Discussion on:

Fine tune the Windows 7 Search Index for better performance

Have you modified the Windows Search Index configuration to increase performance on your systems?

This is an excellent tool for somebody. If you have exactly the same computer usage as the guy that designed it, it probably works fine. I find it a complete waste of time. It isn't _my_ job to tweak the search engine to find what I want. It is the search engine's designer's job to make a tool I can use easily.

In Windows XP if I type a*.mp3 in the search box it returns all mp3s that START with the letter a. In Windows 7 when I do this it shows every mp3 file that contains the letter a. For example bad.mp3 would show up in the Windows 7 search because it contains an a but would not show in the windows XP search because it doesn't start with a. How do I tell windows 7 to only return results that start with that letter?

I tweaked it a lot but still prefers Everything over it.
Isaac

I thought the search command was broken. I have searched for files and not found them. I go to the folder where the file exists, and searched starting there, and half the time it cannot find the file I can see on the screen. How much time has this "advanced" search wasted by not searching everywhere?

I understand the tweaking of the search filters, I have done it myself. However also obtain the "Everythign" search program by VOIDTools at http://www.voidtools.com, I think you will find yourself using it way more than the windows search function. P.S it can search multi-drives.

This is good, Thanks.

I am usually searching for a specific file in an unknown location. It is always in a place that is not indexed so Search does not find it. I am sure this is great for someone who forgot where they put their new mp3 files or pictures and they store them in default locations. But for anyone that works on computers Search is useless.

"But for anyone that works on computers Search is useless." Please present your credentials as GOD, since that is the only way you could base your statement on actual facts rather than your own, grossly inflated opinion of your opinion.

I'm no fan of Windows Search, and concur with those who suggest that Everything also be used. It really would be appreciated if Microsoft would give us back the simple search results screen used in XP, or at least make it a user option.

Since I most often want to locate files by name, rather than by contents, I make two changes to the default configuration. First, I index entire drives. Second, using Windows Explorer, on the Properties page for each drive I uncheck the box "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed...."

Glad I am not alone in my feelings about Windows 7 search. I was shocked really at first. I've been using FileSearchEX now and really like it. Then I uninstalled Win 7 search so that the indexing service does not run. Nice and fast system.

I've never been able to get the indexing to work, all it ever says is " index not running" and rebuilding the index does not work either. Help...tried everything.

Tought you knew what you're talking about ?
"This includes everything from the basics such as the time and date stamp or file size to more specific things such as the model of the camera used to take a picture (.jpg) ".