Vista not indexing folders that are selected for indexing

[dlreid]

I have search indexing turned on, and several folders selected for
indexing including the "documents" folder (which I have moved to the
location "D:\documents"). However, some of the sub-folders in
"documents" are not being indexed. I search for "*.*" or any other
search term in a folder with hundreds of files, and nothing is
returned. I must use the advanced search function and select "search
non-indexed locations" in order for the search results to show up. I
have rebuilt the index several times. I have taken ownership of all
the files in the "documents" folder. I have tried de-selected and
then re-selecting the location for indexing. I have made sure that
the file types are selected. Some of the files are .txt files, others
are .pdf files. None of them show up during a normal search. I have
Acrobat professional 8.1 installed.

I believe this is a serious flaw or bug in Vista's search indexing.
If there is a solution, hotfix, or if someone can at least tell me
that this is a known issue and it's being worked on, I would greatly
appreciate it.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[Dave]

Are you searching for filenames, or text within the files?

 

[dlreid]

Are you searching for filenames, or text within the files?

I am searching for either or both. File names and text within files,
both searches result in zero matches. For example, if I create a text
file named "test.txt", and fill it with the word "test" repeatedly,
rebuild the index, leave the computer on overnight, come back once
indexing is complete, and search for "test" in that folder, I get zero
results.

 

[Dave Wood [MS]]

Strange. In the Indexing Options Control Panel, is D:\Documents definitely
listed as being indexed?

I would try doing a Restore Defaults in the Control Panel to reset
everything about the index back to the defaults and then try from there.

 

[Dave]

I don't have any suggestions... you've tried what I would...

I've tried searching on my D: partition, and it finds text in a file I just
created.
I can even find lots of files on my USB E: drive that's not indexed.

Just to clarify... how are you doing the search?
from the
1. Start - quick search box?
2. Start - Search (on the right side)?
3. Windows Explorer, navigate to D:\Documents - search box?

 

[dlreid]

Strange. In the Indexing Options Control Panel, is D:\Documents definitely
listed as being indexed?

I would try doing a Restore Defaults in the Control Panel to reset
everything about the index back to the defaults and then try from there.

D:\documents is definitely selected as being indexed. In fact,
indexing and searching works fine for most of the sub-folders in D:
\documents, however there is one in particular (that i have noticed,
there may be more), which refuse to be indexed, even when I
specifically select it in the indexing options. As I said, this seems
to be a bug. I will try restoring defaults and then rebuilding, and
I'll post if that works.

When I first installed Vista, the search indexing would not index my
Outlook emails. It would start indexing them and then at some point
stop. I contacted MS support about it and they determined it was a
bug, and it was later fixed in an update. I guess this is something
similar, where a particular set of circumstances prevents certain
items from being indexed.

 

[Dave Wood [MS]]

What are the names of some of the sub-folders that are not indexed? For
example folders called "temp" are not indexed I believe ...

 

[dlreid]

What are the names of some of the sub-folders that are not indexed? For
example folders called "temp" are not indexed I believe ...

The folder that is not being indexed is d:\documents\literature.
Inside literature there are about 20 subfolders. The folders contain
mostly PDF files, with some text files and a couple random files.
None of these files shows up when searching indexed locations, no
matter how I perform the search.

 

[dlreid]

What are the names of some of the sub-folders that are not indexed? For
example folders called "temp" are not indexed I believe ...

I reset the index to default and then rebuilt it, waited for indexing
to complete, then added D:\documents to the index, then waited again
for indexing to complete. I checked and only a small selection of the
subfolders in D:\documents return any search results. Most folders
return zero results no matter what search terms I use (even *.*). At
this point I believe that the search indexing in Vista is seriously
broken. I can only hope that this issue will be addressed when SP1 is
released. My theory is that this bug manifests itself when the user
changes the location of the \users\ folders, as I have with my
"documents" folder.

 

[Jerry]

Go run %SystemRoot%\system32\services.masc. (do it as Admin of course).
Find Windows Search service and double click to open. Go to Log On tab.
Now make sure that "Allow system to interact with desktop" is NOT ticked. If
it is, clear it.
You might need to rebuild the index after this, but I'm not sure.

What are the names of some of the sub-folders that are not indexed? For
example folders called "temp" are not indexed I believe ...

On Aug 31, 2:04 pm, "Dave Wood [MS]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
Strange. In the Indexing Options Control Panel, is D:\Documents
definitely
listed as being indexed?

I would try doing a Restore Defaults in the Control Panel to reset
everything about the index back to the defaults and then try from
there.

Are you searching for filenames, or text within the files?

