Search Indexing

Brink said:

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

But if it is going to search file contents in non-indexed locations, surely it will take much longer to view the results. That will kill productivity. At the moment, I use Start Menu Search instead of Windows Explorer to open documents and music. Even before I finish typing what I'm looking for, the results start appearing. Are you saying the same thing can be achieved with Search Indexing turned off?

Brink said:

Yes. :)

As I posted above though, it may take a tiny bit longer for the search results, but they will always be accurate. It's a slight trade off of performance for accuracy.

The only downside to disabling the index is that you will no longer be able to search in a library window itself.

What do you mean by "tiny bit longer"? Will it be as slow as it took XP when I used to search for file contents? Anyway, the Indexing Service has never affected my system performance. So, I have no problems turning it on.

pezzonovante said:

Brink said:

Yes. :)

As I posted above though, it may take a tiny bit longer for the search results, but they will always be accurate. It's a slight trade off of performance for accuracy.

The only downside to disabling the index is that you will no longer be able to search in a library window itself.

What do you mean by "tiny bit longer"? Will it be as slow as it took XP when I used to search for file contents? Anyway, the Indexing Service has never affected my system performance. So, I have no problems turning it on.

Gees man... if you don't want to turn the thing off then don't!

The OP was asking how to turn it off and I saw no harm in answering his question.

CommonTater said:

pezzonovante said:

Brink said:

Yes. :)

As I posted above though, it may take a tiny bit longer for the search results, but they will always be accurate. It's a slight trade off of performance for accuracy.

The only downside to disabling the index is that you will no longer be able to search in a library window itself.

What do you mean by "tiny bit longer"? Will it be as slow as it took XP when I used to search for file contents? Anyway, the Indexing Service has never affected my system performance. So, I have no problems turning it on.

Gees man... if you don't want to turn the thing off then don't!

The OP was asking how to turn it off and I saw no harm in answering his question.

I just wanted to make the point that the Indexing Service doesn't really affect performance. So, it's not necessary to turn off this useful feature. It's similar to the myth regarding Page Files.

4 Windows 7, there's 2 ways about it..

• Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off > Indexing Service
• Indexer Sidebar Gadget @
  
  Code:

  brandontools.com/content/IndexerStatusGadget.aspx

  Code:

  gallery.live.com/liveItemDetail.aspx?li=45c441a6-edbc-454d-9262-d264728d6a3a

:)

P.S.
Also the actual search locations can be configured + offline files excluded & disabled, etc., etc.

I wanted to add my 2 cents in here. Windows Search Indexing is easily the most worthless feature in both Vista and Win7.

1. I can search for a file that I know for FACT is in a folder structure and the search results come back BLANK.

2. The performance hit is horrible. If you read and write tons of files mixed with just the right malware protection and you'll see a MASSIVE performance hit.

3. The indexing forces a veru narrow scope of search locations.

The first thing I always do with Vista and Win7 is turn that garbage off. Right off the bat the system is zippier, and now I can search and ACTUALLY FIND those files it never found before and with it off, it's ACTUALLY searching and not relying on the garbage index for results.

The best part about it. With it off I can instantly search the start menu and other files.

A good idea is to manager your own files and don't rely on Windows to enable you to be a total slob.

Another thing that's super helpful is to turn off using thumbs.db. Those are so annoing!!!! It would be a non issue if Windows didn't lock them!

ISOHaven said:

I wanted to add my 2 cents in here. Windows Search Indexing is easily the most worthless feature in both Vista and Win7.

1. I can search for a file that I know for FACT is in a folder structure and the search results come back BLANK.

2. The performance hit is horrible. If you read and write tons of files mixed with just the right malware protection and you'll see a MASSIVE performance hit.

3. The indexing forces a veru narrow scope of search locations.

The first thing I always do with Vista and Win7 is turn that garbage off. Right off the bat the system is zippier, and now I can search and ACTUALLY FIND those files it never found before and with it off, it's ACTUALLY searching and not relying on the garbage index for results.

The best part about it. With it off I can instantly search the start menu and other files.

A good idea is to manager your own files and don't rely on Windows to enable you to be a total slob.

Another thing that's super helpful is to turn off using thumbs.db. Those are so annoing!!!! It would be a non issue if Windows didn't lock them!

I turned off my indexing and lo and behold my PC is now turbocharged and man is it FASSSSSTTTTT!