Sometimes you need to find a specific file, but you have no idea where it is. Either it has vanished from its normal spot, or you just plain forgot where you saved it on your computer. While using the Windows Search function can be useful, you might find situations where you need to find more than one file, or if you remember only part of a file’s name. If you find yourself doing digital archaeology on a regular basis, perhaps try the free app UltraSearch.
UltraSearch goes a little further than the default search feature you get with Windows. Once downloaded and installed from the website, you can boot the software by either double-clicking a shortcut, or by right-clicking and selecting ‘Start UltraSearch’. You can also click ‘Search With UltraSearch’ if you want to tell UltraSearch to only search within the folder you have right clicked on or within.
When UltraSearch is launched, it will display the following window.
At the search bar at the top, you can type in the name of a file that you want to look for. There are different tricks you can use while searching, which are similar to the way you would search while using Googles. Here are a few ways you can get the most out of UltraSearch.
When searching for a file, you can enter a term and the program will search for all files under that term.
If you want the program to find files with an exact term, place the whole search in speechmarks. The program will be reading the entire file name you place in speechmarks, including the file format, so make sure you write the entire name of the file and its format.
You can also place an asterisk within the search for it to act like a wild card. Placing it at the end of a search term will find all files that start with your search.
You can also place the wild card at the start. If you do this, remember that file names are worded as ‘file name.doc’. If you searched ‘*name’, you won’t get a result; you’d need to write ‘*name.doc’ for UltraSearch to find your file.
You can also tell UltraSearch to include folders in your search. Just click on Search, then ‘Include Folders’, and UltraSearch will start displaying matching folder results as well.
With UltraSearch, finding lost files becomes easy. Give it a shot and try to find those files you’ve long since lost!
~ Simon