Windows 7: Index Location - Change

   Information

Windows 7 uses the index to perform very fast searches on your computer. This will show you how to change the default location of where the index is stored at on the hard drive disk to free up space from that location.

The default index storage location is in the hidden system folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft.

1. Open the Control Panel (All Items view), and double click on the Indexing Options icon.

2. Click on the Advanced button. (See screenshot below)

3. If prompted by UAC, then click on Yes.

4. In the Index location box, click on the Select new button. (See screenshot below)

5. Select the drive or folder that you want to store the index in, and click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: When you change the index location, you should choose a location on a non-removable hard disk that is formatted using the NTFS file system.

6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below)
NOTE: Notice the new location that you selected should now be listed.

7. The Windows Search service will now automatically be restarted, and the change will not go into effect until the restart is complete. It should only take a short bit.
NOTE: You will notice the mouse pointer displaying the busy spinning circle over the Indexing Options windows until it is finished.

8. When it's finished, click on Close. (See screenshot below)