Windows 7: Search Indexing

I have disabled Search Indexing under folder options in control panel but I still have a process called "SearchIndexer.exe" using a decent amount of resources - what should I do?

Why someone in his right mind would want to disable search indexing is beyond me. Do you understand you are trying to disable the single most useful feature of Windows 7?

Services - Start or Disable

Control Panel -> Adminstrative tools -> Services -> Windows Search

Double click ... set to disabled... reboot.

1) Because it thrashes hell out of the hard disk
2) Because it's a pointless waste of system resources
3) Because it's not a significant improvement in performance

Really... if you have a well organized fileing system and don't try to run your computer entirely by searching for stuff... it mostly gets in the way. Windows 2000, XP and Windows 7 have all included file indexing systems that are supposed to make searching a lot easier... I don't think I've used the in-machine file search tools in any of them more than a hadfull of times in over a decade.

I have used search indexing for a long time and have never had any noticeable difference in performance.

And searching from the start menu makes it infinitely easier to do everything. I no longer have to remember file names and locations. All I need to do is to type anything at all that I remember about a particular document/music/video/program and within a fraction of a second the result appears. This is incredibly productive.

Using the Control Panel also becomes a pure delight with the Search feature. I think you have never used the search feature, that's why you don't understand its value.

Disabling the service does NOT disable the search bars in the start menu or Windows Explorer.... It only disables the indexing service itself.

I personally don't search for stuff much. i have all my stuff neatly organized where I want it and keep all important files on my attached external 1tb hard drive.

So... no harm disabling the Windows Search Service.

If this solves your problem, you should click the red triangle in the top right of the message and let the Admins know it's fixed.

But disabling the index means you can no longer search for file contents within a fraction of a second, doesn't it? This will make the whole system far less useful, because then you have to remember file names which is impossible.

Hello Pezzonvante,

Searching is the same with indexing turned off except that Windows 7 will search through the entire drive instead of just through the index locations. This may take a tiny bit longer, but you will always have accurate and up to date search results since you do not have to wait for the index to update itself from any changes (ex: deleted file) made.

Search Options - Change or Restore