CNET Editors' review
The search tool built into Windows has gotten a lot better over the years, but many users still prefer a third-party search utility, especially a tool that doesn't use indexing. There are many standalone search tools to choose from, most of them freeware. UltraSearch from JAM Software is a free search tool optimized for NTFS drives. Instead of indexing, it searches your NTFS drive's Master File Table (MTF). It searches while you type, returning results almost instantaneously.
UltraSearch has a compact, efficient layout in a medium-size, draggable window. It's a very simple tool: you see a search entry field, and a results list displaying file type, last accessed, size, and other data in draggable, rotating, customizable headings. In the bottom panel, UltraSearch displays your disk drives, their total size, and free space as a percentage and a bar graph.
The Use Exclude Filter feature is selected by default. We clicked it, and a small dialog appeared with the Recycle bin and other locations selected. We could add other default filters or create our own patterns. For example, we would exclude DLL files by typing "*.dll" and clicking Add Pattern. To exclude any filter, we simply had to uncheck its box. If that's not easy enough, just click Help (F1) to open the users' manual. Search results can be saved and exported as text, CSV, and Excel files.
We tried a wide range of searches in our NTFS drives, both solid-state drive and hard-drive types, using a variety of search patterns, such as searching our C drive for stray images by entering "*.jpg" and excluding thumbnails by creating a filter. UltraSearch proved one of the fastest search tools we've yet tried, whether we were searching one drive or three. Right-clicking any result accessed a full Windows context menu that let us open the item's containing folder, rename it, open the item, open it with a different program, or scan it with our antivirus software; cut, copy, delete, or move it; print, save, and copy the results list; and much more. UltraSearch's blistering speed makes it a great choice for SSD users who disable drive indexing.
Publisher's Description
From JAM Software:
UltraSearch searches files on local NTFS drives and provides the results within just a few seconds. UltraSearch does not use a previously built index or background process, it achieves its speed by working directly on the Master File Table (MFT) of the NTFS partitions. You can enter a file name or a pattern like *.exe and often will see the results already while typing. Additional information like size and last change date will be shown for the listed files. Moreover, the Explorer context menu is available inside UltraSearch. The search results can also be printed or exported as text, CSV and Excel file.
What's new in this version: Version 1.6.1 has improvements and minor corrections were made.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 5 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 2 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-2 of 2
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"Fast & Easy"
Version: UltraSearch 1.6.1
Pros
Only just downloaded & used, but looks simple & easy. No problems.
Cons
None at this stage.
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"Fastest so far"
Version: UltraSearch 1.6.1
Pros
Fast file find and easy to use
Cons
Would be nice if it could search thumb drives in addition to normal drives
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