Index Location - Change

    Index Location - Change

    Index Location - Change

    How to Change the Default Index Location in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Change the Default Index Location in Windows 7 and Windows 8

       Information
    The Index keeps track of the files on your computer and stores information about the files, including the file name, date modified, and properties like author, tags, and rating. The index is used to make searching for files in Windows much faster. Instead of looking through your entire hard disk for a file name or file property, Windows scans the index, which allows most results to appear in a small fraction of the time that a search without the index would take.

    This tutorial will help show you how to change the default index location to be saved where you like in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

    You must be logged in as an administrator to be able to do the steps in this tutorial.

       Note
    The default Search index storage location is in the hidden system folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft with the full path of:

    %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data





    OPTION ONE

    To Change Index Location in Indexing Options


    1. Open the Control Panel (icons view) in Windows 7 or Windows 8, and click/tap on the Indexing Options icon.

    2. Click/tap on the Advanced button. (See screenshot below)
    Index Location - Change-step1.jpg
    3. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

    4. In the Index location box, click/tap on the Select new button. (See screenshot below)
    Index Location - Change-step2.jpg
    5. Select the drive or folder that you want to store the index in, and click/tap 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.
    Index Location - Change-step3.jpg
    6. Click/tap on OK. (See screenshot below)
    NOTE: Notice the new location that you selected should now be listed.
    Index Location - Change-step4.jpg
    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/tap on Close. (See screenshot below)



    OPTION TWO

    To Change Index Location in Registry Editor


    1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.

    2. If prompted by UAC, then click/tap on Yes.

    3. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search


    Index Location - Change-index_location_registry-1.png
    4. In the right pane of Windows Search, double click/tap on the DataDirectory string value to modify it. (see screenshot above)

    5. Type in the full path of the location (ex: E:\Microsoft) you want the index to be saved at, add \Search\Data\ to the end of your path, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

       Note
    Substitute (your location full path) in the path to be the full path of any location you want to have the index saved to.

    The index will always be saved into a Search\Data folder in whatever location you specify, and why it needs to be included below.


    (your location full path)\Search\Data\

    For example: If I wanted to change the index location to be in a Microsoft folder on my E: drive (E:\Microsoft), I would type this below exactly.
    E:\Microsoft\Search\Data\


    Default Index Location: %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Search\Data\

    Index Location - Change-index_location_registry-2.png
    6. Close Registry Editor, and restart the computer to fully apply.



    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 51
    Windows 7 Home premium x64
       #1

    In registry it should be located in:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

    But I'm not really sure about this. It is very useful for deployment and ssd maximum life settings, if you need the service to index other normal HDDs
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello stsaerox,

    Yep, the DataDirectory string value in that registry key is what holds the path of the index. I'll add this to the tutorial shortly with full details. :)

    (your path)\Search\Data\

    EDIT:
    Ok. All added to tutorial.
    Last edited by Brink; 23 Feb 2014 at 16:52.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 31
    Win 7 Ulitimate x86
       #3

    if i want move to flashdrive/sdd it written like this?
    Code:
    F:\Microsoft\Search\Data\
    and its done moved?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Hello Nisilhum,

    At step 4 in Option one, you can select any folder or location for the index. It doesn't matter.

    However, 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. This way you don't have to worry about the index breaking if the flash drive got removed. Usually it's best to select to have the index on another internal hard drive.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 31
    Win 7 Ulitimate x86
       #5

    unfortunately not possible use internal hard drive is there possible use dual hard drive internal?
    when i backup the original files can be gone/broken? or just like copying files usually?
    what good flashdrive to NTSF? or use harddrive eksternal?

    you can help me to fix my problem before https://www.sevenforums.com/general-d...r-windows.html

    thks much
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    If you like, you could just disable the index to not have to worry about it, save some space on the drive, and have non-indexed search results.

    Index - Enable or Disable
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 31
    Win 7 Ulitimate x86
       #7

    btw brink if sucess move to eksternal drive (ssd, flashdrive.etc) i can move them all to other PC?
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,977
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    The index if enabled needs to always be available. That's one reason why it's not a good idea to have it located on a removable drive.
      My Computer


 

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