Hello!
Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the progress in
the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a replacement for the sand
glass)?
When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever. That
is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar first goes
half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly to about 3/4 of
the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or so, then more slowly
still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end with each redraw - but never
quite reaching the end. I watch hopefully as it gets to the little
down-pointing triangle, thinking that it will give up when it gets there and
report that it can't find what it's searching for. But it doesn't. It
keeps creeping further, past the vertical separator at the end of the
Address Bar, and then at a maddeningly slow pace across the red "X" and...
hours later, the green bar is still being redrawn and it STILL hasn't got to
the end.
Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for the
same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
Sincerely,
Dima

Uzytkownik "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> napisal w wiadomosci
news:%23uU%23J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
....
> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for the
> same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.

The same for me... Total Commander is 20 times faster than explorer...
horrible :(
--
marfi

"Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
news:%23uU%23J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hello!
> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the progress in
> the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a replacement for the sand
> glass)?
> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever. That
> is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar first goes
> half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly to about 3/4 of
> the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or so, then more slowly
> still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end with each redraw - but never
> quite reaching the end. I watch hopefully as it gets to the little
> down-pointing triangle, thinking that it will give up when it gets there
> and report that it can't find what it's searching for. But it doesn't.
> It keeps creeping further, past the vertical separator at the end of the
> Address Bar, and then at a maddeningly slow pace across the red "X" and...
> hours later, the green bar is still being redrawn and it STILL hasn't got
> to the end.
> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for the
> same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.


It's worse than that. It also sometimes cannot find files that are clearly
there.

ss.

Hi, Dima.

Is there an echo in here?

This sounds like the discussion we had here a week or two ago. Yes, here it
is: started by you on 4/28/08, Subject: Why does Windows Vista x64 search
so long? Like this current post, it was cross-posted to 3 NGs; that thread
has 9 posts, of which 5 were from you. One is from me, one from Tony
Sperling and 2 from Colin Barnhorst.

The bulk of your current post is a cut-n-pasted direct quote from my post of
4/28/08 in that other thread. I don't mind your using my description of the
problem, but whenever you "borrow" text from somewhere, common courtesy (and
Netiquette) requires that you identify the source.

Have you found new information about this problem, Dima? Or are you just
asking the same question again?

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@grandecom.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)

"Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
news:#uU#J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hello!
> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the progress in
> the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a replacement for the sand
> glass)?
> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever. That
> is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar first goes
> half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly to about 3/4 of
> the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or so, then more slowly
> still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end with each redraw - but never
> quite reaching the end. I watch hopefully as it gets to the little
> down-pointing triangle, thinking that it will give up when it gets there
> and report that it can't find what it's searching for. But it doesn't.
> It keeps creeping further, past the vertical separator at the end of the
> Address Bar, and then at a maddeningly slow pace across the red "X" and...
> hours later, the green bar is still being redrawn and it STILL hasn't got
> to the end.
> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for the
> same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
> Sincerely,
> Dima

No, I have not find any new information. It's strange that nobody knows a
resolution to the slow search in Vista!
"R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
news:C9056DE7-49E1-4F39-A329-68465C4CB203@microsoft.com...
> Hi, Dima.
>
> Is there an echo in here?
>
> This sounds like the discussion we had here a week or two ago. Yes, here
> it is: started by you on 4/28/08, Subject: Why does Windows Vista x64
> search so long? Like this current post, it was cross-posted to 3 NGs;
> that thread has 9 posts, of which 5 were from you. One is from me, one
> from Tony Sperling and 2 from Colin Barnhorst.
>
> The bulk of your current post is a cut-n-pasted direct quote from my post
> of 4/28/08 in that other thread. I don't mind your using my description
> of the problem, but whenever you "borrow" text from somewhere, common
> courtesy (and Netiquette) requires that you identify the source.
>
> Have you found new information about this problem, Dima? Or are you just
> asking the same question again?
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
> rc@grandecom.net
> Microsoft Windows MVP
> (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
>
> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
> news:#uU#J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Hello!
>> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the progress
>> in the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a replacement for the
>> sand glass)?
>> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever.
>> That is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar first
>> goes half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly to about
>> 3/4 of the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or so, then more
>> slowly still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end with each redraw -
>> but never quite reaching the end. I watch hopefully as it gets to the
>> little down-pointing triangle, thinking that it will give up when it gets
>> there and report that it can't find what it's searching for. But it
>> doesn't. It keeps creeping further, past the vertical separator at the
>> end of the Address Bar, and then at a maddeningly slow pace across the
>> red "X" and... hours later, the green bar is still being redrawn and it
>> STILL hasn't got to the end.
>> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for the
>> same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
>> Sincerely,
>> Dima
>

