Do you index your entire HDD?


  1. Posts : 249
    Windows 7 x64
       #1

    Do you index your entire HDD?


    does indexing your entire disk for all files hinders performance? is it recommended doing it or not doing it?

    thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    I find that I rarely search for anything on my PC...so half the time I just shut down indexing entirely.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 4,925
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #3

    I dont index the entire C: drive where the OS is, just certain parts. Basically heres whats indexed for me:

    Internet Explorer history
    Offline files
    Start menu
    Users [as in c:\users] (excludes the appdata folders)
    Windows Live Mail
    Windows Media Center

    Those are the only items indexed on my c:. I have added 2 whole drives for indexing:

    F: (user accounts, downloads, general dumping ground)
    Z: (music)

    as you can see theyre not in any way connected to the OS so wouldnt affect resources quite so much.

       Tip
    I have also relocated the indexing database to d: which is a wd raptor 36gb drive, thereby reducing resources from c: still further.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

    xan K said:
    does indexing your entire disk for all files hinders performance? is it recommended doing it or not doing it?

    thanks.
    Hello Xan K,

    The purpose of the index is to help do searches faster for only locations that you search frequently. It is not recemmended to index the entire hard drive.

    See: Index Locations - Add or Remove

    If you make the index too large by including the entire hard drive, or to many folders, then your searches will slow down and take longer for the search results to display. You will also find your hard drive running longer and more often in the background while the index updates itself for changes made to the included folder locations. For the best results, it is recommended that you only add folders that you search frequently to be included in the index.
    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 18
    Windows 7 Pro 64 bit
       #5

    HDD Indexing


    I have turned off indexing (disabled Windows Search service) and I believe it saves CPU cycles on an on-going basis. If you want it running but not constantly indexing setup a dummy directory structure with a single file and restrict indexing to that directory. This approach works.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 249
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    thanks guys for the useful info.
    now, how can I remove Windows Live Mail from the indexing. I can't find a way to remove it.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 71,959
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #7

    JeremyJukes said:
    I have turned off indexing (disabled Windows Search service) and I believe it saves CPU cycles on an on-going basis. If you want it running but not constantly indexing setup a dummy directory structure with a single file and restrict indexing to that directory. This approach works.
    Hello Jeremy,

    I agree. Just to let you know though, when index is disabled, searches cannot be done in library folders. If this is not a problem, then disabling the index can save resources and help the hard drive not run as much.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 627
    Windows 7 7600.16384 x64
       #8

    I keep all of my indexing to the system defaults. I do Doc redirects, use outlook data files, and I find that the defaults have never failed me and imporve my search times considerably and never hinder my perforamnce.
      My Computer


 

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