Making the Most out of Windows Index – Part 1

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Before writing this post I spent some time setting up my computer so I could demonstrate various aspects of Windows 7 Indexing System.

In this series of two posts following aspects of the Index will be dealt with.

Part 1 will cover:

• Checking Your Indexed Locations
• Registering Other locations

Checking Indexed Locations

Windows uses its index to perform a search for all registered files on your computer. It checks the library first – the Documents, Music, Pictures, Videos folders as well as Contacts and E-mails. It also looks in Public Folders.

If you only have one hard drive, this is where the abovementioned folders will be found. However if you have two or more hard drives these may or may not be registered by Windows Index. Therefore, when searching for saved files on a drive other than Drive C: you will draw a blank.

When adding a new drive to your system, check whether it features in Windows Index. So the first thing to do is to access the Index.

1. Open the Start menu.
2. In the Search box, type Indexing options.
3. When indexing options appears at the top of Search, click Indexing Options.
4. This opens the Indexing Options window. This windows lists all Indexed Locations.
5. The portable hard drive, Drive F, added to my system, is unlisted.

As I want the files in this drive added to Window 7’s Indexing system, I need to register it.

Registering New Locations

While Windows 7 recognizes any new drives added to your system allowing you to access the files, Windows Index remains unaware of their existence. It is important therefore to register new drives with Index.

1. Click the Start button.
2. In the Search box, type Change how windows searches.
3. When you Search opens, select Change how Windows searches.
4. This opens the Indexing Options dialog box.
5. Select the Modify button.
6. The Indexed Locations window opens. You will see that the Local Disk (F:) is not registered.
7. To rectify this problem, in the top section of the window labelled Change selected locations, check the drive not included in Windows search.
8. As soon as you check the additional drive, it is added in the two sections of the Indexed Locations window.
9. Next, click the Ok button..
10. The indexing options window reopens displaying all the indexed locations.
11. Windows Index automatically begins to index the additional drive.

Note: The indexing of the additional drives may take time depending on the volume of files on these new locations.

In Part 2 of “Making the Most out of Windows Index”, you’ll learn about these aspects of Windows Indexing System.

• Rebuilding the Index
• Changing the Index’s Location
• Using a Troubleshooter to solve Index Problems

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