Find Every File in computer search

When you search for a file in Windows Windows searches

only for file types it recognizes. Files that aren't

listed in the 'Registered file types' list are ignored.

A simple edit of the Registry will make Windows search

for every file, regardless of its extension.

Open the Registry Editor as described above, and then

navigate to and select:



HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\ContentIndex.



Double-click the FilterFilesWithUnknownExtensions icon

in the right pane, change the 0 in the 'Value data' box

to 1, and press Enter.



To ensure that Windows XP searches for every possible

file, select All Files and Folders under 'Type of file'

in the Search Companion pane. (If you don't see this

option, click More Advanced Options.) Check Search system

folders, Search hidden files and folders, and Search

subfolders (as desired). In Windows 2000, click Search

Options, check Type, and make sure that (All Files and

Folders) is selected in the resulting drop-down menu.

Check Advanced Options, and make sure Search Subfolders

is checked. Finally, to ensure that Windows 2000 finds

system and hidden files, choose Tools, Folder Options

and click the View tab. In the 'Advanced settings' list,

select Show hidden files and folders. Uncheck Hide

protected operating system files (Recommended), click

Yes to acknowledge the warning, and finish by clicking OK.