Hi all,

I'm currently looking for an open source/free windows file search utility. Would anyone be able to suggest something?

Thanks Wallace.

If you want something simple that doesn't generate massive index files have a look at Everything. I haven't used it for awhile, since switching to Linux full time, but I remember it as useful and fast. SearchMyFiles by NirSoft is very good with more options. All the NirSoft utilities are excellent.

If you want small size and speed either is a good choice. There are other more comprehensive ones but some create massive index files. Both of the ones I mentioned leverage existing NTSF data so their indexes are tiny in comparison.

Hi Wallace

I use "Everything Search Engine".

Go to: http://www.voidtools.com/

Completely free.

I think this may be exactly what I've been looking for. I'll give it a shot and see how I like it.
A small file indexing footprint is a good pro and something I'm much interested in.

Thanks for the suggestions you guys.

Wallace, I would try them both and do checkout the other NirSoft utilities. Both NirSoft and Sysinternals Utilities have excellent tools for Windows power users.

I do not use Windows much these days, but I was a great fan of 'portable' software.

This site is very reliable and their section on file search lists 19 applications

http://www.portablefreeware.com/index.php?sc=155

Top of the list, UltraSearch looks promising.

edit: or maybe not, says it is 'ad supported'

Thanks for the tip Odin.
I'll be following that up for sure.

Yeah... I don't need adds, but I'll check that out too. Thanks for your suggestion Rich2005.

I'm a bit old school, but I do my file name search using DOS. dir "*myfile*" /s will search the whole tree quickly and >> mysearch.log will make a text file list of all instances.

For inside files, I use Notetab++. The search within files takes a bit especially with large files, but it gives an easy clickable list.

I used to have a search within files down the tree batch file, but they took away the DOS function I was using and I haven't bothered to fix it .

I was given agent ransack, I have no clue if it's free of he just gave me his copy though. lol

If you are looking to only search filenames, Locate32 is the fastest I have found and it is portable. I sets up a database to do the searches, but is is small. I have 4GB of storage and the database is less than 29MB. to update the database takes me 15 sec. For windows, it comes in a 32 of 64 bit version.

http://locate32.cogit.net/

Thanks everyone. I will consider all that has been suggested.

Hey Wallace,

I'm using Lookeen which has, since 1-2 months, a free version. It's a free Windows search alternative.

Best Regards,
Regis

Thanks Regis. Looks as though Looking now only has a 14 days free trial version available.

I think with version 10 they offer a completely free version now...