Solved How to test having files indexed for search faster or without is slower?

[Stuckfree]

How to test having files indexed for search faster or without is slower?

 

[MilesAhead]

It's not straightforward because the file system itself is going to cache some of the info needed to find the files. In other words, when you search the first time, nothing is cached in the file system. So the second time you search, even if you don't change anything, it should be faster. The file system will still have fast access to some of the intermediate structures is used to get the files and possibly some of the files themselves. Basically at every step you need to run the search several times to take the file system caching into account.

 

[LMiller7]

We can generally assume that indexed searching will usually be faster. That is why the facility was provided. How much faster will depend on a large number of factors that interact in complex ways.

 

[MilesAhead]

For myself I use Everything Search. Indexing on W7 may have been improved compard to Vista. But there's something to be said for using the same tool on all systems. Everything works equally well on XP, Vista, W7. But you need to get the last release that's only available on a forum post. Not on the main page. Don't know why that is.

Searching inside files such as text is a different matter. Everything uses MFTs for search. No indexing is needed. But it does scan the MFTs. This is lightning fast though. I think now there are competing freeware that also uses MFT scan for serach.. such as UltraSearch.

 

[Shadowjk]

In addition to the help listed above, cache is stored in RAM for quick access. Upon shutdown or restart the indexed cache should be removed. The same applies to DNS cache where your computer temporarily stores hostnames to IP addresses so that if accessed again it does not need to query the DNS server for the record.



Josh

 

[Stuckfree]

It's not straightforward because the file system itself is going to cache some of the info needed to find the files. In other words, when you search the first time, nothing is cached in the file system. So the second time you search, even if you don't change anything, it should be faster. The file system will still have fast access to some of the intermediate structures is used to get the files and possibly some of the files themselves. Basically at every step you need to run the search several times to take the file system caching into account.

HI MilesAhead,
Is possible to delete all those index cached files somewhere is stored and then test search speed with or without index cached file?

Regard,
Thanks.

 

[Stuckfree]

In addition to the help listed above, cache is stored in RAM for quick access. Upon shutdown or restart the indexed cache should be removed. The same applies to DNS cache where your computer temporarily stores hostnames to IP addresses so that if accessed again it does not need to query the DNS server for the record.



Josh

Hi ShadowJK

So by restarting a computer is one way to test the search speed with or without indexed files?

Regard,
Thanks.

 

[Shadowjk]

Possible, however as soon as your machine begins to boot it will begin to index files and folders.

You may completely turn search index off by following this tutorial however please restart to apply the changes and clear the current cache - http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69564-index-enable-disable.html

Hope this helps,
Josh!

 

[MilesAhead]

Hi ShadowJK

So by restarting a computer is one way to test the search speed with or without indexed files?

Regard,
Thanks.

I would use Shadowjk's method rather than mucking about with system created files.
To me it's not how much faster searches are when indexed, but how much the indexing in the background costs you in system performance. I had 32 bit Vista pre SP1 and that was so bad I had to turn all the indexing off. It totally hogged the HD opening every file on the system... not totally the fault of indexing but also checking which files were media files or some other stuff I didn't use. It was so bad I had to make an appontment to use my own HD. W7 is much better I'm sure.

 

[Stuckfree]

Possible, however as soon as your machine begins to boot it will begin to index files and folders.

You may completely turn search index off by following this tutorial however please restart to apply the changes and clear the current cache - http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69564-index-enable-disable.html

Hope this helps,
Josh!

Hi ShadowJK,
I would disable index if in the future I have problem with the indexing files problem.

Regard,
Thanks.

 

[Stuckfree]

I would use Shadowjk's method rather than mucking about with system created files.
To me it's not how much faster searches are when indexed, but how much the indexing in the background costs you in system performance. I had 32 bit Vista pre SP1 and that was so bad I had to turn all the indexing off. It totally hogged the HD opening every file on the system... not totally the fault of indexing but also checking which files were media files or some other stuff I didn't use. It was so bad I had to make an appontment to use my own HD. W7 is much better I'm sure.

Hi MilesAhead,
You're right man in the term of how much the indexing in the background costs you in system performance.If you try to index files on your computer it decrease a lot performance of my computer.

Regard,
Thanks.