Windows Articles

Configure Windows Indexing Service for Performance

The Windows Indexing Service provides you with the ability to perform advanced searches on directories located on your computer and on shared directories on the network. The Indexing Service was introduced with IIS (Internet Information Services) and is now installed with Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

The Indexing Service is not started by default on a Windows 2000 professional computer. If you want the Indexing service to start automatically, select "Start | Settings | Control Panel | Administrative Tools" and open the "Computer Management" application. In the left pane of the "Computer Management" window, select "Services", then in the right pane, right-click on "Indexing Service". The "Indexing Services Properties" dialog box will appear.

In the "Indexing Services Properties" dialog box, on the "General" tab select "Automatic" from the "Startup type:" drop-down list. Under "Service stautus:" click on the "Start" button. A flurry of hard disk activity may begin as the Indexing Service builds or updates the index. The Indexing service creates an index (also called a catalog) organized in a way that makes it quick and easy to search. The Indexing Service also records the documents properties, for example its date of creation and last modified date.

The Search application can be accessed by right-clicking on any folder and selecting "Search..." in the popup menu. You can search for file names or you can search for text within files using keywords, or phases. Queries can use wildcards (?, *) and boolean operators (AND OR and NOT). When a user searches an NTFS volume, the Indexing service will return in the results only the files the user has permission to see.

The documents created by most applications contain formatting and control information, for example a webpage contains html tags, a Word document contains rtf tags. The Indexing Service uses filters to extract the content from the formatting and control information. Documents with extensions for which filters are not installed will not be indexed by default. If you want to index everything, open the "Computer Management" application as described above, and select "Services ...", then right-click on "Indexing Service" and select "Properties" in the popup menu. In the "Indexing Services Properties" dialog box which appears, on the "Generation" tab, check the checkbox next to "Index Files With Unknown Extensions".

The Indexing service is designed to run continuously and requires no maintenance. After it is setup, it will automatically update the index. When a file changes, the OS sends a change notification to the Indexing Service, causing it to update the index. Folders on remote computers are scanned periodically.

The Windows Indexing Service uses a fair amount of disk space (approximately 30% the amount of the original files). If the shared directories on the network are large, it can consume a considerable portion of the computer's memory and processor cycles. There are several options for configuring the Indexing Service to improve performance.

To configure the Indexing Service select "Start | Settings | Control Panel | Administrative Tools" and open the "Computer Management" application. In the left pane of the "Computer Management" window, click the plus sign next to "Services and Applications", then right-click on the "Indexing Service" icon. In the popup menu, select "All Tasks | Tune Performance". The "Indexing Service Usage" dialog box will appear.

The "Indexing Service Usage" dialog box provides three radio button options that let Windows set the Indexing Service Performance for you; "Used often", "Used occasionally", and "Never Used". If you want to provide your own custom setting, set the "Customize" radio button and click on the "Customize..." button. The "Desired Performance" dialog box will appear.

The "Desired Performance" dialog box contains two slider controls. The "Indexing" slider control sets how quickly the catalog will be updated. Adjust it to the left to reduce the amount of system resources used to update the catalog. The "Querying" slider control sets how quickly search results will be returned. Adjusting it to the left will reduce the amount of system resources used, but search results will take longer to return.

You can also control the Indexing Service by configuring the specific folders to be indexed. When you click on the "Indexing Service" icon in the "Computer Management" window, the right pane should list a catalog named "System". When you double-click on a catalog, you will find three folders, "Directories", "Properties", and "Query The Catalog".

Note: If Internet Information Server (IIS) is installed on your computer, you should also see a catalog named "Web". The Web catalog scans the C:Inetpub directory.

To add a folder to be indexed, right-click on the "Directories" folder and select "New | Directory" in the popup menu. In the "Add Directory" dialog box that appears, enter the path of the new directory. To remove a folder, left-click on the "Directories" folder to display the list of directories in the right pane. Then left-click on a directory and select "Delete" in the popup menu.

Copyright(C) Bucaro TecHelp.

Permission is granted for the below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and the byline, copyright, and the resource box below is included.

About The Author

Stephen Bucaro

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a Web site and make money on the Web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter visit http://bucarotechelp.com/search/000800.asp.

