Simple file name search

Thsi started with Vista, but has continued in Windows 7.
999 times out of 1000 when I search, I search for a filename, often using only part of the filename.
In XP, provided you didn't install the Windows Search update, it was simple, and worked well. Even if you did install the search update, you could get back to the old search usinf the search companion.
Now, starting with Vista and now Windows 7 the searches take longer and display all sorts of unwanted files because it is searching contents too. I end up clciking to index everything and it is still slow.
At least Vista, after you've done one search, lets you go to advanced search and slect search filenames only. Of course, for that 1 in 1000, I had to do a search, then go to advanced and select to search contents too.

How can I get a simple, search filenames only?
BTW I do these search in computer, already at the desired file and folder, not in the search box from the start icon. That's a good way to get thousands of files selected.

Windows 7 does allow searching filenames only. You can also restrict searching to a specific folder. However you cannot INDEX only filenames (at least not easily). The additional overhead of content indexing is why MS warns against indexing entire drives.

To search only filenames from the Start | Search box, just use "name: myfilename", where myfilename is your file. You can also use leading and trailing wild cards.

If you've already navigated to a folder in Windows Explorer, searches are done within that folder by default. E.g, navigate to My Documents, and in the upper right search box type "*.pdf", which searches within your current folder for pdf documents (by filename).

Note there is a powerful search syntax called Advanced Query Syntax. You can use this from the initial Start|Search box, or anywhere else. You can use Boolean modifications like NOT and OR, search only specific file types like folders, start searches in a specified folder from the original search box, etc. See: Advanced Query Syntax

If you want a fast, simple, filename-only indexer there are several available 3rd party tools. I use "Everything.exe", which is free and runs OK on Windows 7: Everything Search Engine

I'm sorry. I don't normally like to argue with genuinely stated opinions in public forums but I really must take issue with this statement:

>>However, no one should EVER need to search for filenames. Searching with file names is a very bad practice. It forces users to remember the names of hundreds of files. Searching by file contents is so much easier.<<

Of course people need to search for filenames. This morning I wanted to check what folder a particular Windows component (MSCOMCT2.OCX in this instance) was installed in. I neither know nor care what actual data is contained within MSCOMCT2.OCX but I know the file name. I don't want to be told about the umpteen emails I might have that talk about the file, or any notes I may have made that mention it. I just want to find the file.

This is just one of many examples of instances where I know full well what the file is called and am not interested in any file's contents. Providing a search for file name facility (in addition to a content search) certainly does not force me, or anyone else, to remember file names.

It's horses for courses. Sometimes folk might want to search by file content. Curiously, I have yet to find much need for that facility myself but I don't begrudge it to those who do find it useful. I, on the other hand, frequently want to search for files by name. As a software developer these are, more often than not, executables and other binary files whose content (by which I mean the actual bit patterns contained in the file) isn't relevant to me.

So to say that no one ever needs to search for files by name is a very blinkered statement.

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