Is this a well known feature or something I've managed to bring on myself through an excess of customization? Try this: In the windows search tool specify All or part of file name: .java A word or phrase in the file: import Look in: <some directory with java files> I've tried this on three different work stations and the result has always been: "Search Complete: No results to display" Same thing happens searching for common statements inside .jsp and .bas files. PS: I also have "search system files" enabled, so they are not being skipped for that reason