Slow search function in Windows XP

[Maligkong]

Is there any way to speed up or streamline the search function in Windows XP? I've tried it with and without indexing turned on, and in both cases it is abyssmally slow--sometimes over 15 minutes to search maybe 5 GB of files, compared to about 15 seconds on Win98, 2000, NT, etc. It's searching all sorts of files that don't show up in explorer, like CAB files and stuff.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[kippy13]

Can you go into windows explorer-tools-folder options view.
Click the three options-do not show hidden files and folders, hide files of known file type and also hide protected OS files.
See if that makes a difference.

"Sometimes I do not know but I try hard"- R.F. Haughty 1923

 

[linney]

You haven't made mention of your system specifications and health of your drives, all of which could contribute to this problem. Do you perform regular disk clean up maintenance?

Maybe reinstalling the Search Engine will help.

Open Explorer and go to the Windows\Inf folder. Locate the srchasst.inf file. Right click it and select Install. You'll need your XP CD or the files from the I386 folder. (This fix will require you to have your Win XP CD).

The Windows\Inf folder is a hidden folder. You can adjust your Explorer Folder Options (View tab) to Show hidden files and folders.

For other alternatives and suggestions try here.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=...q="slow+search"+windows+xp&btnG=Google+Search

 

[bcastner]

If you regularly need to search, particularly if you need to search for a text string within a file, the honest answer is that you use a third-party utility.

But see Kelly Theriot's note on her site, under S, scroll down to Search:

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_abc.htm

If after making the changes suggested by Kelly above you are still unhappy, do a Google on "search utility xp' as there are freeware and modestly priced non-freeware that will handle the chore.