I am sure there are many who know how to "fix it", at least, in principle.
And many of them are at Microsoft. <g>

Without going into the details of search theory or methods of
implementation: It could well be that nothing is actually broken so does not
need fixing in the strict sense. Possibly, the search algorithms are
performing exactly as designed. However, it also might be true that they
could be better implemented. For example, they could be recoded into
assembly or direct machine code-seldom done now-but that's a topic for a
different place and time. As one example of a fast search-isoHunt, a Torrent
search engine, is very rapid considering the vast quantity of data indexed
however it retunes a quantity of false positives.

In designing any program, there are many trade-offs. All of them affect the
search speed. E.g. Do you do a full, all storage devices search or limit it
to a particular set of locations (Vista actually allows the user to modify
to search entire index or just user files). How highly do you value
reliability (same results on repeated searches of the same data),
accuracy/fuzziness (result matches target/result is a near match), &c. But
Here I am probably not saying anything you don't know.

In short, if it's not too late for that, we can be certain that these are
matters that are routinely reviewed as development goes forward as halting
and retrograde as that motion sometimes appears.
--

Tom
MSMVP 1998-2007


"Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
news:OsthwNGtIHA.5268@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> No, I have not find any new information. It's strange that nobody knows a
> resolution to the slow search in Vista!
> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
> news:C9056DE7-49E1-4F39-A329-68465C4CB203@microsoft.com...
>> Hi, Dima.
>>
>> Is there an echo in here?
>>
>> This sounds like the discussion we had here a week or two ago. Yes, here
>> it is: started by you on 4/28/08, Subject: Why does Windows Vista x64
>> search so long? Like this current post, it was cross-posted to 3 NGs;
>> that thread has 9 posts, of which 5 were from you. One is from me, one
>> from Tony Sperling and 2 from Colin Barnhorst.
>>
>> The bulk of your current post is a cut-n-pasted direct quote from my post
>> of 4/28/08 in that other thread. I don't mind your using my description
>> of the problem, but whenever you "borrow" text from somewhere, common
>> courtesy (and Netiquette) requires that you identify the source.
>>
>> Have you found new information about this problem, Dima? Or are you just
>> asking the same question again?
>>
>> RC
>> --
>> R. C. White, CPA
>> San Marcos, TX
>> rc@grandecom.net
>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>> (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
>>
>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>> news:#uU#J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> Hello!
>>> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the progress
>>> in the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a replacement for the
>>> sand glass)?
>>> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever.
>>> That is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar first
>>> goes half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly to about
>>> 3/4 of the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or so, then
>>> more slowly still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end with each
>>> redraw - but never quite reaching the end. I watch hopefully as it gets
>>> to the little down-pointing triangle, thinking that it will give up when
>>> it gets there and report that it can't find what it's searching for.
>>> But it doesn't. It keeps creeping further, past the vertical separator
>>> at the end of the Address Bar, and then at a maddeningly slow pace
>>> across the red "X" and... hours later, the green bar is still being
>>> redrawn and it STILL hasn't got to the end.
>>> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for
>>> the same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
>>> Sincerely,
>>> Dima
>>
>

