What is the best file indexing/searching utility?
Unless I’m just using it wrong, Google Desktop is not nearly as effective as I need it to be for finding files on my hard drive and across the network at my workplace. The new Windows Search isn’t any better because it can’t even search network drives. I need something that can search filenames AND within files (at least .doc, .xls, .txt, .pdf). Thank you.
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Fastest I have found for windows is “Everything-1.2.1.371”. It generally finds things as fast as you type them. Very impressive. Download it here. http://www.voidtools.com
I am not sure about searching within your network but on a local hard drive it is unbelievably fast.
@niigerian I heard about this on Lifehacker. But, I think I read that it can only search filenames, not within the files themselves, is that correct? Thanks.
+1 for Everything… I’m not sure about searching the metadata within the files – the best I’ve seen for that is Spotlight, but that’s a Mac application. But for a light weight, super fast search tool at the file name level… it blows Microsoft Search away… plus the indexing doesn’t feel like it takes forever. The one complaint that I have is that to call it up can be a hassle… I mean, going ALL THE WAY down to the system tray, waiting for it to expand, then DOUBLE clicking Everything… hehe, I’m lazy!
For Windows, the search in Vista is pretty good… just hit WindowsKey +F… it’s complete but it’s not as fast as Everything and it’s much faster than it was in XP… and for me it searches network drives – you just have to indicate the network drives when setting up the indexing. To find the download for XP, check here: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/desktopsearch/default.mspx
Hope that helps…
One note about Everything: it only searches NTFS-formatted hard drives. If you have a FAT32 partition, you’re out of luck.
Unless you use Locate32, my search program of choice. You can set up a schedule for it to index your computer’s files (I have mine set for every 30 minutes) and the search is super-fast. And it can search for text inside files.
@NoCatharsis As for searching inside files like say a text file, no “Anything” does not do that .I don’t generally use fat32 anymore. “Locate32” sounds like a good utility for those who do.
http://www.locate32.net/
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