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Searching in Windows 7 is frustrating, inconsistent, and too different from in XP. One of the most egregious problems is that it insists on grouping search results by the immediate parent of items. That is, in the Folder column, instead of simply listing the directory path that the item is stored in, Windows 7 lists the immediate parent, and then puts the rest of the path in parentheses.

This behavior is baffling at best since it has little, if any, practical application, but more importantly, it breaks sorting on the Folder column as shown below.

Is there a way to get Windows 7 to knock it off?

Correct Folder-sorting in XP:

Correct Folder-sorting in XP

Incorrect Folder-sorting in 7

Incorrect Folder-sorting in 7

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I'm at work on XP now, but I believe there an alternative column you can add called "Path" or "FullPath", which acts like Folder in XP. It is then useful to have both options - whereas XP only sorted by path. Now try to search for files that contains two words (AND, not OR). Mwahahah. – mtone May 2 '11 at 18:43
Actually, I had already looked for another column like In Folder Contained, etc., but found none (and didn’t feel like searching through all the default columns that 7 includes). You’re right; there is one called Path – not Folder Path - that does that. If you re-post this as an answer, I can accept it (and check out your problem). :-D – Synetech May 2 '11 at 18:53
Done, thanks. As for the AND search terms, pretty certain there's no solution. – mtone May 2 '11 at 18:58
Woah, I just noticed that in the Windows-7 screenshot, the columns are messed up; Size is empty and placed in Folder, and Folder is placed in a non-existent column! What the heck‽ – Synetech May 2 '11 at 18:59
Weird. Might be related to a bug in the XP-classic layout (with the checkbox and all), instead of the default Aero style. – mtone May 2 '11 at 19:08
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You can right-click on your column titles and add one called "Path". Sorting search results on this column will work like it did in Windows XP.

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