How to properly search the archives?

[lautzutao]

I'm sorry if this post is offbase or just plain stupid...but I'm just starting to really pour over old threads and am looking to search the archives. They seem to be split by month, and doesn't make this task seem especially pleasing [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]

Anyone got any advice on doing this? Just go month by month searching the topic I'm looking for?