Thanks for your response. As it turns out, the search function fixed itself without me doing anything. No clue what did it. FWIW, I tried Google desktop and it didn't turn up any pst files. However, once the Windows search function came back up, that worked for me, although as somebody else pointed out, the files cannot be hidden. Perhaps that is why google desktop did not find it. Once I get the other bugs worked out, I will check out the options you suggested. Thanks again to you and everybody else who have responded. Bruce --- On Sun, 4/17/11, Peter Ekkerman <[log in to unmask]> wrote: From: Peter Ekkerman <[log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [PCSOFT] Windows "Search Companion" problem To: [log in to unmask] Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 2:48 PM Hi Bruce, I had started this related to your Outlook query, but read the section about the Search programs below. Hi, This is initially directed to Bruce Lund, but if useful to anyone else ,so much the better. I noticed in your query about the location of your Outlook files ,that you mentioned this: " If I had the search function working (and knew the file type) this would have been a piece of cake. But sigh, life is not easy." Your query about Outlook has been answered ,but for future searches ,try Google first. A simple query like "outlook file type" will give you an almost immediate result. You may even find a page about the location of the files on your hard drive. But if not, use one of the better search programs. Windows Search on XP is pretty useless. It's a bit better if you have the Indexing Service running, but that's a hog and so are others that use indexing. I know there are many other search utilities and I tried many of them too ,but they just can't beat the 3 below for speed. Try the following: All 3 are very fast, don't use indexing and are portable (no install) XSearch http://www.easexp.com/xsearch/ UltraSearch http://www.jam-software.com/ultrasearch/ Everything http://www.voidtools.com/ Usage: XSearch interface is similar to XP Search ,but that's where it ends. Speed is 70- 100 X faster Enter a word and location to search and Search. Immediately it will give you the exact files. Leave it to search longer and every file or folder name that contains your query will be listed for the selected location. By enabling (in XSearch) context menu of folders or drives, all you need to do is r-click a folder or drive and XSearch will search only in that location. UltraSearch works the opposite way in a sense. Select (tick) the drive you want to search (listed a bottom) and as soon as you enter a letter , it will show results. Type out the whole query and all locations of this file will be shown. If you tick "Include Folders" found under Options, you'll get folder names with your query as well. In a sense it's somewhat similar to Win7 Search. Everything. This one will show literally everything in a flash as soon as you select a location to search. By entering your search query ,you'll narrow down to the files or folders with that name. You'll never use XP Search again <grin> Peter E PSOFT maintains hundreds of useful files for download visit our download web page at: http://freepctech.com/index.php/downloads