[VeniVidiVici]

In Windows 7 (which is REMARKABLY error-free) the ability to find a file ‘out there’ on your spinning media is obfuscated by a interface that was designed by a blind sadist.

The search utility starting with Vista/2008 became a huge pile of elephant dung. The person who wrote it, and the person he reports to, should be forced to go skiing - with no snow on the ground. Repeatedly.

[Woodman]

Try two different approaches to searching: 1st in the start menu just begin typing whatever your search parameter is and you should be able to pick from the list of hits, 2nd press the windows key plus ‘F’. In that interface you can refine your search parameters further. I'm not sure what the confusing interface is that you are using?