I think this is cross posted at http://www.sevenforums.com/general-discussion/101854-search-files-metachars-filename-ex.html
and
http://windows7forums.com/windows-7-support/47097-greetings-i-just-upgraded-winxp-windows-7-i-have-folder-lot-files-have-either-plus-minus-dashes-file-name-sometimes-more-than.html
However what most find is that Microsoft's search is unreliable and changes not only with the OS but across MSFT's Apps.
I'd look to using other search tools.
Bob
Greetings!
I just upgraded from WinXP to Windows 7. I have a folder with a lot of files that have either plus or minus/dashes ("-") in the file name, sometimes more than one. For example, some filenames might be:
Matterhorn +++.wmv
Space Mountain ++-.avi
Star Tours +.mp3
Star Tours (second day) ++++.mp3
I used this for my own filing system methods and sorting.
In WinXP, searching for all files with "+++" with the Search box was no problem, but in Windows 7 the search box returns the plus ("+") sign as a global/metacharacter, such as "*", and expands the character to match a global value. As such, the listing I get for the above search gives me all files with three chars in a row, as substituted by the "+" signs. This is obviously incorrect.
I tried quoting and backslashing in many different combinations, to no avail:
\+
/+
"+"
"\+"
Is there any way to escape the metachar value so that I get the literal value in my search? or, is there a "classic XP" search style available?
Any help appreciated, as always!!!
Thanks!!!!!!
....k

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