SwiftSearch is a lightweight program whose purpose is to help you quickly find the files you need on your Windows machine without ever requiring you to index your drives. It completely bypasses the file system (only NTFS supported) and reads the file table directly every time, which speeds up search significantly. Program also supports path-based search, regular expressions and full directory sizes.
Command-line version is also available.
Category: | |
Runs on: | WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | None |
Dependencies: | Administrator rights |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | CC BY-NC 2.0 |
How to extract: | Download SwiftSearch32.exe or SwiftSearch64.exe to a folder of your choice and launch. |
What's new? |
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Latest comments |
TP109
on 2019-12-31 21:50
Lightning quick launch and very fast searching. Useful for searching within multiple subdirectories for files or folders with partial or similar filenames.
Midas
on 2020-01-02 06:23
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5›
Beware that SwiftSearch doesn't seem to be able to follow hard/symbolic filesystem links. |
UltraFileSearch Lite quickly finds files, folders and text on your local, network, or external media. The program allows you to specify several file masks and drives/folders at the same time; it is able to sort them according to their properties (e.g. modified date) and find files that contain one or more specific words or sentences.
This utility does not use background indexing.
NOTE: Beyond version 5.3.0, the program is shareware. Linking to the last freeware "Lite" version. The shareware version has additional features.
Category: | |
Runs on: | WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | Free for personal use |
How to extract: | Download the "Portable" ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch UltraFileSearchLite.exe. |
Similar/alternative apps: | SearchMyFiles |
What's new? |
See: https://www.ultrafilesearch.com/history.html |
Latest comments |
hamasaki
on 2013-10-26 07:04
Whilst I do have a commercial licence for this, my personal favourite search utility is File Locator Pro.
rbon
on 2019-06-03 17:10
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18›
UltraFileSearch Standard V.5.4.0.19067 has been released at March 2019. |
CSearcher is a lightweight, non-indexing search program with a variety of filters. The program can select by size, date, patterns, text content and maintains a search history. Files can be checked with MD5 and compared with other files, or shown in a HEX viewer.
Both search criteria and restrictions can be saved separately. Supports advanced Regular expression form with live testing, and search results can be exported to XML, HTML, or CSV file.
Category: | |
Runs on: | Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Dependencies: | .NET Framework v4.0 |
Stealth: ? | No. Log file saved to AppData\Local\Microsoft\CLR_v4.0\UsageLogs |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: | Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch CSearcher.exe. |
Similar/alternative apps: | SearchMyFiles, Ultra File Search Lite, SMF |
What's new? |
Fixed:
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Latest comments |
freakazoid
on 2018-01-20 15:14
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2›
Website is promising based on its benchmarks, but I found it harder to use than SearchMyFiles. I primarily use SearchMyFiles to find files containing a certain string in a nested directory. |
LookDisk is a fast and effective file, text, and duplicate search tool that supports searching with specific parameters. Includes support for searching archive files (e.g. .ZIP files). Displays a disk overview (size and free space).
Category: | |
Runs on: | WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | Application Folder |
Stealth: ? | No. %WINDIR%\gridList |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: | Download the "Portable Version" ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch ldw.exe. |
Latest comments |
vinc64
on 2022-11-22 08:02
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12›
Please note that the download link for LookDisk is now http://lookdisk.simply.cool/portable_version.zip |
Search and Delete is a lightweight tool scanning one or more folders from various sources for files. The program can then rename the file extension, delete the file, or replace it with one you provide. Search results can be saved and loaded later.
Great for system administrators who need to update multiple specific files.
Category: | |
Runs on: | Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | None. Preferences are saved inside the application folder on user demand: SearchAndDelete.ini. |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
Path portability: | Automatic relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc) |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: | Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch SearchAndDelete.exe. |
Latest comments |
smaragdus
on 2016-02-26 22:01
The program name is stylized as "Search and delete"- "delete" is not capitalized.
I am Baas
on 2016-02-27 09:51
Add comment
2›
@smaragdus |
HDDB (HardDisk DataBase) is a file search tool that provides as-you-type results to search terms. The program quickly assembles a database of the drive contents on initial program-run and keeps this until another check is run (or a regular check is set in options). Since the program doesn't auto scan for changes on start-up, searches can be conducted on the previously saved data.
Additional features include lightning fast sorting, folder search panel, folder sizes (enabled in Tools - Options), thumbnail view, folder tree view, named searches, multiple instances, file listing export, and command-line support. Although the program doesn't do live updates, it can be set to auto-update on a timer (e.g. 5 minutes, daily, at startup, etc.)
Only functional on NTFS drives, but does not require admin privileges or trigger UAC prompts like similar programs. Does not search file internals.
