| Basic Search Options |
The following Search options are available:
Select a Microsoft Product – Select the appropriate
Microsoft product from the list.
Search for – Type the words you would expect to find
in the pages that contain your answer. Do not use noise words such as how, why, the, in, on. Use words that describe the problem or exact error message. Select the options you want and then click the green arrow or click Go to begin your search.
Using – Specify how the search program should search
for the words in the Search for box. Select any of the
following options:
- All words entered
(default) – Shows pages that contain all of the words in the Search
for box. For example, if you type sound volume in the Search for
box and select this option, the search results
will be pages that contain both sound and volume.
- Any words entered –
Shows pages that contain any of the words typed, in any order. For example, if
you type sound volume in the Search for box and select this option, the search results will be pages that
contain either sound or volume.
- Exact phrase entered –
Shows pages that contain all of the words, in the exact order typed.
- Boolean (use AND/OR)
– Customize your search to include and exclude words or groups of words by using the following Boolean expressions:
- AND – Shows
pages that contain both of the words specified.
- OR – Shows
pages that contain either of the words specified.
- AND NOT – Shows
pages that do not contain the words specified.
Note that if you do not use text containing AND, OR, or AND NOT the search results will show pages that contain the exact phrase entered.
Results Limit – Sets the maximum number of results
to display on the search results page.
Search Type – You can set any of the following
options:
- Full Text (default) –
Searches both the title and the text of the article.
- Title Only – Searches only
the title of the article.
- Article ID – Searches only
the article identification number (for example, 234019).
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 Recent Changes to Knowledge Base Articles More... Date Range – Limits the search results according to the creation/last edited date of the page. |
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| General Search Tips | Use more than one word and check for correct spelling.
Good examples:
setup requirements RAM
no sound volume mute
Windows XP Internet Connection Firewall
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| How to Search for a KB Article by ID Number |
In the Search for box, type the Knowledge Base article
ID number (for example, type 234019). Under Search Type, click Article ID, then click the green arrow or click Go to begin your search.
Or search by Article ID directly.
Recent Changes to Knowledge Base Articles More... |
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| How to Search for Error Messages |
- In the Search for box, type the exact error message. For example, if you see the following message:
Cannot play back the file. The format is not supported. Error=80040265
Type the error message exactly as shown above.
- In the Select a Microsoft Product list, select Windows Media Player.
- In the Using list, click The exact phrase entered.
- Click Go.
If you do not get the expected results, search on specific words in the error message:
- In the Search for box, type relevant words from
the error message. Omit noise; words like the, is, not, from,
this. When using the previous error message example, type the following words in the Search for box:
cannot play back file
- In the Select a Microsoft Product list, select Windows Media Player.
- In the Using list, click All the words entered.
- Click Go.
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| How to Search for Downloads |
If you know the name of the file you want to download:
- In the Search for box, type the name of the
file you want to download. For example, type Oxpsp1.exe.
- In the Select a Microsoft Product list, select Office XP Suite.
- Click Go.
You can also click Find & Download Software on the
Support Menu to search for files you want to download. |
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| Last reviewed: | Friday, November 21, 2003 |
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