Windows Search 4.0 for XP

jumpy · 03-10-10, 10:37 PM

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...h/default.mspx

This is available as an optional DL via windows update. Is it any good or worth getting? I take it it's like the old Search function on the start menu?
I'm fairly organised so I know where most things on my pc are, but if there's a lazier way of doing it...

frau kaleun · 03-10-10, 10:50 PM

It was already installed on my new PC when I got it, and I just left it there to see if I would ever use it. I don't. It's one of those programs that wants to start when Windows starts, and (I assume) it does some kind of indexing of everything on your PC whle it runs in the background, including email and whatnot, so you (presumably) can find it quicker when you want it.

The problem I have with it is that usually when I'm searching for something it's a file or folder and I'm assuming that since I don't let the program start with Windows and run in the background, it never does all the indexing it wants to do. Because when I try to search my C drive for something, it tells me I can't because it hasn't been indexed. So I end up using the old Search Companion instead., which works just fine for my needs.

I think I tried uninstalling it but got some warning about shared files or whatever... cancelled the uninstall and never looked into whether or not it would be safe to go ahead with it. But for me, I really prefer the Search function Windows already had.

jumpy · 03-10-10, 11:01 PM

heh, doesn't sound encouraging; perhaps I'll try it out, but if it's going to be yet another system hog application, it might not last for long.

frau kaleun · 03-10-10, 11:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jumpy

heh, doesn't sound encouraging; perhaps I'll try it out, but if it's going to be yet another system hog application, it might not last for long.

I honestly don't know how much it hogs when it runs in the background, but I just don't like any program making my startup even 1 second longer than it has to be unless it's giving me something I really want or need. The old Search Companion works fine for what I do need, so I don't see the point of having Search 4.0 running on my system. If I ever wipe the drive and reinstall from scratch I will leave it off if at all possible.

kiwi_2005 · 03-10-10, 11:36 PM

You can turn it off in Services.

Control panel - administrative tools - services then find 'Index service' then properties and choose disable under Startup type.

krashkart · 03-11-10, 12:44 AM

The old Search Companion is adequate. I installed the newer one and found it to be redundant, slow to load before a search, and it does take up some memory that could be used by other programs.

@kiwi_2005:

Thanks for the pointer on how to disable it.

Any idea how to kill StickyKeys?

frau kaleun · 03-11-10, 03:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi_2005

You can turn it off in Services.

Control panel - administrative tools - services then find 'Index service' then properties and choose disable under Startup type.

I turned it off in Norton Startup Manager. Don't like anything starting up I don't need or use on a regular basis (or at all).

I'll have to try uninstalling it again and see what message it is I get and come here and find out if it's okay to go ahead and dump it anyway. Probably is, I just never got around to checking on it.

03-10-10, 10:37 PM	#1
jumpy Admiral Join Date: May 2003 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 2,139 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	Windows Search 4.0 for XP http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...h/default.mspx This is available as an optional DL via windows update. Is it any good or worth getting? I take it it's like the old Search function on the start menu? I'm fairly organised so I know where most things on my pc are, but if there's a lazier way of doing it... __________________ when you’ve been so long in the desert, any water, no matter how brackish, looks like life

03-10-10, 11:01 PM	#3
jumpy Admiral Join Date: May 2003 Location: Midlands, UK Posts: 2,139 Downloads: 22 Uploads: 0	heh, doesn't sound encouraging; perhaps I'll try it out, but if it's going to be yet another system hog application, it might not last for long. __________________ when you’ve been so long in the desert, any water, no matter how brackish, looks like life

03-10-10, 11:36 PM	#5
kiwi_2005 Eternal Patrol Join Date: May 2004 Location: Aeoteroa Posts: 7,382 Downloads: 223 Uploads: 1	You can turn it off in Services. Control panel - administrative tools - services then find 'Index service' then properties and choose disable under Startup type. __________________ RIP kiwi_2005 Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.

03-11-10, 12:44 AM	#6
krashkart Navy Seal Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 5,292 Downloads: 100 Uploads: 0	The old Search Companion is adequate. I installed the newer one and found it to be redundant, slow to load before a search, and it does take up some memory that could be used by other programs. @kiwi_2005: Thanks for the pointer on how to disable it. Any idea how to kill StickyKeys? __________________ sent from my fingertips using a cheap keyboard

03-10-10, 10:50 PM	#2
frau kaleun Rear Admiral Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Skyri--oh who are we kidding, I'm probably at Lowe's. Again. Posts: 12,706 Downloads: 168 Uploads: 0	It was already installed on my new PC when I got it, and I just left it there to see if I would ever use it. I don't. It's one of those programs that wants to start when Windows starts, and (I assume) it does some kind of indexing of everything on your PC whle it runs in the background, including email and whatnot, so you (presumably) can find it quicker when you want it. The problem I have with it is that usually when I'm searching for something it's a file or folder and I'm assuming that since I don't let the program start with Windows and run in the background, it never does all the indexing it wants to do. Because when I try to search my C drive for something, it tells me I can't because it hasn't been indexed. So I end up using the old Search Companion instead., which works just fine for my needs. I think I tried uninstalling it but got some warning about shared files or whatever... cancelled the uninstall and never looked into whether or not it would be safe to go ahead with it. But for me, I really prefer the Search function Windows already had.