How to Move the Windows Search Index

Give the Windows Search index a new home.

Locate computer files quickly using Windows Search. This utility creates an index on your hard drive and uses it to perform rapid queries. For example, when you search for all music files, Windows Search scans for them using the index instead of your hard drive. As you add new files to your computer, the index grows. If you have another disk drive, you can free up space on your main drive by moving the Windows Search index to a new location.

Instructions

1. Click the Windows "Start" menu button and type "Indexing Options". Press "Enter".

2. Click "Indexing Options". The "Indexing Options" window will open.

3. Click "Advanced" to display the "Advanced Options" dialog box. If Windows requests your administrator password or asks for confirmation, enter the password or provide confirmation.

4. Click the "Select New" button at the bottom of the dialog box. Windows will open a pop-up window containing a list of folders on your hard drive.

5. Navigate through the folders and select the folder where you want to store the index.

6. Click the folder to highlight it and then click "OK" to close the pop-up window.

7. Click "OK" again and then click "Close".

Tips & Warnings

• Microsoft recommends storing the Windows Search index on a non-removable hard disk formatted using the NTSF file system.

References

• "Getting StartED with Windows 7"; Joseph Moran, Kevin Otnes; 2009
• Microsoft Windows: Change Advanced Indexing Options

Resources

• Microsoft Windows: Windows Search - Technical FAQ