Windows Search is awful

I miss the Windows XP search, it can find any file I search for if i specify to search in MY computer

now in Windows 7, it usually never finds the file unless the folder/file is manually added to the index location

how do you guys deal with this?

What is the best way to have Windows Search function properly

PS: Should the indexing service be installed if I have an SSD?

 

Yes indexing should be installed for ssd. Same link as before
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/e7/archive/2009/05/05/support-and-q-a-for-solid-state-drives-and.aspx

 

Um, that's pretty much your entire issue. You're complaining that it's awful yet you've disabled a critical part of it.

The SSD part is completely up to you. Yes, it's better for your SSD if it's disabled, but it's not better for your searches. It's your choice which you value most.

 

I didn't disable it bro...I was asking if its better to disable it or not...

I just want to have a normal search that finds anything like XP had before

 

Oh? Well then I guess it really is awful.

I personally have it disabled because I never use it. Like I said above though, it's up to you which you value most. If you disable it then reads will obviously go down.

 

I use locate,nice and simple for me and does the job.If you try it update databases,before searching
http://locate32.net/content/view/14/26/

 

I can't imagine using any os without search feature or software. Windows indexing is good. Accesing files more quickly then opening directory. Always using windows search feature.

It wouldn't be so hard to add location for indexing!

 

If I need to search something, I use Explorer++'s search box. Windows Search is disabled as well as indexing on all HDD, I do not need it to slow down my PC.

I know, where are all my files, I almost do not search and I can access them faster then typing their name, for which I would have to use the left hand as well.

 

Let's say you have "name.txt" file in "d:/folder1/folder2". If you don't have "folder2" shortcut on desktop or favorite in explorer, first you have to enter this directory obviously, with 4-5 clicks. All you have to do is that click command button on keyboard and type "nam" if you use windows search. You can see the file immediately after typed "nam". And i don't understand why everyone says about performance impact. I don't experience any impact!

One of the best feature that vista and win 7 have.

 

This is probably a little (at least) O/T, since I'm still on XP, but ...

I turned off indexing ages ago simply because I'm always looking for a file by its name rather than its content, and Win Explorer's search does that quite nicely as long as I remember to start from the root and use advanced search to include subfolders.

If I needed to search for a file containing [whatever], that'd be a different story and I'd definitely need indexing active for that.

 

Im using agent ransack...its very fast and has an option in settings to add it to the context menu which is very nice.

 

If you want to just find files by filename I suggest Everything:
http://www.voidtools.com/

 

Might also want to try UltraSearch, similar to Everything.

 

I agree about Everything. It's fantastic! It's amazing something so tiny can be so powerful.

 

Indexing service is not used for desktop searching in Windows 7 (or Vista).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Search

Cheers, Nick

 

I love FileSearchEX for this reason ... does not require admin rights either.

 

I use Agent Ransack at work.

 

You're joking right?

First line:

So yes, the indexer is used by Windows Search, hence why it is still there and turned on by default, no matter what it says about it being a remnant, it is still used, and can mean the difference between finding a file in a few seconds and finding the file in half an hour, by which point the user performing the search would have given up and assumed it couldn't be found. As I *thought* was the case with the OP, but was not, as he still has it enabled.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Search

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee681698(v=ws.10).aspx

Yes, there is an indexer, called "Windows Search Service" (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa965362(VS.85).aspx#windows_search_service), but it is not the "Indexing Service" of Windows XP and older.

Cheers, Nick.

 

Lol, so to summarize you've just been getting picky over the semantics of what the service is now named instead of what it was previously named, great...

He is clearly using Windows 7 and is using the name "Indexing Service" whilst referring to Windows Search. The fundamental service is still there, but renamed to Windows Search. The Windows Search service is STILL an Indexing Service, it is a service that provides Indexing for Windows Search. Hence the error in the screenshot when turned off

But my apologies, I shall call it the Windows Search service from now on! It also still doesn't change the fact that it plays a critical role in locating files before a user gives up.

 

No worries, no-ones fault, I wasn't too helpful/clear.

Cheers Nick

PS - Damn this place is so civilised.

 

From the desktop, if you press F3 it'll open a search dialog where you can choose advanced options. There you can tell it to search non-indexed locations and choose other options. At least that's how Vista works, probably the same for 7. I like Agent Ransack better though cause it remembers your settings. With Windows you have to start from scratch every time.