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Windows 7 search HORRIFICALLY SLOW for remote (WHS) basic filename search (eg, test.txt)

Anonymous
2010-02-08T21:48:38+00:00

Searching for a file (even by exact filename) even within the same directory in a remote drive (WHS drive mounted or as a library) is so slow that I usually have to cancel the search without any matches. Default settings for Windows 7, WHS, and search indexing. Indexing is enabled, 1,400 items indexed, following default settings. 

I'm running the standard setup for a computer:

Windows 7 32bit Prof upgrade (formatted drive, installed Vista 32 bit only, then installed Windows 7 professional)

  • Desktop
  • Core 2 Duo E4500 2.20 ghz
  • WD6400AACS (Green Caviar); Sata 3 Gb/s @ 3 gb/s x1; 640 gig drive; 200 gig system partition NTFS; other partition NTFS, unused
  • 3 gigs ddr3 ram
  • GEthernet nic
  • Right-clicking on the drive indicates [x] Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties for a WHS drive that I have mapped
  • No other programs running
  • Occurs with/without internet connection
  • Running McAfee Security Center (AV only....version provided from Comcast that is a stripped-down corporate edition if you turn most of the "features" off)
  • WHS: Similiar specs, slightly slower cpu and 2 gigs ddr3 ram, 3 640 gig drives (no other machines involved), GEthernet nic
  • Network is running through a local wired ethernet connection, belkin dir-655 1000Gbps

No problems running this same setup under XP or Vista prior to installing Windows 7.

For instance, I just navigated to a folder on my WHS that contains 8 files (all mp3's < 5mb/file). I use the Windows 7 search (upper-right corner) and paste in the filename - after 15 minutes of "searching", I don't get any results.

Is there some problem with indexing? does it have to be modified? Can I somehow add drive/library in for indexing? Even if I could, that seems like it would somehow make it worse (more items to search for)....but right now search is pointless if 99% of my data is remote anyway!

Is there a better way to search for your files in Windows 7 that is somehow evading me?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

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  1. Anonymous
    2010-02-09T16:14:05+00:00

    Hi Nevin Leiby,

    Since you cannot index the drive on network, as a workaround you can add these folders to the library, and then these folders will be automatically indexed. When you include a folder in a library, it's automatically added to the index.

    Steps 1. Include the folder in network drive into the Libraries.

    Here is how:

    1. In the taskbar, click the Windows Explorer button  .

    2. Do one of the following:

    o In the navigation pane (the left pane), click Network, and then navigate to the folder on your network that you want to include.

    o Click the icon on the left side of the address bar, type the path of the network, press Enter, and then navigate to the folder that you want to include.

    3. In the toolbar (above the file list), click Include in library, and then click a library (for example, Documents).

    For more information, see Include folders in a library.

     http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Include-folders-in-a-library

    Step 2. Include Libraries folder in indexing location.

    Once the folder is inlcuded in the library we can include the libraries to indexing location.

    1. Open Indexing Options by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel.
    2. In the search box, type indexing options, and then click Indexing Options.
    3. The indexed locations are displayed in the Index these locations list.

    For more information refer to the articles below:

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Searching-in-Windows-frequently-asked-questions

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Improve-Windows-searches-using-the-index-frequently-asked-questions

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-advanced-indexing-options

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks and Regards:

    Shekhar S - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-07-27T16:12:23+00:00

    Shekhar,

    It looks like it's been a while since anyone has posted anything on this topic.  Our business recently purchased four desktops with Win7 Pro x64.  All of the users on these complain that searching the network drive for files/folders is incredibly slow.   The computers that still run XP or Vista Business-64bit have no trouble at all.  The network drive is a Netgear ReadyNAS Pro Business Edition.  All computers are connect though a Netgear gigabit switch.  Windows 7 pc's have a gigabit connection.  I tried the "workaround" you recommended above, but in step 1.3 there is not an option to add the network drive to the library.  A local folder has the "include in library" button on the tool bar, but it disappears when selecting a network drive.  Has a proper solution been reached yet?  thank you.

    Jason

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2010-03-11T13:46:34+00:00

    I can't get this to work.

