I can't stand Cortana. I honestly, genuinely don't want to talk to my computer. I realize I might be in the minority on that, but I actually type fast enough and know what I'm doing enough not to need to ask an "assistant" to do it for me. Unless and until my computer is Samantha from Her, I don't need to talk to it.

What's worse, Cortana has ruined Windows search. Searching from the Start Menu is way less expansive and useful in 10 than was in Windows 7. (I never used 8, so I can't comment there.) It's like it's punishing me for not using something that breaks how I want to work anyway.

So, just type then? I use Cortana to set reminders occasionally, but I can't remember the last time I used the voice interface. My PC at home doesn't even have a microphone.

Oh yeah, I do. The problem is that Cortana has supplanted basic search functionality. As far as I can tell, when you type a search in the Start menu you're still going through Cortana, technically (that's why she's always running even when she's turned off from listening to you). Cortana has access to a limited subset of your computer. She can't search things outside your C:\Users\[your username] directory. Regular Windows Search doesn't have that limitation, but to get to regular search you have to explicitly go looking for it now.

So while I used to be able to search for a folder on my D:\ drive by hitting start and typing its name, now I have to either go to the actual Windows Search, or navigate to the folder manually. Even if that folder is indexed in Windows Search, and I have full permissions on it.

I'm not affiliated, but it's a shameless plug anyway because I'm huge fan of it since its Amiga days: Get Directory Opus, that is, download the free trial of the pro version and explore the settings and help files some, and of course, use the search function, too... let's see if you can do without it afterwards :) I for one cannot STAND using windows without Directory Opus after having used it with, it's one of the precious few applications which have been pretty much perfect for a long time, yet keep getting better. Sorry not sorry for rambling, I love this thing.

That's why they'll only be able to remove

https://www.voidtools.com/

from my PC out of my cold dead hands... :-)

You're upset that search got rebranded to Cortana? It can definitely search your entire PC. I just typed the name of a script I have sitting on my D: drive and pressed enter and it opened it.

It can't. I have a Super User post [1] that describes the problem in detail. Windows Search and Cortana appear to be two separate things. If what I describe in my post is working on your computer, we should talk... I need to find a solution to this issue and Microsoft Support couldn't help.

Can you tell me - do you have Cortana's voice stuff enabled? Do you have her "learning" about you enabled in settings? Did you upgrade to W10 or do a fresh install?

[1] http://superuser.com/questions/1105529/cant-search-folders-o...

I'm running the Anniversary Update. Maybe things got better. It also sounds like you might need to rebuild your search index and make sure all the folders you want to be searchable are indexed.

Yeah... I did that, and sfc /scannow, which was also recommended. All the necessary directories are fully indexed. If the Anniversary Update fixes it I'll be a happy camper.

I'm not affiliated with it but Agent Ransack just does search the old fashioned way, but fast. Sear inside files works properly too, without waiting for some sort of index that may, or may not be complete.

I use the command WIN + q which launches the Windows "Search the web and Windows" menu/dialog which I can type a local file name or installed application and quickly open items.

If I type a filename into that little search bar, it shows a few results. If I click the "My Stuff" button at the bottom, it shows me a different list. Neither list is complete. I have to open an explorer window to get a useful search bar.

I not looking forward to the day when Apple dumbs down spotlight with Siri. OS X searching is fantabulous for me.

Pretty much all privacy-related settings in Windows 10 use dark patterns. And they've just made it much harder to disable Cortana in the upcoming Anniversary Update.

Harder, or impossible? My understanding was they were forcing it down your throat with no way to disable it.

It seems like your first problem is you're using Windows 10. You agreed to let them do what they want with THEIR operating system.

I think their end goal is to make money. And they're not going to do that if people don't like their products.

Practically speaking, people only need to like products enough to be able to tolerate them, even if they're gritting their teeth in anger the whole time they use them. Many people end up buying things they hate because they don't really have any better options (e.g. virtually every telco, cable company, or ISP). Microsoft would have to intentionally make Windows completely broken, meaning so broken it's very difficult to get even basic applications to run and stay running, before the switching costs would be justified (that is, before people would stop buying it).

In a theoretical world, consumers are free to simply buy whatever they like, and their purchases directly reflect their intent to reward the company that made the product they're buying. In the real world, there is lock-in, there are exclusive vendors, there is employer mandate and inflexible custom processes with dependencies, there are other forces that make it so you almost have to buy certain things. Windows is definitely one of those things that many users feel they practically have to buy, whether they like it or not.

Every vendor of computer products (hardware or software) is trying to achieve this lock-in effect, because it means a lot of easy money, a much more stable and less sensitive income stream.

That's a bit cynical, but even it's true, it has no explanatory power. Specifically, that's not a reason for MS to put time and money into making a feature worse.

Sometimes crippled features are deliberate, sometimes willful mediocrity is more profitable than excellence.

It might not matter if users like their products, so long as OEMs and corporate / school IT managers like them.

I've found nearly every operating system I use tends to change and do what "they" want.

Sure. With Debian, you can choose NOT to update it.

Also, every app, every website, every .... ;-)

They tried that with clippy to make people like it more. It was hated.

She was just trying to be friendly...

Yeah maybe it's an uncanny valley thing. But if it's going to start a conversation it should be prepared to carry one. And if it's going to demand my attention with a blinky green light, it should have something to say.