The Desktop Search in Windows 7

One of the most frequently used features in Windows is the search function – with the help of the Desktop Search, you can find and locate programs, folders, and files. To reach your desired results faster and more reliably, you can edit the search and indexing settings or work with search tools such as Lookeen.

Article title: Desktop Search in Windows 7

The filters and search results of the desktop search are influenced by your current location in the system and which folders have been indexed. To speed up searches, Windows automatically creates an index; however, results only show folders that are included in the index. If the searched files are not indexed, the desktop search will not find them. There are several ways to change these options in Windows 7; however, some changes may slow down the search speed.

Learn more about Lookeen's fast desktop search here!

Change the Indexing Settings

Indexing options can be modified via the Control Panel: here you can, for example, add or remove folders and file types, and encrypted files can also be indexed. Additionally, you can delete and rebuild the index by clicking Advanced under Indexing Options in the Control Panel and selecting the corresponding option here.

Does the Process Affect Processing Speed?

If you want to stop the indexing process, you can do so by right-clicking SearchIndexer.exe in the Windows Task Manager. It is often claimed that the Windows PC then runs faster because resources are freed up; however, this is not entirely true, as the computer automatically pauses the indexing process when under a high workload. Nevertheless, you can disable the Windows Search function via the Control Panel. For this setting change to take effect, the PC must be restarted.

Use Alternative Search Tools on Windows 7

The preinstalled and system-integrated desktop search in Windows 7 is too slow or too non-specific for many users. If you always want to find all files as quickly as possible, Lookeen is a suitable option. The latest version of the program can be used as a standalone desktop search and launched via the taskbar or by pressing the Ctrl key twice. Once you have found the searched file, you can edit it directly in preview mode and save the changes. The search runs simultaneously on all hard drives, across the network, and within Microsoft Outlook as well as Exchange Server data.