I have search indexing turned on, and several folders selected for
indexing including the "documents" folder (which I have moved to
the
location "D:\documents"). However, some of the sub-folders in
"documents" are not being indexed. I search for "*.*" or any
other
search term in a folder with hundreds of files, and nothing is
returned. I must use the advanced search function and select
"search
non-indexed locations" in order for the search results to show
up.
I
have rebuilt the index several times. I have taken ownership of
all
the files in the "documents" folder. I have tried de-selected
and
then re-selecting the location for indexing. I have made sure
that
the file types are selected. Some of the files are .txt files,
others
are .pdf files. None of them show up during a normal search. I
have
Acrobat professional 8.1 installed.

I believe this is a serious flaw or bug in Vista's search
indexing.
If there is a solution, hotfix, or if someone can at least tell
me
that this is a known issue and it's being worked on, I would
greatly
appreciate it.


I am searching for either or both. File names and text within
files,
both searches result in zero matches. For example, if I create a
text
file named "test.txt", and fill it with the word "test" repeatedly,
rebuild the index, leave the computer on overnight, come back once
indexing is complete, and search for "test" in that folder, I get
zero
results.

D:\documents is definitely selected as being indexed. In fact,
indexing and searching works fine for most of the sub-folders in D:
\documents, however there is one in particular (that i have noticed,
there may be more), which refuse to be indexed, even when I
specifically select it in the indexing options. As I said, this seems
to be a bug. I will try restoring defaults and then rebuilding, and
I'll post if that works.

When I first installed Vista, the search indexing would not index my
Outlook emails. It would start indexing them and then at some point
stop. I contacted MS support about it and they determined it was a
bug, and it was later fixed in an update. I guess this is something
similar, where a particular set of circumstances prevents certain
items from being indexed.

I reset the index to default and then rebuilt it, waited for indexing
to complete, then added D:\documents to the index, then waited again
for indexing to complete. I checked and only a small selection of the
subfolders in D:\documents return any search results. Most folders
return zero results no matter what search terms I use (even *.*). At
this point I believe that the search indexing in Vista is seriously
broken. I can only hope that this issue will be addressed when SP1 is
released. My theory is that this bug manifests itself when the user
changes the location of the \users\ folders, as I have with my
"documents" folder.

 

[Jerry]

sorry, that's services.MSC, of course

What are the names of some of the sub-folders that are not indexed? For
example folders called "temp" are not indexed I believe ...

On Aug 31, 2:04 pm, "Dave Wood [MS]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
Strange. In the Indexing Options Control Panel, is D:\Documents
definitely
listed as being indexed?

I would try doing a Restore Defaults in the Control Panel to reset
everything about the index back to the defaults and then try from
there.

Are you searching for filenames, or text within the files?

I have search indexing turned on, and several folders selected for
indexing including the "documents" folder (which I have moved to
the
location "D:\documents"). However, some of the sub-folders in
"documents" are not being indexed. I search for "*.*" or any
other
search term in a folder with hundreds of files, and nothing is
returned. I must use the advanced search function and select
"search
non-indexed locations" in order for the search results to show
up.
I
have rebuilt the index several times. I have taken ownership of
all
the files in the "documents" folder. I have tried de-selected
and
then re-selecting the location for indexing. I have made sure
that
the file types are selected. Some of the files are .txt files,
others
are .pdf files. None of them show up during a normal search. I
have
Acrobat professional 8.1 installed.

I believe this is a serious flaw or bug in Vista's search
indexing.
If there is a solution, hotfix, or if someone can at least tell
me
that this is a known issue and it's being worked on, I would
greatly
appreciate it.


I am searching for either or both. File names and text within
files,
both searches result in zero matches. For example, if I create a
text
file named "test.txt", and fill it with the word "test" repeatedly,
rebuild the index, leave the computer on overnight, come back once
indexing is complete, and search for "test" in that folder, I get
zero
results.

D:\documents is definitely selected as being indexed. In fact,
indexing and searching works fine for most of the sub-folders in D:
\documents, however there is one in particular (that i have noticed,
there may be more), which refuse to be indexed, even when I
specifically select it in the indexing options. As I said, this seems
to be a bug. I will try restoring defaults and then rebuilding, and
I'll post if that works.

When I first installed Vista, the search indexing would not index my
Outlook emails. It would start indexing them and then at some point
stop. I contacted MS support about it and they determined it was a
bug, and it was later fixed in an update. I guess this is something
similar, where a particular set of circumstances prevents certain
items from being indexed.

I reset the index to default and then rebuilt it, waited for indexing
to complete, then added D:\documents to the index, then waited again
for indexing to complete. I checked and only a small selection of the
subfolders in D:\documents return any search results. Most folders
return zero results no matter what search terms I use (even *.*). At
this point I believe that the search indexing in Vista is seriously
broken. I can only hope that this issue will be addressed when SP1 is
released. My theory is that this bug manifests itself when the user
changes the location of the \users\ folders, as I have with my
"documents" folder.