Why don't they reply then?
"Tom Ferguson" <tom.newsgroups******.com> wrote in message
news:%23pbg8bOtIHA.3804@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>I am sure there are many who know how to "fix it", at least, in principle.
>And many of them are at Microsoft. <g>
>
> Without going into the details of search theory or methods of
> implementation: It could well be that nothing is actually broken so does
> not need fixing in the strict sense. Possibly, the search algorithms are
> performing exactly as designed. However, it also might be true that they
> could be better implemented. For example, they could be recoded into
> assembly or direct machine code-seldom done now-but that's a topic for a
> different place and time. As one example of a fast search-isoHunt, a
> Torrent search engine, is very rapid considering the vast quantity of
> data indexed however it retunes a quantity of false positives.
>
> In designing any program, there are many trade-offs. All of them affect
> the search speed. E.g. Do you do a full, all storage devices search or
> limit it to a particular set of locations (Vista actually allows the user
> to modify to search entire index or just user files). How highly do you
> value reliability (same results on repeated searches of the same data),
> accuracy/fuzziness (result matches target/result is a near match), &c. But
> Here I am probably not saying anything you don't know.
>
> In short, if it's not too late for that, we can be certain that these are
> matters that are routinely reviewed as development goes forward as halting
> and retrograde as that motion sometimes appears.
> --
>
> Tom
> MSMVP 1998-2007
>
>
> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
> news:OsthwNGtIHA.5268@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> No, I have not find any new information. It's strange that nobody knows a
>> resolution to the slow search in Vista!
>> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
>> news:C9056DE7-49E1-4F39-A329-68465C4CB203@microsoft.com...
>>> Hi, Dima.
>>>
>>> Is there an echo in here?
>>>
>>> This sounds like the discussion we had here a week or two ago. Yes,
>>> here it is: started by you on 4/28/08, Subject: Why does Windows Vista
>>> x64 search so long? Like this current post, it was cross-posted to 3
>>> NGs; that thread has 9 posts, of which 5 were from you. One is from me,
>>> one from Tony Sperling and 2 from Colin Barnhorst.
>>>
>>> The bulk of your current post is a cut-n-pasted direct quote from my
>>> post of 4/28/08 in that other thread. I don't mind your using my
>>> description of the problem, but whenever you "borrow" text from
>>> somewhere, common courtesy (and Netiquette) requires that you identify
>>> the source.
>>>
>>> Have you found new information about this problem, Dima? Or are you
>>> just asking the same question again?
>>>
>>> RC
>>> --
>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>> San Marcos, TX
>>> rc@grandecom.net
>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>> (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
>>>
>>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>>> news:#uU#J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>> Hello!
>>>> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the progress
>>>> in the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a replacement for the
>>>> sand glass)?
>>>> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever.
>>>> That is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar first
>>>> goes half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly to about
>>>> 3/4 of the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or so, then
>>>> more slowly still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end with each
>>>> redraw - but never quite reaching the end. I watch hopefully as it
>>>> gets to the little down-pointing triangle, thinking that it will give
>>>> up when it gets there and report that it can't find what it's searching
>>>> for. But it doesn't. It keeps creeping further, past the vertical
>>>> separator at the end of the Address Bar, and then at a maddeningly slow
>>>> pace across the red "X" and... hours later, the green bar is still
>>>> being redrawn and it STILL hasn't got to the end.
>>>> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for
>>>> the same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>> Dima
>>>
>>
>

They probably haven't found an answer either.

If someone had an answer they would have shared the information.


