What is the best program to replace XP's Search Function?

besides Yahoo Desktop?
For one, yahoo desktop cant really find those program files like the dll s or ini s hidden away (unless there is a way show me how), and XP's search function is crap, so are there any programs out there that can replace XP search?

 

google desktop?

for all I know it could be the same as yahoo

 

Google can leak/steal info from your computer. Use Windows Desktop Search

 

http://landvermesser.tripod.com/MacSearch.html
quite nifty, local, discret

cheers ...

 

This seems to be a good place to ask, what for?
I mean, why all the hype about desktop search apps (Google and MS are both fighting like mad to conquer that market), but what do you need it for?

Don't people know where they store the files they need?
I do a search maybe once every two months, and then it's typically for some obscure windows system file, and the built-in search does the job just fine there.

So what is so amazingly useful about these programs?

 

Check out Agent Ransack.
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/
It has a silly name, but it is a powerful, free search utility that integrates into the WinXP explorer. It doesn't replace the standard search, but provides an alternative.

A big reason for using a utility like this is that the standard search doesn't search all file types.

 

I recommend Google Desktop. hehe299792458 does not substantiate what he means by "Google can leak/steal info from your computer." In case he refers to Search Across Computers, which lets you search your home computer from work, for example, that feature is disabled by default. Your search index is stored on your own hard drive.

 

You might check out copernic. It'll spend about 20-30 minutes scanning your hard drive, and creating a database of your files. After that, finding files even if using words within the file itself, as opposed to the actual name of the file, is amazingly swift.

Free program, by the way.

http://www.copernic.com/

It won CNet's Editors Choice award for best desktop search engine, and they've now come out with v2.

* Simultaneously search in all categories with the new "All" category
* Eliminate spelling errors with smart query correction (a.k.a. "did you mean")
* New "as you type" suggestions for advanced search fields
* Improved result views with picture thumbnails, additional sorting/grouping options, etc.
* "My Searches" feature lets you save your favorite queries for one-click reuse
* NEAR search operator to find keywords that are in close proximity
* New advanced search fields, such as "File Name"
* Wildcards support to broaden your searches by file name

 

that was in 2004 tho

 

btw it is because i need a new search function because i did the "Start Button" hack

 

What I mean is Google desktop automatically collects info from your desktop and send it to Google headquarters for "advertising" purposes. Some people have said that their info and "accidentally" leaked onto the Google Search engine. An example of this would be the Dell report leaked by Google. However, even if it doesn't leak your information, it is still an utter invasion of privacy. I'd be very concerned about this, considering how closely Google has been working with various government agencies (around the world, and in the US). They are submitting user search to the NSA for "security analysis". It would be a lot safer to just use copernic or Windows Desktop.

Remember: Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety - Benjamin Franklin

 

Is there any reason to replace or substitute the Windows search? It seems that adding some other program that indexes the hard drive is just more bloat. The Windows search isn't bad...it's just abysmally slow.

 

Copernic desktop search (free) remains the best desktop search tool out there. Better than Google as far as searching your own machine goes.

I've tried the various version of Yahoo, X1 and Microsoft search tool, but bottom line is that the Copernic one is streets ahead: Much lighter sytem resrouce usage and also much better interface and presentation of results. Their version 1.x was great. 2.0 continues the lead.

www.copernic.com

 

Slow and steady wins the race.