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Vista's Search feature has two dirty secrets. First, Vista doesn't index every file on your PC. Although that keeps your searches fast, it also means you may not be able to retrieve a particular file. Second, Vista's index deteriorates with age, just like a rusty car. The following sections explain how to solve both problems.
Adding places to Vista's index
Vista indexes the files it thinks you need: everything in your Documents, Pictures, and Music folders; your e-mail; your Contacts; and more. But many people store important files elsewhere, out of the index's reach. Perhaps you've plugged an external hard drive into your PC. Or, maybe you store some important files on a networked PC in the other room.
Follow these steps to add those places to the index's usual stomping grounds. (You must own an Administrator account to add different folders to the index.)
1. Choose Start --> Control Panel.
The Control Panel, Vista's bundle of switches and options, appears in a window.
2. Open the Indexing Options window.
On some PCs, you may have to click the System and Maintenance icon first. The Indexing Options window appears, listing the number of indexed files and the folders it indexes.
3. Click the Modify button.
The Indexed Locations window appears, as shown in Figure 1, letting you pick and choose which areas of your hard drive should be indexed.
Note: Only Administrators may see or change indexed locations. If you hold a less-mighty account, you must click a Show All Locations button and enter an Administrator account holder's password to see the locations shown at the top of Figure 1.
Figure 1: Click to put a check mark next to the areas you want to add to the index.
4. Select the areas you want to index and then click the OK button.
Vista refers to external hard drives and thumb drives as "removable disks." So, to make Vista index a particular folder on your G drive, click the little down arrow next to the G drive's name, as shown in Figure 1. The folder names tumble beneath the drive's name.
To add a single folder to the index, click the box next to its name. To add the entire drive's contents, click the box next to the drive's name.
When you click the OK button, Vista adds that location to the index, a process that may take from minutes to hours, depending on the number of files.
Rebuilding the index
When Vista's Search feature slows considerably or doesn't seem to find files you know are in the pile, try having Vista rebuild the index from scratch.
Vista is kind enough to re-create its index in the background while you keep working, but to avoid slowing your PC for several hours, consider sending the rebuild command in the evening. That way, Vista can toil while you sleep, ensuring that you'll have a complete index the next morning.
Follow these steps to rebuild your index:
1. Choose Start --> Control Panel.
The Control Panel appears in a window.
2. Open the Indexing Options icon.
Don't spot it? Click the System and Maintenance icon to reveal the Indexing Options icon.
3. Click the Advanced button, and then click the Rebuild button.
Vista warns you that rebuilding the index takes a long time.
4. Click the OK button.
Vista begins indexing anew, waiting until it's finished with the new index before it deletes the old one.
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