Other Article Sites

findabook.com  moneycd.info  a-mortgage.info   about-lemon-laws.info  aboutstudentloans.info
all-about-publishing.info  auctions-articles.info  bestcollege-university.com  bestispconnection.com
biblefolder.com  blogger-website.com  books-used.info  brokers-guide.info  buywindows.info  cable-dsl.info
career-miner.com  carpel-tunnel.info  cashinaflash.info  cashloanreviews.info  casinobell.com  chat-house.info
clearmycredit.info  collegeloantips.info  crones.info  depression-articles.info   dirnic.net  dishguides.info
divers-below.com  expodog.info   financewizz.com  fire-insurance.info  getgood.info  handleit.net   it-idea.info
health-supplies.info  hosting-right.com  insidealert.com  insurance-facts.info  jobs-employment.info
justgood.info  lookgold.net   lowcost-travel.info  money-source.info  myhostzone.info  numisblog.com
peoplesearchfinder.info  pr-articles.info  realeas.com   refinancing-guides.info  spyware-remove.info
telelot.info  the-law.info   toppaid.info  travel-deals.info  travelcorrect.com  wedding-guide-site.com
your-blog.info  your-credit.info

MORE ARTICLES:

Novixys Software, Inc. Announces Swift XML Converter 1.2, a Powerful Windows Application for Converting XML to Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, CSV
Easily query and extract XML data to Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, CSV & Text using Swift XML Converter 1.2.

Replacing Steel Casement Windows
I have been getting quite a few emails from homeowners wanting to know how to replace their old steel casement windows. Those are the type with the handle that you crank and the window opens outward.

The Death of Windows
I have always regretted how Microsoft price gouges and rips off computer users. I really regret Windows XP activation.

Strategic Test Slashes Prices for XScale PXA320 and PXA270 Development Kits - Includes Windows CE and Linux BSP's at No Extra Cost
Strategic Test, a world-leading supplier of Marvel XScale PXA320, PXA270 and PXA255 Development Kits and System-On-Modules (SOM) has announced dramatic price reductions of up to 50% on their PXA320 and PXA270 Development Kits.

Axentra HipServ 1.5 Home Server Virtual Machine for Windows
Personal Media enjoyment whenever, wherever available for PC home servers.

Hurricane Proof Windows Are A Must In A Storm Region
If you live on the coast then you have probably lived through more than one hurricane. It is never a bad idea to remember how to be safe when living in a hurricane prone region. Some hurricanes are really like big storms while others can be very dangerous happenings. Follow these tips to keep readiness and hurricane preparation and storm protection in the forefront of your mind.

Maximize The Windows of Opportunity For Explosive Muscle Growth
You have two main windows of opportunity when your training. One is 30 minutes before you train (pre-workout meal) and another comes about 30-60 minutes after your workout is over (post-workout meal).

Keeping Your Home Safe With Replacement Windows
Windows are one thing that is very important to any home. The regular window will let in light and air when needed for the home. They will also add protection and security to your home as well. You can also really change the appearance of your home when you change out the windows. This is the importance to having the perfect windows in any home. Replacement windows can help to add value to any home.

Windows 95 Registry Cleaner
Registry Cleaner Reviews: Registry Cleaner 2 0 16Sdownload RegClean is a little more basic than some of the other registry cleaner software programs I have tested. Get ready to learn why your computer slows down over time and how regular use of a registry cleaner can prevent it from happening as often When your PC suddenly has a mind of its own, it might have caught a Spyware, or an Adware from the internet. Spywares and adwares are small programs that download themselves from the internet to your PC. They affect your PCs registry and a registry cleaner can possibly fix the errors that they cause. Spywares monitor your PCs activity? The programs running, registry information, websites visited. Adwares are annoying pop-ups and spam mails. R...

Lieberman Software's Random Password Manager Enterprise Edition™ Earns Windows Vista Certification
Product Enhances Customer Experience with Windows Vista User Account Control

Windows Vista Damaged Registry Cleaner
Registry Cleaner Reviews: Xp Registry Clean Shop around and maybe ask other people in the discussion forums what they thought of it. Are you ready to learn a little about registry cleaner software? If you are experiencing slow performance from your computer you can likely get it running quickly and smoothly again with a registry cleaner The Registry Grows With Indexing. There are six sub sections of the registry and they are all changed every time some user makes a change in the system through the control panel. Windows indexing service is another culprit that contributes greatly to the registry constantly changing and expanding. The Indexing service records in the registry the location of all the files and programs. This expands the regis...

Microsoft Windows vs Linux - The Fundamental Issue
The comparison of these two operating systems (OS) and the debates which developed have been ongoing for years Clashing opinions have recently heated up and received even greater exposure due to the One Laptop per Child's XO vs

Raxco Software Releases PerfectDisk 8.0 for Windows Home Server to Provide Complete Disk Defragmentation for Home Server Networks
Full capabilities including optimization and space restoration technology embedded.

Ethoughts Releases ScanMaster, a Simple and Inexpensive Raster to Vector Conversion Solution for Windows
Ethoughts Ltd. LLC has released ScanMaster 1.0, a new Raster to Vector converter for Windows 98/Me/2000/XP. ScanMaster's simple and interactive conversion wizard makes it a snap to generate vector drawings from raster images.