 

[Jerry]

I'm just too quick on the "send" button today
One more thing: restart the service.

What are the names of some of the sub-folders that are not indexed? For
example folders called "temp" are not indexed I believe ...

On Aug 31, 2:04 pm, "Dave Wood [MS]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
Strange. In the Indexing Options Control Panel, is D:\Documents
definitely
listed as being indexed?

I would try doing a Restore Defaults in the Control Panel to reset
everything about the index back to the defaults and then try from
there.

Are you searching for filenames, or text within the files?

I have search indexing turned on, and several folders selected for
indexing including the "documents" folder (which I have moved to
the
location "D:\documents"). However, some of the sub-folders in
"documents" are not being indexed. I search for "*.*" or any
other
search term in a folder with hundreds of files, and nothing is
returned. I must use the advanced search function and select
"search
non-indexed locations" in order for the search results to show
up.
I
have rebuilt the index several times. I have taken ownership of
all
the files in the "documents" folder. I have tried de-selected
and
then re-selecting the location for indexing. I have made sure
that
the file types are selected. Some of the files are .txt files,
others
are .pdf files. None of them show up during a normal search. I
have
Acrobat professional 8.1 installed.

I believe this is a serious flaw or bug in Vista's search
indexing.
If there is a solution, hotfix, or if someone can at least tell
me
that this is a known issue and it's being worked on, I would
greatly
appreciate it.


I am searching for either or both. File names and text within
files,
both searches result in zero matches. For example, if I create a
text
file named "test.txt", and fill it with the word "test" repeatedly,
rebuild the index, leave the computer on overnight, come back once
indexing is complete, and search for "test" in that folder, I get
zero
results.

D:\documents is definitely selected as being indexed. In fact,
indexing and searching works fine for most of the sub-folders in D:
\documents, however there is one in particular (that i have noticed,
there may be more), which refuse to be indexed, even when I
specifically select it in the indexing options. As I said, this seems
to be a bug. I will try restoring defaults and then rebuilding, and
I'll post if that works.

When I first installed Vista, the search indexing would not index my
Outlook emails. It would start indexing them and then at some point
stop. I contacted MS support about it and they determined it was a
bug, and it was later fixed in an update. I guess this is something
similar, where a particular set of circumstances prevents certain
items from being indexed.

I reset the index to default and then rebuilt it, waited for indexing
to complete, then added D:\documents to the index, then waited again
for indexing to complete. I checked and only a small selection of the
subfolders in D:\documents return any search results. Most folders
return zero results no matter what search terms I use (even *.*). At
this point I believe that the search indexing in Vista is seriously
broken. I can only hope that this issue will be addressed when SP1 is
released. My theory is that this bug manifests itself when the user
changes the location of the \users\ folders, as I have with my
"documents" folder.

 

[dlreid]

I'm just too quick on the "send" button today
One more thing: restart the service.

What are the names of some of the sub-folders that are not indexed? For
example folders called "temp" are not indexed I believe ...

On Aug 31, 2:04 pm, "Dave Wood [MS]" <[email protected]>
wrote:
Strange. In the Indexing Options Control Panel, is D:\Documents
definitely
listed as being indexed?
I would try doing a Restore Defaults in the Control Panel to reset
everything about the index back to the defaults and then try from
there.

Are you searching for filenames, or text within the files?

I have search indexing turned on, and several folders selected for
indexing including the "documents" folder (which I have moved to
the
location "D:\documents"). However, some of the sub-folders in
"documents" are not being indexed. I search for "*.*" or any
other
search term in a folder with hundreds of files, and nothing is
returned. I must use the advanced search function and select
"search
non-indexed locations" in order for the search results to show
up.
I
have rebuilt the index several times. I have taken ownership of
all
the files in the "documents" folder. I have tried de-selected
and
then re-selecting the location for indexing. I have made sure
that
the file types are selected. Some of the files are .txt files,
others
are .pdf files. None of them show up during a normal search. I
have
Acrobat professional 8.1 installed.
I believe this is a serious flaw or bug in Vista's search
indexing.
If there is a solution, hotfix, or if someone can at least tell
me
that this is a known issue and it's being worked on, I would
greatly
appreciate it.
Thanks,
Dave
I am searching for either or both. File names and text within
files,
both searches result in zero matches. For example, if I create a
text
file named "test.txt", and fill it with the word "test" repeatedly,
rebuild the index, leave the computer on overnight, come back once
indexing is complete, and search for "test" in that folder, I get
zero
results.
D:\documents is definitely selected as being indexed. In fact,
indexing and searching works fine for most of the sub-folders in D:
\documents, however there is one in particular (that i have noticed,
there may be more), which refuse to be indexed, even when I
specifically select it in the indexing options. As I said, this seems
to be a bug. I will try restoring defaults and then rebuilding, and
I'll post if that works.
When I first installed Vista, the search indexing would not index my
Outlook emails. It would start indexing them and then at some point
stop. I contacted MS support about it and they determined it was a
bug, and it was later fixed in an update. I guess this is something
similar, where a particular set of circumstances prevents certain
items from being indexed.

