Vista Search Returns Deleted Files

John Hanley · External Since: Jun 05, 2007 Posts: 59

A search in Vista often returns files that have been previously deleted &
recycle bin emptied. However, if I choose the option to "Include
non-indexed, hidden, and system files", these 'phantom' files do not show
up. What could be causing this behavior?

brink · External Since: Aug 01, 2007 Posts: 1

John Hanley;406104 Wrote:
> A search in Vista often returns files that have been previously deleted
> &
> recycle bin emptied. However, if I choose the option to "Include
> non-indexed, hidden, and system files", these 'phantom' files do not
> show
> up. What could be causing this behavior?

Hi John,

This is a normal behavior of the Indexing Service. Since Indexing is a
background program it only indexes the hard drive a bit here and there
during low or no usage by you. It will eventually update itself and
remove the deleted files from the indexed search results. When you use
the non-indexed, it searches the hard drive in real time and not from a
older indexed list. That is why you do not see them in it. If you want
to forces a update to the Indexing Service, then do the "Rebuild"
section at this link. It should remove them then.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69581-indexing-options.html?ltr=I

Shawn

--
brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
_http://www.vistax64.com/ (\"http://www.vistax64.com/\")_
*Please post feedback to help others.*

John Hanley · External Since: Jun 05, 2007 Posts: 59

"brink" <brink.2uo1a1.TakeThisOut@no-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:brink.2uo1a1@no-mx.forums.net...
>
> John Hanley;406104 Wrote:
>> A search in Vista often returns files that have been previously deleted
>> &
>> recycle bin emptied. However, if I choose the option to "Include
>> non-indexed, hidden, and system files", these 'phantom' files do not
>> show
>> up. What could be causing this behavior?
>
> Hi John,
>
> This is a normal behavior of the Indexing Service. Since Indexing is a
> background program it only indexes the hard drive a bit here and there
> during low or no usage by you. It will eventually update itself and
> remove the deleted files from the indexed search results. When you use
> the non-indexed, it searches the hard drive in real time and not from a
> older indexed list. That is why you do not see them in it. If you want
> to forces a update to the Indexing Service, then do the "Rebuild"
> section at this link. It should remove them then.
>
> http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69581-indexing-options.html?ltr=I
>
> Shawn

Thanks for this information. I did manage to do a "Rebuild" and things are
much clearer now. One thing that did confound my understanding was that
there can be an interference between the Indexing Service and the Power
Options. My indexing had been stymied by having my Power Option on Power
Savings Mode. Putting the Power Option on High Performance got the index
started again. I don't know for how long the Indexing had been stymied like
that, and that was probably part of my problem. My searches are now giving
me much more useful results.

"cquirke · External Since: Feb 11, 2007 Posts: 560

On Wed, 1 Aug 2007 20:54:44 -0500, brink
>John Hanley;406104 Wrote:

>> A search in Vista often returns files that have been previously deleted
>> & recycle bin emptied. However, if I choose the option to "Include
>> non-indexed, hidden, and system files", these 'phantom' files do not
>> show up. What could be causing this behavior?

>This is a normal behavior of the Indexing Service. Since Indexing is a
>background program it only indexes the hard drive a bit here and there
>during low or no usage by you. It will eventually update itself and
>remove the deleted files from the indexed search results.

What you are implying, is that at no time can Search be trusted to be
accurate, because it's always going to be "behind the times".

So we have the overhead of indexer chugging away in the background,
just so we can get inaccurate results faster.

Er... what's the point of this, again?

> When you use the non-indexed, it searches the hard drive in
>real time and not from a older indexed list.

So if you want results you can believe, then don't use the index
material that hogged your resources and space to create.

>http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69581-indexing-options.html?ltr=I

>------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
The most accurate diagnostic instrument
in medicine is the Retrospectoscope
>------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

brink · External Since: Aug 04, 2007 Posts: 1

cquirke (MVP Windows shell/user);409080 Wrote:
> On Wed, 1 Aug 2007 20:54:44 -0500, brink
> >John Hanley;406104 Wrote:
>
> >> A search in Vista often returns files that have been previously
> deleted
> >> & recycle bin emptied. However, if I choose the option to "Include
> >> non-indexed, hidden, and system files", these 'phantom' files do
> not
> >> show up. What could be causing this behavior?
>
> >This is a normal behavior of the Indexing Service. Since Indexing is
> a
> >background program it only indexes the hard drive a bit here and
> there
> >during low or no usage by you. It will eventually update itself and
> >remove the deleted files from the indexed search results.
>
> What you are implying, is that at no time can Search be trusted to be
> accurate, because it's always going to be "behind the times".
>
> So we have the overhead of indexer chugging away in the background,
> just so we can get inaccurate results faster.
>
> Er... what's the point of this, again?
>
> > When you use the non-indexed, it searches the hard drive in
> >real time and not from a older indexed list.
>
> So if you want results you can believe, then don't use the index
> material that hogged your resources and space to create.
>
> >http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69581-indexing-options.html?ltr=I
>
>
> >------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -
> The most accurate diagnostic instrument
> in medicine is the Retrospectoscope
> >------------ ----- ---- --- -- - - - -

Hi cquirke,

If you make a lot of changes often to the files you set for Indexing,
then yes the Indexing Service will be less reliable. To help increase
the accuracy you would need to increase the performance level for it to
High in Power Options and or use the "Search non-index" option for the
files you change a lot. It can still be a good tool for quick searches
on files that do not change that often.

Shawn

--
brink

*There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.*
_http://www.vistax64.com/ (\"http://www.vistax64.com/\")_
*Please post feedback to help others.*