Making Windows 7 Search Work Better

John Campbell | Oct 21, 2009 | Comments

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Accessing Indexing Options

Click the Start button.
In the Search box, type “index“.
Search opens.
Select “Change how Windows searches”.
This opens the Indexing Options dialog box. As you can see the portable hard drive, Drive F, is not listed.
To resolve this problem, select the Modify button.
The Indexed locations dialog box opens.
In the top section of the dialog box called Change selected locations, you’ll note that the Local Drive (F:) is not registered. This is the portable hard drive.
Check the box for Local Drive (F:)
.
Click the Ok button.
The Indexing Options window re-opens displaying the missing drive in the registered list.
Click the Close button.
All the drives are now registered for Search.

Excluding a Folder from Search

Suppose you want to remove a folder or add an un-registered folder from Search’s Index, here’s how to do it.

Open the Indexing Options window as described previously.
Click the Modify button.
The top section of the window changes. The top section is labelled “Change selected locations“. It contains a scroll list of all selected locations.
In the Summary of selected locations (lower section of the Indexed locations window), scroll down to select any listed location.
Windows Live Mail is chosen. Actually it doesn’t matter as any one will allow you to perform the next step.The illustration below shows you the sequence to follow.
As you scroll up or down you’ll see folder boxes checked or unchecked.
.
In this window you can select or de-select a location you don’t want indexed.
In the example below I’ve deselected Downloads.
This folder will no longer be on Windows Index and its contents cannot be found when using Search.
Click the Ok button.
The Indexed Windows dialog box reopens. Click the Close button.
Back in the Indexing options window, click the Close button to complete the task.

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Filed Under: Guides • Windows 7 Tools & Tips • Windows 7 User Guide

Tags: control panel • Copernic Desktop Search • Portable Hard Drives • Public Folders • Search • Troubleshooters • Windows Index. indexing

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About the Author: Now kind of retired, teacher for over 40 years. Taught computer classes in TAFE Colleges after first retirement. Written three published books on Microsoft Works. Have written numerous training manuals on Windows, Word, Picasa, Powerpoint and Photostory. Worked as lecturer on Computer University @Sea for Crystal Cruises. Currently teaching elderly citizens in local Probus and U3A Clubs.

Ron
I thought it was funny except the end part because I dont have an iphone and don't know what he's talking about. I actually LOVE XP's search and will be removing Windows 7 trial as fast as possible (which is pretty fast because I made an image of the drive before installing this gimmicky new system on it with the USELESS search function)
I guess I'm too stupid to use the new search because I don't get it AT ALL, the above tutorial didn't really clear much up, and I don't really want to make a huge effort to learn it when I have something that has served me PERFECTLY for the last 8 years (boy am I getting my money's worth on this system)
XP works for me! I love it and will NEVER move on. In fact, if I ever HAVE to stop using XP for reasons beyond my control, I will likely then try a MAC for the 1st time and get away from PC's completely

Yatti420
I hate indexing..

Name
Great news! Search works! They've gone back to the XP interface! yippee!

This is good, I so hate Vista's inability to specify find in files, and completely hate that search is pre searching everything just in case you might want it.

It's going to be good to have a search that DOES ABSOLUTELY nothing unless I ask it to, and finds in files, explicitly, and finds not in files, also explicitly, oh, and searches all files, not just some.

I wonder if Windows 7 also has removed DRM while they're at it, as well as the pointless expensive indexer.

Oh! I dreamed it, it isn't fixed at all, I've just read it again and it seems someone who only ever searches for word documents during presentations and programmes by description has designed it.

Thank god there's a "I'm a professional who doesn't want an iphone" button which removes all the new stuff, and instantly goes back to the XP interface with the tiled coffee bean that you can relax your eyes on by focussing on infinity, and when you move your mouse over a network connection it just tells you your ip address, subnet mask etc, instead of having some ludicrous go at stopping you finding out where you are with a complicated gui.

Stephen
If you are trying for humor, your should try again - you missed the mark. On the other hand, you are serious and trying to make a point, you should also try again - you (again) missed the mark. If you were trying for stream of consciousness that would make sense only to the author, you nailed it pretty well....

Stephen