Microsoft entry in the desktop search arena reached v3 – which is important for anyone using Outlook 2007
Windows Desktop Search v3 is out now and can be downloaded from here.
This is Microsoft’s rival to things like Google Desktop Search.
WDS v3 is a virtually essential part of Outlook 2007 even though it’s a separate download. The ‘fast’ search function in Outlook 2007 needs WDS.
We’ve installed WDS v3 but it took a long time. The install itself is fairly quick but a re-boot was required on our Windows XP Pro machine.
Sadly any previous WDS indexes need to be totally re-made after the re-boot and that can take some time. We clicked on the ‘Index Now’ button to force indexing immediately and it still wasn’t finished when we came in the following morning!
At least there’s better control over indexing. Right-click on the WDS system tray icon (a magnifying glass) and choose Indexing Status to see something like this:
Normally WDS (like other desktop search programs) will index your files and emails when the computer isn’t doing much else.
The snooze button is very handy if you need to get something done and want to pause indexing entirely.
Index Now is good when you first install a desktop search program – it tells the indexer to work faster even if that means taking up more computer resources. Click this button when you’re going to leave your computer unattended for a while (lunch or overnight) so it can catch-up faster. We just wish it indexed faster ’tis all.
You only need to do this when the initial index of your stuff is being done – once the index is up-to-date the standard background updating is enough.
System Requirements:
As suggested by Microsoft
