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Windows Indexing

HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
edited July 2010 in Moe's Stupid Technology Tavern
A long time ago I noticed Windows added this feature called "Search Indexing." I've never had to rely on it, never used it. The only thing I've noticed is that when I start up the computer and Windows loads, there's an icon in the bottom corner indicating that the function is indexing files or whatever.

A couple weeks ago I noticed in the Properties menu for my harddrives that there's a check box for "Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching." I figured that I didn't need the function running so I disabled the check mark.

Cue problems starting. First, iTunes stopped recognizing where audio tracks are supposed to be located.

This lead to me finding the second, and more important, problem: when I try to access some folders on my drive, Windows will hang up for a moment or two and then report to me that the drive is not formatted and asks if I want to. Jesus Christ no!

So, is this normal behavior for this indexing function? Am I going to have to turn this dumb thing back on?

Henroid on

Posts

  • ArcSynArcSyn Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    I can't say much about the problems you are experiencing, but Windows Indexing is one of those things you let run, it does it's thing once, and then you never really hear from it again. It just does it's thing while the computer is idle and when you do need to do a search, it's super fast.

    It really doesn't hurt to leave it on.

    ArcSyn on
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  • FatsFats Corvallis, ORRegistered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Henroid wrote: »
    So, is this normal behavior for this indexing function? Am I going to have to turn this dumb thing back on?

    No, and no. I turned it off in XP with no ill effect. Your problems aren't indexing based, I'm a little concerned about your hard drive.

    Fats on
  • HenroidHenroid Mexican kicked from Immigration Thread Centrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Yeah I just re-enabled the indexing and my HDD still doesn't like accessing some folders (so far it seems to be contained to my music folders).

    I've got a USB flash drive that I'm backing things up to right now. D:

    Henroid on
  • Dark ShroudDark Shroud Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    You're actually better off leaving it on, especially in Vista & Win7. But odds are there is something wrong with your HD, possibly Memory.

    Dark Shroud on
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  • SatsumomoSatsumomo Rated PG! Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    Have you run CHKDSK? Could just be some messed up indexes or something.

    Satsumomo on
  • AzioAzio Registered User regular
    edited July 2010
    The Indexing Service is an essential process. It does not consume inordinate amounts of resources. Probably shouldn't fiddle with it.

    Azio on
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