Search finds files after they've been moved??

  • Thread starter Thread starter kacbambina
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kacbambina

I'm running Vista Home Premium 64 bit and recently transferred files to my
computer. After I loaded a lot of my documents, I renamed some folders and
moved folders and files around in the Documents folder. I'm the administrator
and only user of this computer, but now when I search for documents it
consistently "finds" the old locations of the files, sometimes the search
function will also find the new correct location, so it will look like I have
two copies of a paper, but if I tried to click on the old link, it tells me
that file cannot be found. So even though I moved these files and can open
and manually find all my documents, it is extremely annoying that the search
feature often "finds" the old documents in their old locations and then tells
me they aren't there and it cannot open them.

Can anyone help? It seems like I need to somehow tell the computer to stop
pulling up all those old broken links to places where the files no longer
live...
 
Hi, kacbambina.

Give it time!

As I told another user here just yesterday:

That is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Question). The answer is really very
simple - but not very intuitive, because we are used to computers doing
things instantly. :^{

The problem is that Vista's Search works only in the background so that it
doesn't constantly intrude on work that we are trying to get done in the
foreground. So if we keep Vista busy and then turn off the computer as soon
as we're done, it may be a long time before Search gets enough free time to
rebuild its index. In the meantime, files we've deleted are still shown as
being there, even though they are not.

It may take a few days for the index to be updated. To speed it up, you can
leave your computer running while you go to lunch - or even overnight.


In your case, you've done a massive amount of file shuffling, so it will
take Search a while to rebuild its Index.

Click Control Panel | Indexing Options to check on its progress. It will
say "xxx items indexed" and then probably report that indexing is slowed
down "due to user activity". After an overnight uninterrupted run, it
should say "Indexing complete."

Note that you can also click the Modify and Advanced buttons on the Indexing
Options screen. If you do, though, be prepared for another long wait
because the Index probably will need to be rebuilt.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
 
RC,
Nice response. Good detailed job of explaining what's going on, instead
of simply referring to a link that as often as not, is a bit confusing. I
know a link(s) can save you time, but many users lack the knowledge to
follow them.
I'm impressed.

Toyman
_________________________________________________


Hi, kacbambina.

Give it time!

As I told another user here just yesterday:

That is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Question). The answer is really very
simple - but not very intuitive, because we are used to computers doing
things instantly. :^{

The problem is that Vista's Search works only in the background so that it
doesn't constantly intrude on work that we are trying to get done in the
foreground. So if we keep Vista busy and then turn off the computer as soon
as we're done, it may be a long time before Search gets enough free time to
rebuild its index. In the meantime, files we've deleted are still shown as
being there, even though they are not.

It may take a few days for the index to be updated. To speed it up, you can
leave your computer running while you go to lunch - or even overnight.


In your case, you've done a massive amount of file shuffling, so it will
take Search a while to rebuild its Index.

Click Control Panel | Indexing Options to check on its progress. It will
say "xxx items indexed" and then probably report that indexing is slowed
down "due to user activity". After an overnight uninterrupted run, it
should say "Indexing complete."

Note that you can also click the Modify and Advanced buttons on the Indexing
Options screen. If you do, though, be prepared for another long wait
because the Index probably will need to be rebuilt.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
 
Hi, Toyman.

Thanks for the kind words. ;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
(Running Windows Live Mail 2008 in Vista Ultimate x64 SP1)
 
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