Can someone explain how windows search works?

[Simon]

Hi,

Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how
windows search works?

If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a word
document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder has not
been indexed.

I have 2 problems with that

1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just silly
because, if I know where something is going to be then I wouldn't search
for it.
2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.

It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am
looking for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.

If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells me
that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything reported by
windows search.

I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my office docs.

But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.

So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.

BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am
doing something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a
search app should be able to do.

Thanks.

Simon

 

[SC Tom]

Hi,

Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how windows
search works?

If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a word
document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder has not
been indexed.

I have 2 problems with that

1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just silly
because, if I know where something is going to be then I wouldn't search
for it.
2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.

It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am looking
for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.

If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells me
that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything reported by
windows search.

I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my office
docs.

But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.

So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.

BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am doing
something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a search
app should be able to do.

Thanks.

Simon

I can't tell you how it works other than it's sporadic and very slow. That's
why a number of people have gone to 3rd-party search engines. My personal
favorite is Agent Ransack http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/ and even
though Windows7 isn't listed, AR works well with it, also.
Others will have different suggestions. Try them all and see which you like
best.

SC Tom

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Post here instead:
http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/category/windowssearch

 

[HeyBub]

Hi,

Has anybody got a link of some sort that I could use to learn how
windows search works?

If I select a folder, (c:\ for example), and I want to search for a
word document it tells me that nothing was found because the folder
has not been indexed.

I have 2 problems with that

1- The default is to _not_ index all the folders, and that's just
silly because, if I know where something is going to be then I
wouldn't search for it.
2- Why can it not do a normal search if the folder is not indexed.

It also looks like only certain files can be searched, so if I am
looking for an exe, or "somefile*.*" then it does not work.

If I search for certain things I _know_ are on my hard drive it tells
me that nothing was found, in otherword I cannot trust anything
reported by windows search.

I like the idea of my emails been indexed as well as some of my
office docs.
But I also want to be able to search for other files on my computer.

So, where can I find a better explanation of how windows search work.

BTW, I know how to remove it or uninstall it, but it looks like I am
doing something wrong as it cannot do any of the basic searches that a
search app should be able to do.

It works very slowly and often fails to do the simplest things correctly.
Use Agent Ransack instead.