File Management Organization Effective File Search

Effective File Search 6.8.1 for Windows

by SOW Company

Avg. Rating 4.3 (23 votes)

File Details

File Size 0.9 MB
License Freeware
Operating System Windows (All)
Date Added
Total Downloads 3,482
Publisher SOW Company
Homepage Effective File Search

Publisher's Description

Effective File Search is a powerful but easy to use search tool. Search any files on your computer or local network. Search in folders or results. Search filters include date and size, containing text or hexadecimal codes. All results can be saved to file. Other features include export and file operations.

Latest Reviews

sweathog

sweathog reviewed v6.8 on Aug 13, 2012

UPDATE: Now freeware.

Cons: High price, ancient interface, & upgrade issues raised by @Cris3 but.....
There's a lot to like about this search tool because it addresses issues competitors don't by allowing you to create and save search templates. For instance, suppose you install some rogue software that litters your windows directory with files you don't want. I encounter this issue all the time. Now I make a template shortcut to search all files created in the last 2 minutes (or the time since the install). Bingo, up come the rogue files. Most other file search utilities search for content terms or file names with wildcards (EFS can do this too) or, if they do allow searching date creation or file size, you have to click through a bunch of tabs or they don't allow you to save the search as a template. This app also populates the drive and folder context menus with a right click search option. Overall, very nice and effective. But IMHO only worth about half of what they charge for this app.

Cris3

Cris3 reviewed v6.1 on Apr 7, 2009

I had Effective File Search until I had to buy a new license to continue to use it. Even if a software updates, you should be able to use the older version if you bought it. Not with sowsoft. They gave me a deadline then the program went inactivated.

I now use Everything it it's a dandy and it's free:
http://www.voidtools.com/

You can get Everything here at BetaNews.

jamomea

jamomea reviewed v4.0 on May 15, 2006

Not too bad! Has lots of useful options and search criteria. Small download and overall pretty useful. But it is shareware (has annoying register-me pop ups) and does much of what Windows integrated search does. For most people, there are better freeware tools. For people that need to search by very precise criteria then this will probably meet your need. And it has an old timey gui :-)

Tokar

Tokar reviewed v3.7 on Jul 12, 2005

Effective File Search, or EFS, is a great software product. It has an interface that brings back the search from the days of Windows 95, 98, NT and ME.

Personally, I prefer EFS over Windows 2000/XP search.
I really prefer the 95/98/NT/ME look, and besides that EFS is MUCH faster than Windows 2000/XP search.
I prefer how 95/98/NT/ME presented search results.

The ONLY drawback to this program is that its not free. $30 isnt TERRIBLE, but considering that all windows versions come with included searching tools and there are tons of Desktop Search programs available, it makes EFS pretty worthless.

If you REALLY need the 95/98/NT/ME searching feel, then I HIGHLY recommend this program.
Otherwise stick with windows searching or a desktop search program.

Avg. Rating 4.3 (23 votes)
Your Rating

Someone reviewed v on Mar 19, 2023

Pros:

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Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

sweathog

sweathog reviewed v6.8 on Aug 13, 2012

UPDATE: Now freeware.

Cons: High price, ancient interface, & upgrade issues raised by @Cris3 but.....
There's a lot to like about this search tool because it addresses issues competitors don't by allowing you to create and save search templates. For instance, suppose you install some rogue software that litters your windows directory with files you don't want. I encounter this issue all the time. Now I make a template shortcut to search all files created in the last 2 minutes (or the time since the install). Bingo, up come the rogue files. Most other file search utilities search for content terms or file names with wildcards (EFS can do this too) or, if they do allow searching date creation or file size, you have to click through a bunch of tabs or they don't allow you to save the search as a template. This app also populates the drive and folder context menus with a right click search option. Overall, very nice and effective. But IMHO only worth about half of what they charge for this app.

Cris3

Cris3 reviewed v6.1 on Apr 7, 2009

I had Effective File Search until I had to buy a new license to continue to use it. Even if a software updates, you should be able to use the older version if you bought it. Not with sowsoft. They gave me a deadline then the program went inactivated.

I now use Everything it it's a dandy and it's free:
http://www.voidtools.com/

You can get Everything here at BetaNews.

jamomea

jamomea reviewed v4.0 on May 15, 2006

Not too bad! Has lots of useful options and search criteria. Small download and overall pretty useful. But it is shareware (has annoying register-me pop ups) and does much of what Windows integrated search does. For most people, there are better freeware tools. For people that need to search by very precise criteria then this will probably meet your need. And it has an old timey gui :-)

Tokar

Tokar reviewed v3.7 on Jul 12, 2005

Effective File Search, or EFS, is a great software product. It has an interface that brings back the search from the days of Windows 95, 98, NT and ME.

Personally, I prefer EFS over Windows 2000/XP search.
I really prefer the 95/98/NT/ME look, and besides that EFS is MUCH faster than Windows 2000/XP search.
I prefer how 95/98/NT/ME presented search results.

The ONLY drawback to this program is that its not free. $30 isnt TERRIBLE, but considering that all windows versions come with included searching tools and there are tons of Desktop Search programs available, it makes EFS pretty worthless.

If you REALLY need the 95/98/NT/ME searching feel, then I HIGHLY recommend this program.
Otherwise stick with windows searching or a desktop search program.

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