How to search for files with specific contents on Windows XP/2003 Server

Microsoft Windows Explorer (or NT Explorer) has the search function to help us to search files with specific attributes. However, if we do not set the preference to our own likes, the default search preference may not be what everybody wants. The most significant one is whether to search files with unknown extensions, or even no extensions. The default setting is NO. That is why we can’t find files with the specific contents we are looking for, even though we know they are there. Please note that it does not have anything to do with turning on the Indexing Service or not.

To set the preference correctly, such that it will search for files with unknown extensions, we will have to (from Desktop):

Start --> Search --> Chang Preferences --> With(out) Indexing Services --> Change Indexing Service Settings (Advanced) --> (Indexing Services Console Shows) --> Right Click on the Console Window Screen --> Properties --> Check "Indexing Files with Unknown Extension" if unchecked --> OK

Please note that this preference may be "per user" not "per machine", so it is possible that whoever logged in will need to setup the preference him/herself.