How do I exclude specific directories from a Windows search?

Question

I want to search for a file on drive C:. I know for sure it does not exist in a specific directory(s) (say Program Files). So to shorten my search time, I want Windows to exclude searching in those specific folders. How can I perform such a search (which searches in the C drive but can skip specific folders)?

I would prefer the answer to be a method for Windows search, but am not opposed to it being a script or other simple program.

Answer 1

In line with user117893's answer and using the dir command in a for loop. You can use robocopy or xcopy with the /L (list only) option to search for files.

Robocopy

Just specify the starting directory C:\ and the target file name *File.txt

robocopy C:\ %Temp% *File.txt /S /XD Windows "Program Files" "Program Files (x86)" /XJ /L /NS /NC /NDL /NP /NJH /NJS

Output

C:\Users\Username\Desktop>robocopy C:\ %Temp% *Snapshot.txt /S /XD Windows "Program Files" "Program Files (x86)" /XJ /L /NS /NC /NDL /NP /NJH /NJS

                            C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1408-31_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1523-47_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1534-17_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1535-55_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1537-44_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1552-44_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1553-21_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1556-05_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1558-45_Snapshot.txt
                            C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1610-06_Snapshot.txt

xcopy

setup takes a couple extra steps.

1. An exclude.txt text file must be created which contains the keywords to exclude in the search.
2. To prevent a cyclical copy error message, a temporary drive letter must be created or another drive must be used as the target directory.
3. Then specify the starting directory C:\ and the target file name *File.txt

exclude.txt

\Windows\
\Program Files\
\Program Files (x86)\

Commands

subst Z: %Temp%
xcopy C:\*File.txt Z:\ /S /L /EXCLUDE:exclude.txt
subst Z: \d

Output

C:\Users\Username\Desktop>xcopy C:\*Snapshot.txt Z:\ /S /L /EXCLUDE:exclude.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1408-31_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1523-47_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1534-17_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1535-55_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-13-1537-44_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1552-44_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1553-21_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1556-05_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1558-45_Snapshot.txt
C:\Temp\2013-02-18-1610-06_Snapshot.txt
10 File(s)

Notes

The target is needed only to use the commands (%Temp%), nothing is actually copied due to /L

Both command took under a couple seconds to run with the listed exclusions.

Answer 2

Alternatively, if you don't want to use a third-party software, you can indeed do this by command-line.

It's kind of a hassle to work with directory names that have a space in it such as C:\Program Files so it's not a simple script, but here it is, worked for me in Windows 7:

@echo off
for /f "tokens=*" %%A in ('dir /b /ad C:\') do (
    if "C:\%%A"==%2 (
        echo Not scanning %2
    ) else (
        dir /s /b "C:\%%A\%1"
    )
)

Usage: file.bat file_to_be_searched.extension "C:\directory\not\to\search"

Note the "" in the directory, you must use it for the script to work.

What this does is: For each line (all characters) of the output of the command dir /b /ad C:\, which lists the directories in C:\, do:

If C:\directory is your_directory don't scan it. Else, look for the file you specified in it.

Example (I named the scrip search.bat and placed a file named a.txt in C:\Program Files)

C:\Users\XXXX\Desktop>search.bat a.txt "C:\Windows"
File Not Found
File Not Found
File Not Found
File Not Found
File Not Found
C:\Program Files\a.txt
File Not Found
File Not Found
File Not Found
File Not Found
File Not Found
Not scanning "C:\Windows"

You can adapt the script so it doesn't search multiple directories, adding more if statements.

P.S.: I forgot to mention, this will only search the folder on root, that is, C:\. If you want to search the folders in a different location you'll have to adapt the script. Cheers.

Answer 3

Ditch Windows Search for FileSeek. It's freeware. You can exclude directories, search the contents of files, etc. Saved my hide on numerous occasions. Worth a try:

http://www.fileseek.ca/

Answer 4

If wanting a program, I would recommend AgentRansack by MythicSoft. It is free, fast, and powerful, with a small footprint.

Answer 5

A way to do this inside the Windows search is by using -folder(C:\Path). If the folder name is unique (at least in regards to the area being searched) you can just use the folder name like so: -folder(Program Files)

If you want to include the subfolders inside that folder, you can use -foldername:(C:\Path)

See here for more info. I tested this on Windows 7 and it works. Unsure about other versions.