Windows Search and - allow contents on this drive to be indexed


  1. Posts : 156
    10
       #1

    Windows Search and - allow contents on this drive to be indexed


    If I disable the setting "allow contents on this drive to be indexed" does it impact the windows search feature?

    My C drive is an SSD. I have been having issues with windows explorer being very slow on all drive so been researching possible issues.

    I came across that I should disable "allow contents on this drive to be indexed" on an SSD and am curious if that impacts Windows Search or if windows search is a different indexing. Since I have my files stored on another drive, it may not be a big deal to disable this on my C Drive since I have no contents under by C drive that I need to search. I also have no locations on my C drive set to be indexed under the indexing options in control panel.

    thanks,

    Mike
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #2

    Hello Mike,

    Unchecking the box will just not have the drive's content included in the index. You will still be able to perform a search, but it just won't use the index.

    Allow File Contents and Properties to be Indexed on a Drive in Windows | Tutorials
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 156
    10
    Thread Starter
       #3

    thanks for the quick reply. So if I unchecked the "allow contents on this drive to be indexed" does that mean windows search will not find something within the file if I have a folder on the C drive set to search in indexing options. For example, if I have a folder called c:\Mike and in that folder is a file called test.pdf and the word junk is in the file. If I go to windows explorer and search for "Junk" will it find that file in the results?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,667
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #4

    It will as long as you have "Always search file names and contents..." checked in Search Options.

    Change Search Options in Windows 10 | Tutorials
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 118
    Windows 10
       #5

    It is unlikely that any of this will impact your Windows Explorer experience in any noticeable way. Except perhaps making searches slower. It would be better if we get to the root of the problem and find out what is causing it to be slow.

    Can you give some more details about when or how it is slow. Under what conditions?

    Have you tested your SSD to check if you're getting read/write speeds consistent with it's specs?

    Is the drive full?

    How many Shell Extensions do you have and have you ever gone through them to get rid of ones that you don't need? Shell Extensions are notorious for slowing down Explorer.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 156
    10
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thanks. I wound up turning the index back on for C drive (checking the box under C Drive).

    I have a Samsung 860 Pro 1TB. Using around 273GB and 575GB Free. It is on a Dell Precision 7910 with an SAS interface.

    This issue with Windows File Explore being slow I have had on other Win 10 machines and it started on this one around a month ago. When creating new folders and renaming files, it can take 10 to 30 seconds for me to be able to enter a name in the file or folder name. I do a lot with pdf files and constantly renaming and moving pdf files. Mainly scanned documents, word and excel generated pdf files, and construction drawing pdf files.

    I have tried numerous things including disabling shell extensions. I disabled NVIDIA and Autodesk Extensions.

    I thought the issue is with Dropbox or malwarebytes , but I have exited both and same issue.

    I have in folder options "Launch folder windows in a separate process" and still an issue.

    I have removed all items from quick access.

    I have unchecked both privacy items under Folder Options General.

    Last night I started to rebuild the search index and it is still rebuilding, but seems a little better this morning. I am wondering if the index was corrupt and rebuilding will resolve the issue.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #7

    Hi, if your disk and file system are sound Windows search will not impact performance. When indexing is complete, there is no overhead. If indexing is incomplete, it is so designed that a very small amount of activity or use of the system will cause indexing to 'back off' (pause).

    Slowness of file explorer- especially rt click context menus- is typically attributable to poorly written shell extensions. You can diagnose that by using such programs as Shellexview (free), or to see more, Autoruns from MS (free).

    There was an issue with slow behaviour of New Folder last year which affected some.

    It may be appropriate to check your disk: Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) gives the best summary I've seen, else HD Tune, Health and Error Scan tabs.

    If ok, check your file system using
    chkdsk C: /scan
    from an admin command or Powershell prompt

    Note: searching Settings also depends on the search index. Without that, it's very slow.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 226
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    I have never used that option and never noticed a problem.
      My Computer


 

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