Several Windows computers, including desktops, laptops, ultrabooks, notepads, and laptops, can be found in the average modern home. If you fall into this category, then it’s likely that all of your devices are connected, either physically or wirelessly, to a router that gives them access to the internet and allows you to transfer data among them.
Sharing files and folders between computers on a LAN can be cumbersome because it usually requires extensive manual searching through each machine’s shared directories to locate the desired data. Although Windows includes a search function, it only searches the local machine and does not perform network searches automatically.
Several specialized search utilities exist, allowing users to look through their computer’s data and, if they choose, a mapped network drive. Luckily, some free network drive search tools can scan your local network for shared folders, allowing you to discover what is available to you. In this approach, searching the Network Document Search is the same as searching a local machine.
Network Document Search Tools To Locate Shared Folders
The programs we’ve included here can search computer files over the network. This is the ideal approach if there are a lot of shared folders on the network or if folders are constantly being added and withdrawn.
SoftPerfect LAN Search Pro
Search Pro is now available without cost to users. It’s an effective tool for conducting file searches over a LAN with lightning speed and minimal effort on your part. Moreover, Search Pro can scan and search for LAN FTP servers, IP subnets, and restricted network resources.
Unfortunately, LAN Search Pro’s default search method, “Entire network,” does not function, so you won’t be able to start searching the network right away. Either a single IP address or a range of IP addresses can be entered. Choose the Internet Search tab by pressing Ctrl+O. Choose “Just these machines” or “Only computers with the following IP addresses,” then add the addresses or a range.
The built-in password manager is convenient for storing login information for password-protected computers or shared folders. A Comma Separated Value (CSV) file containing a list of computer logins can be imported to facilitate multiple entries if you have remote access saved already.
To search, type your query into the box, as you would in Windows. Several terms can be entered on the line by separating them with a semicolon and using wildcards. When the search finishes and the results are displayed, you may use the usual Windows right-click menu options to perform things like copy, move, delete, copy the path, view the file’s Properties, or rename it.
LanHunt
LanHunt, which is identified as a LAN search engine, is an application that catalogs and stores information about files shared over a local area network. While this method of searching should be faster than LAN Search Pro’s live search, it may not provide the most up-to-date directory of LAN files, if any, that have been uploaded since the index was last updated.
Although LanHunt is written in Java, you’ll need the JRE to run it. Only three simple steps are required to get the file list off the LAN and into the database. Even though the program supports parallel searching, you will first be prompted to enter the IP address range to search on the network to speed up indexing. Keeping this range as small as possible will yield the best results.
SoftPerfect
In order for Network Search Engine to function, one computer on the network must take on the role of a server, scanning the other computers on the network and saving the results in a database. This will allow you to search for files in the database from several machines. This kind of operation requires the server machine to be online whenever possible, or at least online when other machines may want to run a search. Like LAN Search Pro, it is no longer being developed or supported.
Network Search Engine requires a few server-side configuration procedures before they can be used. Access the Admin Panel when the software has been successfully installed. You can access your personal computer by clicking on Computers after entering your Windows username and password (needed) under General. Like LAN Search Pro, we had to resort to “Specified PCs only” or “Specified IP ranges” instead of the Whole network option.
Everything
When it comes to searching for files and folders, Everything is without question the most well-known and widely-used database-based search tool there is. It also scans drives regularly and updates its database to ensure the file list is always accurate. While local drives are scanned automatically, you can add as many shared network drives or folders to Everything index.
To set up folders once everything is up and running, select them from the Tools > Settings menu (Ctrl+P). Select Add and then Add Network Folder or Add Network Drive to access the share. All of it can check for changes in each shared folder automatically or let the user set a schedule for when to rescan the share, for example, once per day or once per week. After adding the new shared folders, select “Rescan All Now” to update the database.
File Finder Pro/Agent Ransack
Each instrument was once distinct but is now an equivalent product (we’ll refer to Agent Ransack) and can be used interchangeably. Once launching either app, choose the “Lite (Free)” option. With a single click of the search button, Agent Ransack will immediately begin scanning all of your connected drives or network shares, making it the only live search option available. If you have a lot of files and/or shares to sort through, this will be an inconvenience.
It’s simple to include shared folders in the search index. The “Browse For Several Folders” button may be found on the right-hand side of the program’s main window. To use Explorer to look for a shared folder, select the little browse icon from the “Recent Folders” submenu. The folder can be added to the list by clicking the Add button. If you just want to look in shared folders, you can hide entries like “C:” from the list. Proceed with the OK button.
To begin your search, simply type in your keywords (Regex is supported) and hit the Go button. Please be aware that text searches within files are supported but that searching many locations across the network could take quite some time. With the multiple folders window, saving the search location list to a file and loading it again later is a handy feature. To expedite the process of creating new folders, you can also import a text file that has already been created.
Anytxt Searcher
Anytxt searcher is a powerful and easy-to-use tool that allows you to search for files on your network drives using full-text indexing. It supports various file formats, such as PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. You can use advanced filters and operators to refine your search results and find exactly what you need.
To perform a Network file search, you need to click Options > Index Manger to index network drives after mapping network drives. Then you can simply run it from your local computer and start searching. Anytxt searcher is a great solution for anyone who needs to search and locate files on network drives efficiently and conveniently.
