what is already generated followed the 1.1 rules for world generation, as you go past the boundaries it will begin to generate with the 1.2.4 rules. If I remember correctly, the eye will point to where they should be in the current version. if that land is already generated you're sunk, as the land will not regenerate. however if there is a fortress outside of explored land, you may be able to get one yet.
Instead of doing it in-game, try using a outside source. AMIDST is a program that lets you put in a certain seed or load an existing map and it generates the minecraft map as a picture. You can use it to see if there are dungeons, pyramids, ruins, villages, even strongholds!
Edit:
This way will also make you not download mods and keep you away from the want to spawn yourself items!
Best Answer
Java Edition
All strongholds are located at random coordinates within rings in most Strongholds biomes, where each ring is a certain radius from the center of the world (
x = 0, z = 0
). The strongholds are generated at roughly equal angles from the center point of the world (for instance, each stronghold in a ring of 3 is in the region of 120 degrees from the others, measured from the origin). There are eight rings, containing 128 strongholds in total.Bedrock Edition
Strongholds generate randomly throughout the world. They have a higher chance to generate under a village. They appear to have no fixed set distance, unlike most structures, which means that rarely, they can overlap.