Thread: having trouble with find, locate, etc

i have several programs on hp pavilion (running ubuntu 11.4) revolve around not being able find out files located on computer.
example, downloaded , installed avira virus , spyware checker linux. not work. able find config files because of said in manual, not find executables. did search gnome search tool found in applications-accessories-search files.
put in word 'avira'. there directories called avira in several places in file system, yet search engine found not 1 single one! looked @ manual program , noticed did not looking directories. however, there files have name avira in them , not found.
tip of iceberg. more times care think about, have failed find files knew on hard drive.
wondering whether there known bug related this, whether there config file have edit, or ? when compare performance windows, windows wins hands down. but, linux/ubuntu way faster!
help, hubert hickey

before new files show in locate, need added database locate uses. can manually running

code:

sudo updatedb

this task should run automatically every time boot ubuntu, shouldn't need worry running manually on regular basis.

find command doesn't use database, why takes considerably longer (depending on number of files needs process). because doesn't use database, find shouldn't miss new files. make sure you're using correctly though; find lot more complicated use locate.

code:

sudo find / -iname "*avira*"

will find files "avira" in name. "sudo" part may or may not necessary on ubuntu, stop lot of "permission denied" errors showing when find searches through folders user doesn't have read permissions to.

if you're looking executables, want looking in /usr/bin,/usr/local/bin, or /opt. running seperate find search on each of these specific directories lot quicker running single search of /.

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