[Macworld.com]

In my July Mac 911 column I mention that when you use the Finder's Find command to search your drive, you'll discover that, by default, it won't turn up items stored in the System folder. I suggested using Sebastian Krauss' fine and free Locator -- a GUI for the Unix Locate command -- to search this folder because its both fast and thorough. Reader Ronald Lanham offers this alternate solution: [more]

[Dan Frakes]

Chris:
This tip is also useful for finding files/folders in other "restricted" directories such as /bin /etc, /private, /sbin, /tmp, and /usr /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[Chris Breen]

True. The trick, of course, is that you have to make these directories visible in order to move them into the Find window. TinkerTool is a good utility for doing this.
Chris

[Dan Frakes]

TinkerTool works great for that. Or, if you don't want to make all invisible files visible, use the Finder's Go -> Go to Folder command. For example, typing /etc will make the "etc" directory visible, and you can then drag it into the Find dialog. The good news is that once you drag a folder into the Find dialog's "Specific Places" box, it stays there for posterity (or until you remove it) /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[dcipjr]

Can't you just set the Find command to look for both visible and invisible files? /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif
That's what I've always done.

[Chris Breen]

You can if you're looking into the directories Dan suggested -- bin, usr, etc. But the Find command won't search the active System folder unless you specifically add it to the Find window.
Chris

[Dan Frakes]

Good point, Chris. Scratch my comments above, as they're unnecessary unless you only want to search one of those folders /forums/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif