turn off Vista index search

Windows Vista has greatly enhanced its search algorithm where the search process is now not only faster, but users can also easily search for almost all kind of files, documents, pictures, videos, emails and contacts in Outlook 2007, and even commands or application programs’ executables. To achieve the fast searching speed, indexing service plays a pivotal role. Windows Vista starts to crawl and index files on hard disks right after installed with a low priority background process. If you notice that your hard drive activity LED light is constantly flashing even if computer is idle, this is probably due to indexer at work.

This is supposedly the case - indexing at system idle period in order to minimize the performance penalty affected on normal usage. However, this may not be the case in Vista, as the search indexing related processes such as SearchProtocolHost, SearchFilterHost and SearchIndexer actively running even though computer is processing other more critical tasks or running important applications, effectively slow down overall computer performance by sucking up important CPU, memory and other system resources.

So to speed up Vista, users may want to turn off and disable the search indexer and indexing service. You can and should also disable the indexing of files if you’re using other desktop search utility such as Google Desktop Search and etc. If you don’t mind the slower searching speed when performing searches, the indexing has no meaningful use to you too. There are several ways to do this, as listed at the guide below.

• Disable Windows Search Service

This method effectively stop and disable all search indexing processes, and is the recommended way.

Windows Search Properties

1. Click on Start button, then select Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> Administrative Tools, and double click on Services applet. Alternatively, simply type “Services” (without quotes) in Start Search box.
2. If User Account Control asks for permission, click Continue.
3. Locate an service named Windows Search. Right click on WindowsSearch, and then select Properties on contextual menu.
4. Click on Stop button to stop the indexing service immediately.
5. On the Startup Type dropdown box, select Disabled.
6. Click on OK button.

To re-enable the Windows Seearch, simply change back the Startup Type.

• Disable Indexing on Drives

This method allows users to selectively disable indexing on certain drives which rarely used or searched. However, it may take a long time to apply new attributes to all files, folders and sub-folders to exclude them from indexing.

1. Open Windows Explorer from Accessories.
2. Right click on the drive (or drive letter) that you want to turn off the indexing.
3. Select Properties on the contextual menu.
4. Unselect (untick) the Index this drive for faster searching option.

Stop Indexing on Drives
5. Click Apply or OK button.

To re-include the drive, simply select the option again.

Indexing Options Remove or Exclude Indexed Locations in Control Panel

This method does not turn off indexing service. Instead, it just excludes deselected folders from search index, or deselect folders from included list. The indexer processes may still run after you remove or exclude everything.

1. Click on Start button.
2. Click on Control Panel.
3. Click on System and Maintenance.
4. Click on Indexing Options.
5. To remove an Included Location, simply click on Modify button, and then untick the checkbox for respective folders under the “Change selected locations” box. To remove indexing on Start Menu and/or Users folder, click on “Advanced” button at Indexing Options dialog or “Show all locations” in Indexed Locations dialog. UAC access request continue required. Click on Start Menu and Users once at “Summary of selected locations” box if you do not see the checkbox for them.

• Indexed Locations

To re-enable, simply tick back the folders.