Windows Desktop Search (what to do?) XP instructions

SolidWorks installation may request permission to install the Windows Desktop Search.   My advice is to decline this!   It is not needed on any workstations.  It potentially degrades performance of even the most pimped-out PC.  The reason is that it is always busy updating its index.  It is recommended by some that the Windows Desktop Search only be installed on servers.

If it is already installed via SolidWorks or even via one of Windows automatic updates on your workstation PC, you’ll have to jump through hoops just to get to a point where you might be able to kinda remove it.   It’s like a legal virus.   Once its on your PC, you’ll be engaged in a lengthy battle to remove it.   I’m not exaggerating when I say it can take days. This is because in many situations even if you “uninstall” it using Add and Remove Programs, it stays on your system.   To truly get it off requires some ugly hacks that should only be attempted by experienced PC users.

If it is accidentally installed on a workstation PC, there is hope.   It can generally be successfully ignored with a couple of easy steps.   Within SolidWorks, goto Tools pulldown>Options…>System Options tab> and under the Search heading, find the Indexing performance area.   Make sure “Index only when computer is idle” is selected and choose OK.   One other area that might help is also under System Options tab> under the File Locations heading.   Choose “Search Paths” from the “Show folders for:” field.   In the “Folders:” field, only add folders of note (removing any extra folders that do not need to be indexed).

These steps may not help other programs such as Windows Explorer, but it should help SolidWorks performance.

Author: fcsuper

As a drafter, mechanical designer and CAD engineer, I've been in the mechanical design field since 1991. For the first 8 years of my career, I was an AutoCAD professional. I utilized AutoLISP and many other AutoCAD customization features to streamline drafting activities for 6+ drafters and designers. I authored several custom functions, one of which was published in the March 1997 issue of Cadalyst Magazine. Since 1998, I've been used SolidWorks non-stop. I've worked to utilize the SolidWorks' user environment to simplify drafting and design activities for 20+ engineers. I've created this website to provide current information about SolidWorks from a variety of contributors. More recently, I am now employed by Dassault Systemes as SOLIDWORKS Sr. Product Definition Manager to improve drawing, annotation and MBD related areas. View all posts by fcsuper