Is there any simple way of searching through the cab files for a particular file without physically opening every archive?

Start/search/files or folders/ In files or folders named box type " *.cab " Dont forget the asterik, this should search for all of them.
Found 96 files on my computer using this method.

Maybe there is some archive program that will let you veiw the files within. Try opening them with winzip. This might work. If not, try looking into another program. You wont have to expand them with winzip if you are using winzip classic. DONT USE WIZARD! All this does is ask where you want to expand the files to. Try it and see.

Windows commander lets you peek inside compressed files.
WWW.GHISLER.COM I got this tip from www."techtony".com

Also, i use wizard by default in winzip and this doesnt play a role when trying to view .cab files without extracting them.
if you have winzip installed..
right click the cab/choose "extract to"/a list of files within the cab will appear with a confirmation box asking where to extract the files to. Just cancel this and the list of files will remain. If you see a file you want drag it from the window to the desktop. Your done.

use post #1 and in the box containing text type in what your looking for.

Post #1 explains how to find .cab files in your file system. It does not explain how to view the contents of the .cab (compressed, similar to .zip, containing other files)
Example:
The windows millenium NET4.cab contains the file "logos.sys" .
You can not use the search tool in windows to locate/view the file logos.sys within the NET4.cab file.
You must Use a program like windows commander that allows you to view the contents of the cab file without extracting it or the method i posted above.

I totall agree Trev- what I was getting at is it was a way to find out what cab file the file was in.
If I start giving TOO crappy advise dont be afraid to jump in with a couple of shovels to bail me out!!LOL.....:)

OOPS! I ment SMUOD ( I did it again)

Another shovel i think! It was SMUOD & not Trev

Viking :))

OK...... Ill shut up now:)

Len, i never point out crappy advice because ive given my share :)
The original posters message could be taken two ways. First time i read this thread i like itmdtr thought he was looking for a way to search for cab files rather than view the contents.
Im still not sure what exactly the original poster is looking for and wanted to make clear that the two methods are for completely different things so someone who finds this thread later wont be confused.
I actually tried your method len just to make sure i havent missed something all these years :). Makes me wonder why windows doesnt allow for this type of search in the first place. I have no/none/nada computer training other than trial and error for the past 6 years. I used windows 95 to play games and listen to music :). I try to only post comments to things ive experienced or can test as i type but no one is perfect. Sometimes i post "maybe" answers in hopes i might hit on something others may overlook.
I like computing.net because it allows many to answer a single question. You will see wide ranges of tips and techniques used here and most of the time the question gets answered because atleast one of us has had the same problem and already spent months researching and correcting the error. did i mention i cant spell or even pretend to use punctuation correctly ? Thank you spellchecker :) which i dont use here by the way.

Thanks ShutMeUpOrDown,I knew someone would have the answer.
Why I asked the question is that quite often I need a file from the many cab files on the OS cds and needed a fast way of tracing them.
Your a diamond geezer.

I won't get involved here or we'll just get too confused altogether. ;)

Just type the file name in the 'containing text' box on the find window

Fraina-Im not trying to be trivial but thats what I suggested in post #4