Windows Index ?

[Robert the Bruce]

At the right hand side of my task-bar there is a small 'magnifing glass' icon that says 'Indexing Complete' most times. I would like to get rid of this but only if it's safe to do so. I've looked in 'Add & Remove Programmes' and I can see 'Windows Search 4.0'. Is this the programme I'm looking for ? It tells me that certain things were installed after the installation of this programme and that certain things may not work properly if I remove it. So can I remove this and if not, what does this programme do that's beneficial ?
Anyone help ?

 

[pjhutch]

You can turn off Indexing for drives or specific folders:
1. My Computer, open properties of a drive, and at the bottom un-tick 'Allow Indexing Service to index this disk for fast file searching'.
2. Open the Computer Management console, expand Services and Applications and look in Indexing Service. Here you have a small list of folders you want to index regularly, you can add or remove folders.

 

[Robert the Bruce]

Yes thanks, but can I remove/delete the whole indexing thing. This didn't used to be on my computer. I may have downloaded it as part of a Windows Update, now I don't want it. So can I safely remove it via 'Add & Remove Programme's' ? And is it called 'Windows Search' there ?
One more thing, where is 'Computer Management Console' ?

 

[pjhutch]

Yes, its not part of the standard XP install. So go ahead and remove it.

 

[Robert the Bruce]

Thanks for the info. But there is just one more thing. Will removing it affect anything that was installed after Windows Search/Indexer ?

 

[pjhutch]

It may add a toolbar to desktop or IE browser but those should disappear anyway when you uninstall. You should be ok.

 

[Robert the Bruce]

Thanks for your help.