Finding Files

Problem

How to find a file
User "lost" a file somewhere on hard drive. Finding where it is.

Diagnosis

User is backing up or installing or doing a version update for Goldenseal business management software, or otherwise working with files. They can't find something even though it is supposed to be there. Maybe they dragged a file and accidentally lifted mouse so it dropped into an unexpected place, or maybe it has the wrong name or they don't remember the name exactly.

Solution

1. Start by having them look in the Mac Finder or Windows Explorer. If it is supposed to be in a particular folder, might as well look there first.

HINT-- If they're viewing icons, it helps to view the window as a list. (Mac-- choose As List from View menu. Win-- choose List from View menu). Often they'll see the file then.

2. If that doesn't work, do a find for the file name.

Win 98-- Click the Start button and choose Find, then choose Files & Folders

Win 2000-- Click the Start button and choose Search, then choose Files or Folders, or click the Search button in the browser window

Win XP, Vista and 7-- Click the Start button and choose Search, then choose For Files or Folders from the submenu. Or click the Search button in the browser window

Mac 8 & 9-- choose Find from the File menu. This launches Sherlock, which lets them look for files on HD.

Mac OS X-- choose Find from the File menu. This launches Sherlock II, which lets them look for files on HD.

3. If that doesn't work, it's time to do general problem solving. Here are good questions:

• Is there a recent backup somewhere?
• Any chance the file was on a CD or removable drive?
• Maybe they renamed it?
• What do they remember about the file? Can try looking by date or by file type.

Comments

Entered 11/18/04 by Casey. Updated 11/4/2010.