windows explorer search takes ages and finds recent file at tail end

Hi, I create a file and save it in a folder called 22may posts, I then browse to it, cant find it, where the heck did I save it to, definitely D drive, my data drive.


Open windows explorer, select d drive, enter *22may* and its already searching before I even get to indicate date modified range.
I have to stop the search, as it usually says nothing found when I know its there.
select D again, select the *22may* from what is in the drop down search window, and off it goes again searching,


wait a few mins whilst the grey bar progresses, it rarely turns up anything for the best part of 90% of the progress, files and folders are found when there is 5mm to go !


Why cant it find files and folders during the entire search, what the heck is it doing for 80% or more of that search ?


This is a guaranteed performance again and again, Msoft have totally messed up what used to work fine.
It wouldnt start searching until one told it to start, allowing for entry of criteria.


All this stuff now about earlier this week, silly options.



win98 was never like that, ditto xp.


What is the fix ?


DBenz

Search in Windows Explorer is quicker while searching for items stored in indexed locations.


Windows Explorer always searches indexed locations before attempts to searches non-indexed locations. It is searching in non-indexed locations that can take the time.


If items on your D: drive are not being discovered until the progress meter reaches 90% then it is almost certain that your D: drive is not included as an indexed search location.


To speed up search on your D: drive, you might want to include D: or folders off D: in the search index.


For more information on Adding Search Locations see tutorial here.

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.


oh dear, I cannot say which folders I search for the most, it varies a lot, e.e. I just searched on a catalog folder but that was created by the catlog prog, I didnt expect to e doing that. I dont want my PC running slower and HD in use as it warns of above. I was about to give it D drive when I read this, D is all my data, cant really say I am not interested in some of it.


Friend of mine who knows a lot about pc's says he turned indexing off as it slowed up pc.


DBenz

A large search index will not slow your computer down per se. A large search index only means a longer search averages. It should not affect the performance of the rest of your computer. You have a quad core processor, and the processor will speed search up tremendously, while still being able to multi-task with the rest of the system.

Since you use D: for data, then I take it that you dont store data on C: ? In that case there should be no harm in adding D: to the search index. You can always remove the D: drive from the search index at a later date if you do not like it. Searching an indexed drive will be quicker than searching a non-indexed drive, and if all your data is on D: then perhaps you should consider adding D: as an indexed location.

The choice is entriely yours, but non-indexed searches explains what is going on to your searches.