Dima wrote:
> Why don't they reply then?
> "Tom Ferguson" <tom.newsgroups******.com> wrote in message
> news:%23pbg8bOtIHA.3804@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> I am sure there are many who know how to "fix it", at least, in
>> principle. And many of them are at Microsoft. <g>
>>
>> Without going into the details of search theory or methods of
>> implementation: It could well be that nothing is actually broken so
>> does not need fixing in the strict sense. Possibly, the search
>> algorithms are performing exactly as designed. However, it also might
>> be true that they could be better implemented. For example, they could
>> be recoded into assembly or direct machine code-seldom done now-but
>> that's a topic for a different place and time. As one example of a
>> fast search-isoHunt, a Torrent search engine, is very rapid
>> considering the vast quantity of data indexed however it retunes a
>> quantity of false positives.
>>
>> In designing any program, there are many trade-offs. All of them
>> affect the search speed. E.g. Do you do a full, all storage devices
>> search or limit it to a particular set of locations (Vista actually
>> allows the user to modify to search entire index or just user files).
>> How highly do you value reliability (same results on repeated searches
>> of the same data), accuracy/fuzziness (result matches target/result is
>> a near match), &c. But Here I am probably not saying anything you
>> don't know.
>>
>> In short, if it's not too late for that, we can be certain that these
>> are matters that are routinely reviewed as development goes forward as
>> halting and retrograde as that motion sometimes appears.
>> --
>>
>> Tom
>> MSMVP 1998-2007
>>
>>
>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>> news:OsthwNGtIHA.5268@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> No, I have not find any new information. It's strange that nobody
>>> knows a resolution to the slow search in Vista!
>>> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
>>> news:C9056DE7-49E1-4F39-A329-68465C4CB203@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi, Dima.
>>>>
>>>> Is there an echo in here?
>>>>
>>>> This sounds like the discussion we had here a week or two ago. Yes,
>>>> here it is: started by you on 4/28/08, Subject: Why does Windows
>>>> Vista x64 search so long? Like this current post, it was
>>>> cross-posted to 3 NGs; that thread has 9 posts, of which 5 were from
>>>> you. One is from me, one from Tony Sperling and 2 from Colin
>>>> Barnhorst.
>>>>
>>>> The bulk of your current post is a cut-n-pasted direct quote from my
>>>> post of 4/28/08 in that other thread. I don't mind your using my
>>>> description of the problem, but whenever you "borrow" text from
>>>> somewhere, common courtesy (and Netiquette) requires that you
>>>> identify the source.
>>>>
>>>> Have you found new information about this problem, Dima? Or are you
>>>> just asking the same question again?
>>>>
>>>> RC
>>>> --
>>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>>> San Marcos, TX
>>>> rc@grandecom.net
>>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>>> (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
>>>>
>>>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>>>> news:#uU#J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hello!
>>>>> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the
>>>>> progress in the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a
>>>>> replacement for the sand glass)?
>>>>> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly
>>>>> forever. That is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer,
>>>>> the bar first goes half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes
>>>>> more slowly to about 3/4 of the way, appearing to redraw the bar
>>>>> every second or so, then more slowly still to 7/8, etc., getting
>>>>> closer to the end with each redraw - but never quite reaching the
>>>>> end. I watch hopefully as it gets to the little down-pointing
>>>>> triangle, thinking that it will give up when it gets there and
>>>>> report that it can't find what it's searching for. But it doesn't.
>>>>> It keeps creeping further, past the vertical separator at the end
>>>>> of the Address Bar, and then at a maddeningly slow pace across the
>>>>> red "X" and... hours later, the green bar is still being redrawn
>>>>> and it STILL hasn't got to the end.
>>>>> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches
>>>>> for the same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> Dima
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

This is a peer-to-peer newsgroup and does not have monitors or moderators.
Unless another user has a suggestion or technical answer no one will reply.

"Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
news:Ot3jwAftIHA.576@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Why don't they reply then?
> "Tom Ferguson" <tom.newsgroups******.com> wrote in message
> news:%23pbg8bOtIHA.3804@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>I am sure there are many who know how to "fix it", at least, in principle.
>>And many of them are at Microsoft. <g>
>>
>> Without going into the details of search theory or methods of
>> implementation: It could well be that nothing is actually broken so does
>> not need fixing in the strict sense. Possibly, the search algorithms are
>> performing exactly as designed. However, it also might be true that they
>> could be better implemented. For example, they could be recoded into
>> assembly or direct machine code-seldom done now-but that's a topic for a
>> different place and time. As one example of a fast search-isoHunt, a
>> Torrent search engine, is very rapid considering the vast quantity of
>> data indexed however it retunes a quantity of false positives.
>>
>> In designing any program, there are many trade-offs. All of them affect
>> the search speed. E.g. Do you do a full, all storage devices search or
>> limit it to a particular set of locations (Vista actually allows the user
>> to modify to search entire index or just user files). How highly do you
>> value reliability (same results on repeated searches of the same data),
>> accuracy/fuzziness (result matches target/result is a near match), &c.
>> But Here I am probably not saying anything you don't know.
>>
>> In short, if it's not too late for that, we can be certain that these are
>> matters that are routinely reviewed as development goes forward as
>> halting and retrograde as that motion sometimes appears.
>> --
>>
>> Tom
>> MSMVP 1998-2007
>>
>>
>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>> news:OsthwNGtIHA.5268@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> No, I have not find any new information. It's strange that nobody knows
>>> a resolution to the slow search in Vista!
>>> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
>>> news:C9056DE7-49E1-4F39-A329-68465C4CB203@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi, Dima.
>>>>
>>>> Is there an echo in here?
>>>>
>>>> This sounds like the discussion we had here a week or two ago. Yes,
>>>> here it is: started by you on 4/28/08, Subject: Why does Windows
>>>> Vista x64 search so long? Like this current post, it was cross-posted
>>>> to 3 NGs; that thread has 9 posts, of which 5 were from you. One is
>>>> from me, one from Tony Sperling and 2 from Colin Barnhorst.
>>>>
>>>> The bulk of your current post is a cut-n-pasted direct quote from my
>>>> post of 4/28/08 in that other thread. I don't mind your using my
>>>> description of the problem, but whenever you "borrow" text from
>>>> somewhere, common courtesy (and Netiquette) requires that you identify
>>>> the source.
>>>>
>>>> Have you found new information about this problem, Dima? Or are you
>>>> just asking the same question again?
>>>>
>>>> RC
>>>> --
>>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>>> San Marcos, TX
>>>> rc@grandecom.net
>>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>>> (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
>>>>
>>>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>>>> news:#uU#J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hello!
>>>>> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the
>>>>> progress in the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a
>>>>> replacement for the sand glass)?
>>>>> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever.
>>>>> That is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar
>>>>> first goes half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly
>>>>> to about 3/4 of the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or
>>>>> so, then more slowly still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end
>>>>> with each redraw - but never quite reaching the end. I watch
>>>>> hopefully as it gets to the little down-pointing triangle, thinking
>>>>> that it will give up when it gets there and report that it can't find
>>>>> what it's searching for. But it doesn't. It keeps creeping further,
>>>>> past the vertical separator at the end of the Address Bar, and then at
>>>>> a maddeningly slow pace across the red "X" and... hours later, the
>>>>> green bar is still being redrawn and it STILL hasn't got to the end.
>>>>> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for
>>>>> the same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> Dima
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

As Colin points out, this is a peer-to-peer help group. Sometimes MS softies
drop in but MS has no formal presence here.

