Can XP "Indexing Service" be made convenient?

[dcouzin]

There is a dandy search capability in Windows XP: "Indexing Service" It searches the hard drive fast like Google Desktop does, but I find its results more complete than Google Desktop's for comparable file types. (Incidentally, Google Desktop indexes Outlook emails, while XP doesn't.)
One big trouble with XP Indexing Service is that its search box is deeply buried. For example, follow this 9-step path:
Start Settings Control Panel Administrative Tools Computer Management Services And Applications Indexing Service System Query the Catalog. Midway "Computer Management" could be made a shortcut on the desktop, but I don't know how to get farther than that efficiently. Is there a method for making a hotkey or other small program icon, to directly reach "Query the Catalog" to reap the good searching?
I believe Vista carries XP's Indexing Service farther, but we in this Usergroup are mostly XP.

[ashleys]

I've been using Windows Desktop Search now for sometime. Current version is V3.01 which I understand is the version in Vista but it also runs on XP.

As I don't use the standard Windows "My Document" mentality to store my data, I like the fact that I can manually select which folders I wish to index, including my Outlook Express mail stores.

Access to Windows Desktop Search is through the taskbar, so it couldn't be easier.

[dcouzin]

Thanks Ashleys. What a pleasant surprise to find XP already having this function. I see no benefit to adding Google Desktop. GD might use a smaller index, but then find less.

[dcouzin]

With some further experience of Windows Desktop v3.01 I uninstalled it. It kills some desirable search facilities of Windows Explorer: e.g., exact date ranges, exact file size limits. It is quite "micky mouse". (A foretaste of Vista?)
Quaint "indexing service" has its advantages. From the shortcut to "Computer Management" the remaining steps to "Query the Catalog" are simple: always chose the last item.
Google Desktop can then be used just for its index of Outlook contents.

[GomJabbar]

I received the following tip in an email from Microsoft. Not sure if this helps or not.

For Windows Vista
Featured tip
Discover the new search explorer
Try filtering by type using the search pane and selecting Documents. Or, choose to see your files in another way, using the new stack view. Select the author column header drop-down menu and choose Stack by author. Explore all documents by a particular author by double-clicking an author's stack.

Now, save that search as a new search folder. Choose the option Save Search found on the top command bar and name and save your search folder. In the future, to rerun it, select the Searches folder link on the left-side navigation pane, and double-click your search folder.

[ashleys]

It kills some desirable search facilities of Windows Explorer: e.g., exact date ranges, exact file size limits.

I only use WDS for searching the specific locations I have indexed, namely certain data folders and Outlook Express Mail stores.
For all other searching I still using Search Companion which works the same as it used to, with all the advanced options still available.

[AndyKH]

Does WDS use the same index as the indexing service windows xp ships with? I've tried to compare the configurations and they don't match.

Does WDS actually use a different index?
Can I turn the "old" indexing service off?
Will the two conflict?
What happens when I change included directories in the winXP indexing service, will I then affect WDS?

Thanks in advance
Andreas

[Leikeze Ajnin]

You can disable the XP indexing service in Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services; look for the "Indexing Service", right click, stop the service and set it to "Manual" or "Disabled" to prevent XP from starting it back up on the next reboot. You can also disable the service on a per-disk basis as well by selecting properties of drives from the explorer.

Also, re: making the indexing service convenient. The Start -> Search uses the indexing service transparently. Try a search there, and when it finishes or is interrupted click the link about making the searches faster to see settings.