A quick guide to Windows Vista's new file system
Published: 03 Jan 2007
Search
Within Windows Vista, Search is an omnipresent feature, available in a number of locations, except the desktop itself. Available within most applications, Search eliminates the need to think in terms of file structure. Files located from a variety of sources quickly become accessible.
The handiest use of Windows Vista Instant Search occurs within the Start menu, where you can use search to find common applications. For example, type 'ex', and you'll see a wide variety of options; as you continue to type 'explor', you'll see the list winnow down to only those few applications with the word 'explorer' within them. This eliminates the need to remember that Windows Explorer lives in the Accessories folder of the Start menu. The Start menu still exists (although in Windows Vista it expands and collapses as needed within a hierarchical outline instead of expanding in nested menus across your desktop), but it becomes less necessary with Search.
The brains behind Windows Vista Instant Search is its extensive index. The Indexing Options program allows you to limit the index to filenames (the default setting) or to include file contents. With administrator permissions, you can also index encrypted files, treat similar words as different words and even filter or add file types to the index.
Previous
- Windows Vista overview
- Windows Vista Business
- 10 things to consider before taking the Vista plunge
- Bill Gates talks Vista and Linux
- Vista launch kicks off in New York
- Why you should care about Vista
- Peace in our time for Vista?
- Should businesses upgrade to Vista?
- A quick guide to Windows Vista's new file system
- Windows Vista is in sync with your files
Did you find this article useful?
59 out of 114 people found this useful
Full Talkback thread
2 comments