As for your question, I have enough trouble accounting for myself without
dragging out "ye olde crystal ball" to divine anyone else's motivations. <g>
--

Tom
MSMVP 1998-2007


"Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
news:Ot3jwAftIHA.576@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Why don't they reply then?
> "Tom Ferguson" <tom.newsgroups******.com> wrote in message
> news:%23pbg8bOtIHA.3804@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>I am sure there are many who know how to "fix it", at least, in principle.
>>And many of them are at Microsoft. <g>
>>
>> Without going into the details of search theory or methods of
>> implementation: It could well be that nothing is actually broken so does
>> not need fixing in the strict sense. Possibly, the search algorithms are
>> performing exactly as designed. However, it also might be true that they
>> could be better implemented. For example, they could be recoded into
>> assembly or direct machine code-seldom done now-but that's a topic for a
>> different place and time. As one example of a fast search-isoHunt, a
>> Torrent search engine, is very rapid considering the vast quantity of
>> data indexed however it retunes a quantity of false positives.
>>
>> In designing any program, there are many trade-offs. All of them affect
>> the search speed. E.g. Do you do a full, all storage devices search or
>> limit it to a particular set of locations (Vista actually allows the user
>> to modify to search entire index or just user files). How highly do you
>> value reliability (same results on repeated searches of the same data),
>> accuracy/fuzziness (result matches target/result is a near match), &c.
>> But Here I am probably not saying anything you don't know.
>>
>> In short, if it's not too late for that, we can be certain that these are
>> matters that are routinely reviewed as development goes forward as
>> halting and retrograde as that motion sometimes appears.
>> --
>>
>> Tom
>> MSMVP 1998-2007
>>
>>
>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>> news:OsthwNGtIHA.5268@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>> No, I have not find any new information. It's strange that nobody knows
>>> a resolution to the slow search in Vista!
>>> "R. C. White" <rc@grandecom.net> wrote in message
>>> news:C9056DE7-49E1-4F39-A329-68465C4CB203@microsoft.com...
>>>> Hi, Dima.
>>>>
>>>> Is there an echo in here?
>>>>
>>>> This sounds like the discussion we had here a week or two ago. Yes,
>>>> here it is: started by you on 4/28/08, Subject: Why does Windows
>>>> Vista x64 search so long? Like this current post, it was cross-posted
>>>> to 3 NGs; that thread has 9 posts, of which 5 were from you. One is
>>>> from me, one from Tony Sperling and 2 from Colin Barnhorst.
>>>>
>>>> The bulk of your current post is a cut-n-pasted direct quote from my
>>>> post of 4/28/08 in that other thread. I don't mind your using my
>>>> description of the problem, but whenever you "borrow" text from
>>>> somewhere, common courtesy (and Netiquette) requires that you identify
>>>> the source.
>>>>
>>>> Have you found new information about this problem, Dima? Or are you
>>>> just asking the same question again?
>>>>
>>>> RC
>>>> --
>>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>>> San Marcos, TX
>>>> rc@grandecom.net
>>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>>> (Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
>>>>
>>>> "Dima" <kopn@bk.ruDelete> wrote in message
>>>> news:#uU#J3ssIHA.4544@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>>>> Hello!
>>>>> Why does Windows Vista x64 search so long, especially when the
>>>>> progress in the bar is at the end and the ring is rolling (a
>>>>> replacement for the sand glass)?
>>>>> When a search is not "nearly instantaneous" it takes nearly forever.
>>>>> That is, when you ask for an Advanced Search of Computer, the bar
>>>>> first goes half-way across fairly quickly. Then it goes more slowly
>>>>> to about 3/4 of the way, appearing to redraw the bar every second or
>>>>> so, then more slowly still to 7/8, etc., getting closer to the end
>>>>> with each redraw - but never quite reaching the end. I watch
>>>>> hopefully as it gets to the little down-pointing triangle, thinking
>>>>> that it will give up when it gets there and report that it can't find
>>>>> what it's searching for. But it doesn't. It keeps creeping further,
>>>>> past the vertical separator at the end of the Address Bar, and then at
>>>>> a maddeningly slow pace across the red "X" and... hours later, the
>>>>> green bar is still being redrawn and it STILL hasn't got to the end.
>>>>> Windows XP Pro on the same computer (but on another HDD) searches for
>>>>> the same files (on all HDDs) five times faster.
>>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>> Dima
>>>>
>>>
>>
>

Microsoftie here :)

The progress bar was a design decision made by the program management team.
It does not show progress, but it does reflect that we're still performing
work. It was tweaked significantly during the different Betas and Release
Candidates until people were generally ok with it.

