How to Optimize Instant Search in Windows Vista so its Really Fast

By MrCHUCK mrchuck999.blogspot.com

Rate: (4 Ratings)

Vista's new Instant search is fast but you can make it really fast and it only takes a few minutes.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

windows vista

Step1

Click Start > Type INDEXING. press [enter]
The indexing options window appears.

Step2

Click Modify
Click "Show All Locations"
The bottom pane shows what you include in instant search.
The top window lets you check or uncheck what you will include.
Be sure to check your my documents folder and you start menu.
Uncheck everything else.

Include any extra drives you keep a lot searchable files such as photos.

Click OK

Step3

Click Advanced > Rebuild .
This will take some time but when its done, you will be searching your files at breakneck speeds.

Tips & Warnings

Do not add your entire hard drive. This would slow down the search by including extra data you don't need to search.

Comments

mrchuck999 said

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on 11/29/2007 Hi All,
I've performed this on 2 vista computers now and the results are dramatic. If you want to be able to search up emails fast, be sure to include your outlook or windows-mail. If you want to search up control panel items, be sure to include the windows folder. The best advice is: don't include everything. it defeats the purpose but include what need. I use Instant search almost daily and find it to be a valuable tool.