How to Search for Files Created Between Two Dates in Windows Vista

In Windows XP you can use the Search Companion to search for files created or modified between two given dates. Although there is no such GUI option provided in Windows Vista, you can accomplish the task using Advanced Query Syntax.

Using Advanced Search Operators

The Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) is used by Windows Search to help users narrow or pin-point their searches. Searches can be narrowed by file type (kind), file property, file extension, date and other parameters. To find files created between two given dates, use the following syntax:

date:>=10/8/2008<=10/15/2008

This lists all files that were created between Oct 8 and Oct 15, 2008.

Examples

To find files that were modified between two dates, use the modified operator.

modified:>=10/8/2008<=10/15/2008

To only find text documents (.txt) that were created or modified after a certain date (10/14/2008), you use:

modified:>10/14/2008 ext:.txt

For more information about the Advanced Query Syntax, read post Advanced search techniques at the Windows Vista Team Blog. You can combine as many operators as you can to refine the search results per your needs.

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