I reset the index to default and then rebuilt it, waited for indexing
to complete, then added D:\documents to the index, then waited again
for indexing to complete. I checked and only a small selection of the
subfolders in D:\documents return any search results. Most folders
return zero results no matter what search terms I use (even *.*). At
this point I believe that the search indexing in Vista is seriously
broken. I can only hope that this issue will be addressed when SP1 is
released. My theory is that this bug manifests itself when the user
changes the location of the \users\ folders, as I have with my
"documents" folder.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried that and "allow system to interact
with the desktop" was not ticked. But I was able to solve my problem
with this work-around: I right-clicked on the "documents" folder and
in the location tab I selected "restore defaults", and elected to copy
all files back to the default location (in the c:\users folder).
After allowing indexing to complete, I can now successfully search all
the folders. So there is a bug in Vista's search indexing that
sometimes prevents the indexing of user folders if they have been
moved from the default location to another partition or drive. Moving
the user folders back to their default location solved the problem.

This bug does not always occur, because I have another computer with
the "documents" folder moved to a different partition, and search/
indexing works fine. So I don't know what triggers it.

 

[Lothan]

Is it possible to change the defaults to automatically exclude other folders
with a particular name? As an example, I have a lot of source code checked
out in the %UserProfile%\Documents\Visual Studio 2005\Projects and I want to
exclude all the Subversion (.svn) folders in this tree. I know I can exclude
the folders manually one-by-one, but this would be extremely tedious and
time consuming. I would rather be able to just edit a file or registry key
to tell it to skip any folders named .svn, temp, or whatever.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Is it possible to change the defaults to automatically exclude other
folders with a particular name? As an example, I have a lot of source code
checked out in the %UserProfile%\Documents\Visual Studio 2005\Projects and
I want to exclude all the Subversion (.svn) folders in this tree. I know I
can exclude the folders manually one-by-one, but this would be extremely
tedious and time consuming. I would rather be able to just edit a file or
registry key to tell it to skip any folders named .svn, temp, or whatever.

<snip>


Lothan

You may be able to do this with a registry edit if all those .svn
sub-folders are under the same parent folder. You should be completely
familiar with editing the registry to do this. All of the standard warnings
apply.

All of the Search/Index options are under the Key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

If you start expanding that key, you will see:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
Search\CrawlScopeManager\Windows\SystemIndex\DefaultRules

With a list of numerical keys. These keys contain several values including a
URL value that points to a folder name/location and another value named
"Include" which appears to either allow indexing (value date = 1) or
disallow indexing (value data = 0).

You may be able to export one of these keys, edit the exported key to point
to the folders that you want to exclude, set the 'include' value date to '0'
and then import the key back to the registry.

You should be able to find one of these numerical keys that is already set
to exclude a particular folder name, (such as: file:///*\temp\* ) export
that key, change the path to your .svn folders, rename the key to the next
highest available number and then import the key back to the registry.

Let me know if this works for you or if you need more help.

 

[Lothan]

Thanks for the information, Ronnie. I added a new registry key (using the
next sequential number) with the URL file:///*\.svn\*, rebuilt the index,
and all those folders are no longer included in the index. I found it easier
to export the existing rule for file:///*\temp\*, edit the key name and URL,
and then import the modified key since everything else is the same.

I poked around a bit more in the persistence handlers and also found a way
to change to change the default indexer for ASP files. By default, Windows
Search uses the HTML filter for ASP files and this means it indexes only the
HTML portion that is visible in a browser. I'm not sure why this is the
default because very few ASP files are actually renderable without executing
through a script engine and it makes it impossible to index the source code
in these files. To rectify this issue, I changed the persistent handler in
HKCR\.asp\PersistentHandler from HTML
{eec97550-47a9-11cf-b952-00aa0051fe20}) to Text
{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}.

I'm also noticing a lot of simple text extensions have no associated preview
handlers for some reason, but I haven't had a chance to poke around the
preview handlers yet and haven't really made it a priority just yet.

Perhaps in a future release Microsoft will wrap a really good UI around
these settings to make it easier for us without having to poke around the
registry.

 

[Ronnie Vernon MVP]

Lothan

Your welcome and good job tweaking those registry settings.