Searching in indexed locations should be fast. It should be even faster
with Window Search 4 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940157) installed. The
more locations on the disk you have indexed, the faster the searching of
these locations should be. Keep in mind that we don't index the entire drive
on purpose, as the indexer wasn't designed to handle the load that is
associated with indexing directories like Windows or Program Files.

Searching all of the Computer is a very costly operation, because a majority
of the time is spent crawling the disk trying to find the items that you're
looking for. The non-indexed search of Vista is slower than XP and other
engines by default, because we end up searching more properties. Also, we
perform our searches differently than most engines (word based, rather than
character or regular expression based). This isn't an excuse, we should
still do a better job of being more efficient.

Granted that it may be slower in some situations, there are things you can
do to improve performance of your searches.

1. Scope your search location. Only include the locations you think that
you may find the file you're looking for. This will obviously speed things
up.
2. Scope your search to only search for properties you care about. Use
either the Advanced Search Pane or directly use Advanced Query Syntax (such
as name:foo, or author:bar). See
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa965711.aspx for more details. The
syntax isn't perfect and there is a lot of work trying to keep the behavior
of non-indexed searches to match the behavior of indexed searches (which
isn't perfect), even though it is two completely distinct search providers.
3. Add more locations of the files you care about to the index. When
searching non-indexed locations like Computer, we will leverage the indexer
to return results for indexed locations on the system.
4. Keep the "Search system folders" checkbox unchecked in the Search
Options, unless you're sure that's where you want to look. When this option
is set, searching from c:\ will not search within system directories like
c:\windows and c:\program files.
5. Don't use the "Include non-indexed, hidden and system files (might be
slow)" checkbox in the Advanced search box unless you have to. This option
will not use the index at all and will perform a non-indexed search of all
locations and also look in system folders.

Hope this helps,
Justin

PS - I'm going to try to do a better job of popping into the newsgroup now
and then to see if there is anything that needs answering.

Justin Martin [MSFT] wrote:
> Microsoftie here :)
>
> The progress bar was a design decision made by the program management team.
> It does not show progress, but it does reflect that we're still performing
> work. It was tweaked significantly during the different Betas and Release
> Candidates until people were generally ok with it.
>
> Searching in indexed locations should be fast. It should be even faster
> with Window Search 4 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940157) installed. The
> more locations on the disk you have indexed, the faster the searching of
> these locations should be. Keep in mind that we don't index the entire drive
> on purpose, as the indexer wasn't designed to handle the load that is
> associated with indexing directories like Windows or Program Files.
>
> Searching all of the Computer is a very costly operation, because a majority
> of the time is spent crawling the disk trying to find the items that you're
> looking for. The non-indexed search of Vista is slower than XP and other
> engines by default, because we end up searching more properties. Also, we
> perform our searches differently than most engines (word based, rather than
> character or regular expression based). This isn't an excuse, we should
> still do a better job of being more efficient.
>
> Granted that it may be slower in some situations, there are things you can
> do to improve performance of your searches.
>
> 1. Scope your search location. Only include the locations you think that
> you may find the file you're looking for. This will obviously speed things
> up.
> 2. Scope your search to only search for properties you care about. Use
> either the Advanced Search Pane or directly use Advanced Query Syntax (such
> as name:foo, or author:bar). See
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa965711.aspx for more details. The
> syntax isn't perfect and there is a lot of work trying to keep the behavior
> of non-indexed searches to match the behavior of indexed searches (which
> isn't perfect), even though it is two completely distinct search providers.
> 3. Add more locations of the files you care about to the index. When
> searching non-indexed locations like Computer, we will leverage the indexer
> to return results for indexed locations on the system.
> 4. Keep the "Search system folders" checkbox unchecked in the Search
> Options, unless you're sure that's where you want to look. When this option
> is set, searching from c:\ will not search within system directories like
> c:\windows and c:\program files.
> 5. Don't use the "Include non-indexed, hidden and system files (might be
> slow)" checkbox in the Advanced search box unless you have to. This option
> will not use the index at all and will perform a non-indexed search of all
> locations and also look in system folders.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Justin
>
> PS - I'm going to try to do a better job of popping into the newsgroup now
> and then to see if there is anything that needs answering.