    We have our "My Documents" folders relocated to a Network Drive here (company policy), and now it won't allow us to include this in the Documents Library because it is not Indexed.

    But there is no way of indexing it!!

    Network drives do not show as an indexing option. It just tells us to synchronise them for offline usage, but this is not feasible for us as a company. Everyone's Documents are kept centrally because the workstations have restricted local disks.

    This is a huge step backwards that is preventing us from rolling out Windows 7 across the domain. Is there likely to be a fix for this, or should we go back to using XP or Vista which both allowed this redirection of "My Documents"?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2010-03-18T19:27:34+00:00

    Hi,

          In this scenario we can not index the Network location from Windows 7 we need to index it from the Server itself.

    How to Index Library Locations

    Certain library features depend on the contents of the libraries being indexed. There are two ways to enable the indexing of library locations:

    1.     Index the location by using the local Windows Search indexer.

    ·         If a folder is stored locally, include it in the library. This automatically adds the location to the indexing scope.

    ·         If a folder is stored remotely, make it available offline or install a search protocol handler for the storage location. This adds the location to the local indexing scope.

    For more information, see How to Make Folders Available Offline. 

    2.     Federate from the local indexer to files that are indexed remotely on the following operating systems:

    ·         Windows 7

    ·         Windows Server® 2008 R2 with Search activated and running under the File Services role

    ·         Windows Server® 2008 with Search activated and running under the File Services role

    ·         Windows Vista® (SP1 and later)

    ·         Windows XP (SP2 or SP3) with Windows Search 4.0

    ·         Windows Server® 2003 (SP2) with Windows Search 4.0

    For details on installing and enabling the file services role on Windows Server, please see How to Install Windows Search and Enable the File Services Role.

    Hope this helps.

    Thanks and Regards:

    Shekhar S - Microsoft Support. Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

    If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

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  4. Anonymous
    2010-02-09T01:41:09+00:00

    - Searching for a file (even by exact filename) even within the same directory in a remote drive (WHS drive mounted as a drive or as a library) is so slow that I usually have to cancel the search without any matches. Default settings for Windows 7, WHS, and search indexing. Indexing is enabled, 1,400 items indexed, following default settings.  - I'm running the standard setup for a computer: - Windows 7 32bit Prof upgrade (formatted drive, installed Vista 32 bit only, then installed Windows 7 professional) - Desktop - Core 2 Duo E4500 2.20 ghz - WD6400AACS (Green Caviar); Sata 3 Gb/s @ 3 gb/s x1; 640 gig drive; 200 gig system partition NTFS; other partition NTFS, unused - 3 gigs ddr3 ram - GEthernet nic - Right-clicking on the drive indicates [x] Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties for a WHS drive that I have mapped - No other programs running - Occurs with/without internet connection - Running McAfee Security Center (AV only....version provided from Comcast that is a stripped-down corporate edition if you turn most of the "features" off) - WHS - Similiar specs, slightly slower cpu and 2 gigs ddr3 ram, 3 x 640 gig drives - No other computers/devices involved - GEthernet nic - Network is running through a local wired ethernet connection, belkin dir-655 1000Gbps - only other devices on the network is the uplink, and 2 ethernet printers No problems running this same setup under XP or Vista prior to installing Windows 7. For instance, I just navigated to a folder on my WHS that contains 8 files (all mp3's < 5mb/file). I use the Windows 7 search (upper-right corner) and paste in the filename - after 15 minutes of "searching", I don't get any results. I tried with another folder - 2 pictures (and of course that pesky thumbs.db), 3 files in the directory: P:\2003.10.21 - ddd pix - The Rides 012.jpg - The Rides 013.jpg - Thumbs.db Searching for the file "The Rides 013.jpg" has taken more than 25 minutes at this point...no matches.... Is this happening to anyone else? Is there some problem with indexing? does it have to be modified? Can I somehow add drive/library in for indexing? Even if I could, that seems like it would somehow make it worse (more items to search for)....but right now search is pointless if 99% of my data is remote anyway! Is there a better way to search for your files in Windows 7 that is somehow evading me?

    To be clear, I have tried initiating the search when viewing the current directory (pressing F3 or using the little box in upper right) and also from the start button. No problems after running the Search repair troubleshooter. No resolution using a different login.

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