Question

I'm running Windows XP Professional, and ever since the last service pack I've had a searching problem.

When I want to search a network drive, I get the following message:

This folder is not indexed. To search this directory plase use Search Companion or add this directory to your index via options.

Basically, I have two questions. Is there some way that I can use the indexed search where appropriate and then have it switch over to the Search Companion automatically?

Second, how does a programmer look at this code and think this is a good idea? I realize that this question is rhetorical. However, I must enter my search string into one search, receive the error, and then click "Search Companion" to bring up the new search window. This window doesn't even take the defaults from the previous one so I have to specify the search string and drive again.

Answer 1

Microsoft has improved file search to the point of being too user-friendly to use.
I don't use it for non-indexed searches, but rather the Agent Ransack Freeware, which keeps the history of all past searches and can even do contents search.
I'm aware that this doesn't directly address your question, but using Agent Ransack will solve your problem.

Answer 2

It reports the fact that the folder isn't indexed before you start the search.

Admittedly it's in the bottom right corner of the dialog below all the input boxes, and as your focus is at the top left where the input box is you might not notice it straight away.

However, this isn't really a solution as you still have to open the old "Search Companion" to perform the search.

Answer 3

I have the same exact problem. This is the only help I have been able to find on Google. Has anyone figured out how to do this? There has to be a registry tweak that can fix it or something. The only reason I will even touch the windows search is for outlook email indexing, but not at the price of making windows search useless.

update: found out how. http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/windowsdesktopsearchhelp/thread/dbec1180-61a2-47e2-9255-6246b4896882/ add a key called HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows Desktop Search\DS\ShowStartSearchBand and set it to 0 and you are set.