Windows search - will it ever stop?

VitasLoWang · Sep 27, 2008

Hello, I have my vista ultimate for a few months already and I really don't understand why windows search still indexes the hard drive even when I have my data almost unchanged for a long time

I found some MS article about it
The Indexing Process
but it does not seem too simple

So can anyone tell me if this service will ever let hard drive relax a little or will it alway be crunching something?
Look on my performance monitor:
http://i35.tinypic.com/ixqs2f.jpg

Brink · Sep 27, 2008

Hello VitasLoWang,

It will usually almost always be running slowly in the background updating the Index. As a test, you might try disabling the Index to stop this, and see how you like search without it. Plus, your search results will be more accurate with the Index disabled. If you do not like it, then you can just enable it again.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69564-index-enable-disable.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

VitasLoWang · Sep 27, 2008

Hm but still, how can it be less accurate when indexing is on?

Brink · Sep 27, 2008

Since the Index runs slowly in the background during low or no computer usage, it may not always be finished with updating the index for recent changes when you do a search. In this case, when you do a search, the recent changes may not be reflected in the search results yet.

With the Index disabled, Vista defaults to non-index searches where the search results are always in real time and accurate. This non-indexes search of course does take a little bit longer to complete though.

VitasLoWang · Sep 27, 2008

aha now I see! And one more question: when I type something to start menu it starts to search in indexed locations for part of the filename and also for the string in file contents right? It seems so...

Brink · Sep 27, 2008

Right, by default it does. You can change or adjust these settings from the Customize Start menu option if you like though. It will the Search options in step 3 of this tutorial.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/89656-start-menu-customize.html

fieseler · Sep 27, 2008

windows search also indexes all ur temp files, which may be hundereds, often thousands of useless files. So it can take a long time to complete indexing.

Windows search - will it ever stop?

VitasLoWang

My Computer

System One

Brink

My Computers

System One System Two

VitasLoWang

My Computer

System One

Brink

My Computers

System One System Two

VitasLoWang

My Computer

System One

Brink

My Computers

System One System Two

fieseler

My Computer

System One