to search without
>indexing. I want to FIX this problem, not avoid it.)

Hello David,

Start menu searching has its own settings, independent of the search
options in control panel. You can check the settings by right-clicking on
a blank area of the Start menu and choosing Properties. Then click the
Customize button on the Start Menu tab. Now scroll down to the item
"Search Files". Choose "Search entire index". Done.

Doug M. in NJ

Retroman wrote:
> On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:45:15 -0400, David Trimboli <>
> wrote:
>
>> I recently had to reinstall Vista Business with SP2 due to a major
>> crash. After reinstalling, I set Windows to index the D: drive, which is
>> where I keep all my downloaded files, including pictures and PDFs. I
>> made sure various file types are being indexed, and appropriate ones are
>> being searched for content as well as file name.
>>
>> When I try to search for files I know are in the index by typing a file
>> name in the Start menu, nothing comes up except FOLDER names that match
>> the search. When I click Search Everywhere, I get the full and correct
>> list of what matches that search. If I double-click one of these
>> matching files and open it, soon it WILL appear in the Start menu search
>> results, but the rest still don't.
>>
>> I have rebuilt the index and waited for the indexing to be complete,
>> with no change. I have confirmed that the entire disk D: is being
>> indexed. I have also found that everything in my user profile, including
>> documents I wrote myself, shows up in a Start Menu search as it should.
>> This problem ONLY affects files on the second drive.
>>
>> (Please don't tell me to use another search program or to search without
>> indexing. I want to FIX this problem, not avoid it.)
>
> Hello David,
>
> Start menu searching has its own settings, independent of the search
> options in control panel. You can check the settings by right-clicking on
> a blank area of the Start menu and choosing Properties. Then click the
> Customize button on the Start Menu tab. Now scroll down to the item
> "Search Files". Choose "Search entire index". Done.
>
> Doug M. in NJ

Oh my goodness. Thank you very much, Doug! I must have set that long,
long ago in my first installation and completely forgotten about it.

--
David Trimboli
http://www.trimboli.name/

On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 10:57:00 -0400, David Trimboli <>
wrote:

>Retroman wrote:
>> On Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:45:15 -0400, David Trimboli <>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> I recently had to reinstall Vista Business with SP2 due to a major
>>> crash. After reinstalling, I set Windows to index the D: drive, which is
>>> where I keep all my downloaded files, including pictures and PDFs. I
>>> made sure various file types are being indexed, and appropriate ones are
>>> being searched for content as well as file name.
>>>
>>> When I try to search for files I know are in the index by typing a file
>>> name in the Start menu, nothing comes up except FOLDER names that match
>>> the search. When I click Search Everywhere, I get the full and correct
>>> list of what matches that search. If I double-click one of these
>>> matching files and open it, soon it WILL appear in the Start menu search
>>> results, but the rest still don't.
>>>
>>> I have rebuilt the index and waited for the indexing to be complete,
>>> with no change. I have confirmed that the entire disk D: is being
>>> indexed. I have also found that everything in my user profile, including
>>> documents I wrote myself, shows up in a Start Menu search as it should.
>>> This problem ONLY affects files on the second drive.
>>>
>>> (Please don't tell me to use another search program or to search without
>>> indexing. I want to FIX this problem, not avoid it.)
>>
>> Hello David,
>>
>> Start menu searching has its own settings, independent of the search
>> options in control panel. You can check the settings by right-clicking on
>> a blank area of the Start menu and choosing Properties. Then click the
>> Customize button on the Start Menu tab. Now scroll down to the item
>> "Search Files". Choose "Search entire index". Done.
>>
>> Doug M. in NJ
>
>Oh my goodness. Thank you very much, Doug! I must have set that long,
>long ago in my first installation and completely forgotten about it.

You're quite welcome, David, and thanks for the feedback!

Doug M. in NJ