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Win 7 Search not Indexing TB 31 Emails after new HD+Fresh OS Install

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Greetings and thank you in advance for any help on this very frustrating problem.

My OS is Win 7 upgraded from Vista on an HPDV3T-2000. I rely heavily on windows searching emails because that's where I have happily had easy access to client correspondence and many other receipts and info. Since the new HD and OS install in September, the searches do not return emails in a readable form. The most I can get is long string names as wdseml file types which are useless; or worse, meaningless msf files. Before the new install, I got fast returns with readable subject lines, content, recipient, etc.

  • I have posted a screen print of my search results here: thecomputercat dotcom /Search-DollyRx.jpg (pls use the capital letters exactly as written.)

I have studied and learned many things about TB and windows search both and have tried everything I can find; redoing the indexing options probably close to two dozen times trying to get the TB search to integrate with Win7 search.

After the initial reinstall I copied over the entire profile folder including my former default name since mozbackup failed to restore all 3 mail accounts (google and earthlink) for some reason.

I've also uninstalled and reinstalled TB twice to 'jiggle' the new TB mail index settings again + have used the win search fixit tool to reset the index.

TB emails are located where they are supposed to be: C:\Users\Catherine\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\'numbered-string-name'.default. I know TB emails don't have a file extension, per se. msf and wdseml filed types are included in the indexing options.

The default indexing options put in by TB after the TB reinstall (Included Locations) do NOT work:

Imapmail Mail News Start Menu Users-excluding appdata appdata (for myself and default users).

This is the latest Included Locations that does not pull up readable emails: Start Menu & Users (no excluded). However: the subfolders under my profile folder DO pull up.

I deleted and rebuilt the gloda file 2-3 times, then reindexed the system. No change. Does Windows return search results when you search for a file name etc, just to ensure about search.....

I have checked this option in Thunderbird to include search. Tools >Options> Advanced> General Allow Windows Search to search messages, is YES.

This is a huge, major frustration because I have relied for years on search for emails and content searches and am completely hamstrung. Plus, I loved the Windows search! I don't want a 3rd party search, I want my Windows search back, healed.

Can anyone please help me?

Thank you in advance from Catherine.

Greetings and thank you in advance for any help on this very frustrating problem. My OS is Win 7 upgraded from Vista on an HPDV3T-2000. I rely heavily on windows searching emails because that's where I have happily had easy access to client correspondence and many other receipts and info. Since the new HD and OS install in September, the searches do not return emails in a readable form. The most I can get is long string names as wdseml file types which are useless; or worse, meaningless msf files. Before the new install, I got fast returns with readable subject lines, content, recipient, etc. *I have posted a screen print of my search results here: thecomputercat dotcom /Search-DollyRx.jpg (pls use the capital letters exactly as written.) I have studied and learned many things about TB and windows search both and have tried everything I can find; redoing the indexing options probably close to two dozen times trying to get the TB search to integrate with Win7 search. After the initial reinstall I copied over the entire profile folder including my former default name since mozbackup failed to restore all 3 mail accounts (google and earthlink) for some reason. I've also uninstalled and reinstalled TB twice to 'jiggle' the new TB mail index settings again + have used the win search fixit tool to reset the index. TB emails are located where they are supposed to be: C:\Users\Catherine\AppData\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\'numbered-string-name'.default. I know TB emails don't have a file extension, per se. msf and wdseml filed types are included in the indexing options. The default indexing options put in by TB after the TB reinstall (Included Locations) do NOT work: Imapmail Mail News Start Menu Users-excluding appdata appdata (for myself and default users). This is the latest Included Locations that does not pull up readable emails: Start Menu & Users (no excluded). However: the subfolders under my profile folder DO pull up. I deleted and rebuilt the gloda file 2-3 times, then reindexed the system. No change. Does Windows return search results when you search for a file name etc, just to ensure about search..... I have checked this option in Thunderbird to include search. Tools >Options> Advanced> General Allow Windows Search to search messages, is YES. This is a huge, major frustration because I have relied for years on search for emails and content searches and am completely hamstrung. Plus, I loved the Windows search! I don't want a 3rd party search, I want my Windows search back, healed. Can anyone please help me? Thank you in advance from Catherine.

All Replies (2)

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I am not reading all that.

Windows search is vastlyinferior to any other search I can think of. It hides more than it displays and results in hundreds of post in this forum from people saying things do not exist that do because windows sort of search did not find it for them.

The search is based on the creation of wdseml files in addition to the normal Thunderbird mail store. Simply because windows search is so lame. For whatever period the option to use windows search was turned off those files will not have been created and windows search will not be able to find those mails.

If you want to find mails, use the search in Thunderbird, much faster and actually complete.

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Fine, if you don't want to read it, I'm not going to fight about it. I am trying to do my meager part by supplying thorough information in order to assist someone knowledgeable in diagnosing and fixing the problem. The goal is not to waste an expert's time with an incomplete history.

If you had bothered to skim it, you might have noticed that windows search was never 'turned off' for any period of time - if that's your point in why it doesn't work on this new computer hard drive. You would have seen that I 'do' get wdseml files in the search returns. I get all the emails; but I can't 'read' them because they come back with a coded title string such as '51284F46.8090509%40@earthlink.net' as opposed to readable English text like on the old hard drive.

Respectfully, I have used TB search, if I wanted to use that I would not have posted for help with Win7 search, so please don't shoot me for that. Opinions trashing windows search and not even reading the details of the issue are not helpful.

Moving on: I still think there might be a missing filter; or a corrupted profile or indexing file; or another option that is missing here that can be fixed. If anyone knows a solution and has the patience to read the symptoms - and the kindness to help me resolve the issue I am asking for help with - I will be very grateful.