Windows-related search tips
- Windows Secrets uses the Google Custom Search feature to query sites that specialize in Microsoft Windows-related information.
- Using multiple words will return more specific results than a single word. For example, entering free program will return more relevant results than entering just program.
- Use quotation marks around phrases. For example, "free program" matches pages containing
that exact phrase. Without quotation marks, the search results
will include the words free and program but not necessarily in that order.
- Use minus (-) to indicate a word or phrase that must not appear on the page. Important: Leave no space between the minus sign and the term. Examples: windows -xp or firewall -"free software"
- Use plus (+) to indicate a word that must appear on the page but is so short that the word would ordinarily be ignored, such as a, an, or the. Important: Leave no space between the plus sign and the term. Example: ibm system +i software
- Alternate word forms are sometimes used by Google.
For example, if your query is for printer drivers, Google's results might
include printer driver. Google identifies alternate words in several ways:
- Google uses stemming, so a singular word some times matches a plural word.
- Abbreviations expand search terms so that a query on Windows ME might also match Windows Millennium Edition.
- Pages on dog food might be matched when you search for dogfood.
- Because it's often easier to type words without accents, a search for coup d'etat returns pages that include coup d'état.
- Capitalization does not affect results. All letters, regardless of how you enter them, match both uppercase and lowercase
text. For example, entering Search will return all pages containing the words search, Search,
and SEARCH.