I believe you are trying to say that the Vista search function is a
hopeless waste of space. If we follow your suggestions we will know
where everything is anyway, In XP *.mp3 found all the mp3s, in Vista it
does not.

You bet there are things that need answering.

> I believe you are trying to say that the Vista search function is a
> hopeless waste of space. If we follow your suggestions we will know
> where everything is anyway, In XP *.mp3 found all the mp3s, in Vista it
> does not.
>
> You bet there are things that need answering.

That's not what I'm trying to say at all. I now understand why many people
don't spend their time trying to be helpful in the newsgroups.

You'll get people to be much more willing to try and assist and make
improvements in the product if you do more than just flame. If you honestly
are having a problem and would like help, please be descriptive of the
problems you're running into. For example:

1. Where/how are you initiating the search?
2. Where are the files that aren't being found? Are they random or is it a
specific set of items that aren't coming back?
3. Have you changed any of the default search or indexer settings?
etc.

Justin

Justin Martin [MSFT] wrote:
>> I believe you are trying to say that the Vista search function is a
>> hopeless waste of space. If we follow your suggestions we will know
>> where everything is anyway, In XP *.mp3 found all the mp3s, in Vista it
>> does not.
>>
>> You bet there are things that need answering.
>
> That's not what I'm trying to say at all. I now understand why many people
> don't spend their time trying to be helpful in the newsgroups.
>
> You'll get people to be much more willing to try and assist and make
> improvements in the product if you do more than just flame. If you honestly
> are having a problem and would like help, please be descriptive of the
> problems you're running into. For example:
>
> 1. Where/how are you initiating the search?
> 2. Where are the files that aren't being found? Are they random or is it a
> specific set of items that aren't coming back?
> 3. Have you changed any of the default search or indexer settings?
> etc.
>
> Justin


Actually your presence here is most welcome, and I was being somewhat
sarcastic.

I know there are many settings and that indexing can be useful to some,
however the situation seems to have been made quite confusing to many users.

For example, I rarely "Search" for anything, when I do it probably takes
the form of *.dll because I want to locate some file or other to work
with. I don't really care if it takes 5 minutes to find, but I do want
to be sure if it is there or not. What I do care about is that I have to
wait 5 minutes EVERY time as Vista "Indexes" things at boot. Despite
this time during which the disk drive is grinding away when I type *.dll
it comes back with nothing. Even if the file is in plain sight on the
desktop Vista does not find it. W2000 and XP used to just "Find" things,
indexed or not.

On the other hand if I want to find something on the Internet I use
Google or similar.

So my experience when first using Vista was with the default settings,
and despite 5 minutes every boot and 5 minutes every search I could not
be sure the file wasn't there, only that Vista wasn't locating it. Once
I went to the drive properties and turned indexing off the boot process
went back to a realistic time and Vista still couldn't find anything but
waiting time was acceptable.

So I guess the question is why change the "Expected" behavior and force
the user to make changes he/she is not familiar with when it seems that
what "Windows always does" was quite acceptable. I may well have missed
the point somewhere, I just want to know where :)

Even while accepting that other people have different experiences based on
what they customarily have need or desire to do, I have mine. It appears to
me that an effort is on-going to improve both the scope (where do you
search? How broadly do you set the parameters of the search?) and speed
(what methodology/algorithms do you use; do you keep an index of searches