ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 I have vast number of documents on my computer, located on various partitions; some dating back to 1995. I need to search them for keywords, preferably not using Windows' own search tool.Over the last two years I have tried various Desktop Search tools, starting with Google, then MSN, then Windows, and finally with the latest Google.Unfortunately all of them were not exactly what I need. MSN/Windows index too much (I found no way of preventing them to index all my email), and Google not indexing enough.The original Google Desktop Search I tried was simply unreliable; it didn't find half of the things I needed to find. The latest Google version never completes indexing; it stopped at 88%, and will not index more, even if I click on 'Index now'.Windows Desktop Search I found very good, both 2.6.5 and 3.0 (I haven't tried the latest 2.6.6), except for the problem that it also indexes all my email. When I do a search, the result comes up with several pages of emails, which I do not want. It becomes very difficult to use this way.Does anyone have experience with Desktop Search? What is really good and reliable? Does anyone know how to stop Windows Desktop Search from indexing email (Outlook)? (The original MSN Desktop Search did not do that, but I don't have the installer anymore).Any tips appreciated. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 To change which files are indexed:In the notification area of the Windows taskbar, right-click the indexing icon . Click Windows Desktop Search Options, and then click Modify. In the Change selected locations section, select the locations that you want, and then click OK. You can exclude Outlook files here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Thanks - I will try that. What version of WDS do you have installed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted December 5, 2006 Report Share Posted December 5, 2006 Thanks - I will try that. What version of WDS do you have installed?I don't know which version - or how to find out. There seems to be no Help -About function. As far as I know it is the latest version - installed 11.11.06.Another thing you can do to avoid it showing Emails - is when you instigate a search click "Documents" rather than "Everything"It will still index Emails - but should not search them.Conversely you can select Emails and thus ignore your documents.Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 OK, uninstalled Google, and installed WDS 2.6.6 (I believe 3.0 is mainly for Vista and Office 2007).The initial Wizard brought up this screen, where I was able to disable Outlook. It is indexing now...Once indexing is complete (last time it took over a week), I wonder if there is a place to find how many documents were indexed. (Google, at 88%, had indexed almost 300,000 documents.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Right click on WDS icon in task barThen select "Indexing Status"A window opens showing the number of items indexed so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Of course! I have been there, but I didn't even think of looking there...11,000 so far. It is funny how it does the indexing. You would think it would first scan the C: drive, then E:, etc. But no, it constantly alternates between drives. Well, partitions actually. If it were all different HDs, then of course it would be the fastest way of proceeding.[edit] I turned off on-access virus scan; it indexes much faster now. 50,000 already... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted December 6, 2006 Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 PatOut of interest - why did you not index your Emails. I find it useful to be able to rummage old Emails for information long forgotten.As I stated above - you don't have to include Emails when carrying out a search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 6, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2006 Alan,When searching emails I usually look for different things; so email searches and other document searches are two entirely different things to me.I have Lookout for Outlook installed, which serves me fine within Outlook. But, since Lookout is (now) integrated in Windows Desktop Search, I may as well use one and the same, and use different search strategies. I may try that some day (next week), and re-index the whole lot.Indexing is now complete, but it indexed only about 70,000 documents. I wonder why Google found almost 5 times the number? So far it seems that I can find anything that I am looking for.Thanks for your help and advice on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 7, 2006 Report Share Posted December 7, 2006 The best program to use, I have found is Copernic. It is free of course.It takes on average an hour to index 150GB. (From past experience on my 5 year old computer, this is about the same whether your running Vista or XP) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 7, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 7, 2006 I don't know Copernic. Can you elaborate why and what is better than Google or Windows Desktop Search? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted December 7, 2006 Report Share Posted December 7, 2006 Indexing is now complete, but it indexed only about 70,000 documents. I wonder why Google found almost 5 times the number? So far it seems that I can find anything that I am looking for.It is a wild guess - but when the same word occurs say four times in one document Google may count it as four "hits" whereas Desktop Search counts it as just one document containing the word.This may not be the case - but it is a possible explanation.I'm glad you got sorted - I have used various search engines including Google/Lookout but have now standardised on the MS product which does all I need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 8, 2006 Report Share Posted December 8, 2006 I don't know Copernic. Can you elaborate why and what is better than Google or Windows Desktop Search?http://www.copernic.com/en/products/desktop-search/^ should give you the information.Also never be afraid to try something new ;) like you can't say vista or vienna is bad until you yourself has tried it!Do try it out. The facts I told you are true.Also it is better then google and other search programs you have mentioned because it has faster search time and uses alot less CPU usage. B) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 11, 2006 Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Pat, have you tried it yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2006 Not yet, but it looks interesting. I am still having some troubles with Windows Desktop Search, e.g. when I specify a filename or filetype with the search, it always comes back empty.I will certainly try it, but right now I'm a bit busy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 12, 2006 Report Share Posted December 12, 2006 The trick is, uninstall the Windows one and any other ones you have. Restart your computer. Install Copernic Desktop Search 2. Either don't use your computer for an hour/45min/30min or change the settings so it indexes faster whilst you are using your computer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 I have installed CDS2 some four hours ago, configured it (the search locations and document types to index), then let it start indexing. So far it has indexed only about 3,000 documents. But I will see tomorrow morning how far it has gotten overnight.To compareGoogle Desktop Search took about a week to index 300,000 documentsWindows Desktop Search took about 6 hours to index 30,000 documents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 13, 2006 Report Share Posted December 13, 2006 Interesting. Since you didn't tell me how long it took for Copernic to get to 3,000 then I am guessing it is good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 Actually I did indicate it: four hours.Now, 24 hours after start indexing, it has indexed 55,000 documents. However, I have no idea if indexing is complete. WDS gives me the percentage it has indexed.Anyway, next I'll have to test the search capabilities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 14, 2006 Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 Good idea! Has it finished yet? Do you like the interface? How many gigs have you used up all together on the stuff you are indexing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 From the Indexing Status it appears as indexing is still going on (stopping and starting and ...).The interface is a little bit tame. I liked the WDS interface best, but Google's was too wild.How many GB - I do not really know. I have two HDs with 12 partitions, and my stuff is all over it. My guess is somewhere between 100GB ~ 200GB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb Posted December 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2006 During this afternoon's 6 hours it has added another 1,000 documents (making it 56,000), and it seems to be complete now. Indexing status says 'idle'.I have been using it a few times for searches this afternoon, and so far I find I find it reliable. I will post more comments after I've been using it for a week or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 15, 2006 Report Share Posted December 15, 2006 About the theme. I'm sure if you ask around or maybe you could do it, make a different theme. Just look in the directory.It is good that it is reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gagaman Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 I use the free version of X1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X1_Desktop_SearchHere is a 15 minute movie of its features: http://www.x1.com/support/tutorial/x1_getting_started.htmlWhen installing you have to untick the yahoo toolbar! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panarchy Posted December 21, 2006 Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 ^ that looks pretty good. Nice interface, although it looks as if they are copying Office 2003.Have you tried copernic? It is good to broaden your outlook, instead of saying (I know you didn't) "That one is crap, this is the best!!!" try the one suggested first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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