Note: Main site offline, linking to Archive.org and Softpedia. Accessory files are also available (thanks Userfriendly).
Category: | |
Runs on: | WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: | Download hddb-[version number].x86.exe or hddb-[version number].x64.exe to a folder of your choice and launch. |
Similar/alternative apps: | Everything, Ultra File Search Lite, UltraSearch |
What's new? |
New features:
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Latest comments |
joby_toss
on 2015-05-21 11:35
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10›
Official blog: https://zhuangzhonglong.wordpress.com/ |
Pretty Run is a powerful keystroke-based program launcher and search tool. It searches the start menu, desktop or any other folder for the shortcuts or files that meet your query. More than that, Pretty Run allows searching Internet Explorer favorites, Firefox and Chrome bookmarks, Control Panel items, Printers, mp3 files (by tags), jpg files (by exif data), databases, clipboard and on the internet (more search engines can be added to those already included).
Program also includes screen capture tool, Magic Words, a note manager, etc.
Note: To help compensate for drive letter changes that happens with removable drives, use the %PrettyRunDrive% environment variable.
Category: | |
Runs on: | WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
Unicode support: | Partial |
Path portability: | Requires manual entry of relative path (eg. ..\..\personal\work.doc) |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: |
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Similar/alternative apps: | Executor Launchy |
What's new? |
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Latest comments |
oblivion
on 2014-03-12 11:45
Interesting, effective, but slow.
Midas
on 2014-06-02 11:13
Add comment
3›
Pretty Run changelog hasn't been updated since v6.1.0.17 (http://www.pretty-software.com/prettyrunhistory.txt)... |
Locate32 is an indexing search tool that allows you to find files on local and Windows networking-compatible remote shares. After an initial search of shares, it uses database to provide instant for any number of files and folders. Searches can be set on a variety of criterion including date, size, extension, files/folders, etc.
Note that the databases must be updated to give accurate information. You can customize places to search and frequency of each update (e.g. your desktop hourly, your backup drive weekly). Some file types' contents can be searched including most MS Office file formats, but only some PDFs and image metadata.
Category: | |
Runs on: | Win98 / WinME / WinNT / Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | FreeBSD |
How to extract: |
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Similar/alternative apps: | DocFetcher |
What's new? | For Locate32 changes up to v3.1 RC3l build 10.8220 see http://sourceforge.net/projects/locate32/files/. |
Latest comments |
Midas
on 2015-07-09 15:02
See http://www.portablefreeware.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=75621#p75621 for info on newer versions...
smaragdus
on 2016-05-02 13:38
See all
8›
I think that: |
BinText is a file text scanner / extractor that helps find character strings buried in binary files. The program can extract text from any kind of file and display plain ASCII text, Unicode (double byte ANSI) text, as well as Resource strings. Additional useful information for each item is included in the "Advanced" mode. Uniquely, the program will show both the file offset and the memory offset of each string found.
Although primarily targeted for programmers, it can be used by anyone interested in ferreting out character strings buried within binary files.
Note: Although updated versions of the program exist, the 3.00 version is listed for reasons described in forums.
Category: | |
Runs on: | Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win10 |
Writes settings to: | None |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
Unicode support: | Yes |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: | Download the ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch bintext.exe. |
Latest comments |
__philippe
on 2013-07-15 08:17
Here is an old (2006) but interesting narrative about using Bintext for viewing Unicode strings in executables.
__philippe
on 2013-07-26 18:24
Add comment
2›
BinText at your finger_tip: (WinXP tested) |
SoftPerfect LAN Search Pro is an easy, non-indexing file search for your local network. You can search for specific file names or types (e.g. all MP3 files). The program lets you search hidden network resources, restricted access resources, IP subnets, LAN FTP servers and much more. It comes with a built-in password manager to store your network logins for resources with restricted access.
A 64-bit version is available (within the folder).
Category: | |
Runs on: | Win2K / WinXP / Vista / Win7 |
Writes settings to: | Application folder |
Stealth: ? | Yes |
License: | Freeware |
How to extract: | Download the 'Portable' ZIP package and extract to a folder of your choice. Launch lansearch.exe. |
What's new? |
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Latest comments |
webfork
on 2013-11-23 18:44
Great for small companies and intranets. If you are on a network with a lot of people sharing a lot of files without much control over that, it can be hard to track down the information you need. This lets you find what you need across multiple shares on multiple computers.
Wolfghost
on 2013-11-23 20:46
For those who use AdBlock, pause AdBlock before you download, (if not) you will not receive the file!
Craunch
on 2013-11-24 10:00
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4›
For information I've just downloaded the portable version from the website and did not need to pause my AdBlock+. |