Windows 10: Indexing Options internals

Dear friends hallo,

One day I noticed that the processes responsible for indexing were taking up too much process power. I noticed that this happened because I transferred my e-book collection to my PC. Windows was trying to index the contents of these massive pdf files. At the same time I realized that I had never tried to search the contents of a file. So I went through every file type and I changed its filter description to "File Properties Only".

If you go through this list, you will realize it is very big so the whole process took a long time to be completed. One day, after a Windows Update, the Indexing Options were reset (?). So I had to go through all this hassle again. If anyone knows the internals of Windows on this subject, I have the following questions:

-Which is the file that windows stores its indexing options? Can it be backed up and restored after the aforementioned incident? Is there any tool that I can use while Windows saves changes to this file, to locate the file in order to be able to answer questions like that in different situations?

-Is it possible to change the filter description of all file types alltogether and not one by one?

-Is there any documentation regarding the data format of these kind of files? In particular, is there a standard way that Windows store key-value pairs so a Windows API can be used to read/write the contents of such files?

I understand that my questions dive much deeper than the mere resolution of my original problem. I just find that as an opportunity to learn. Thanks!

:)

 

Windows 10 Indexing

Thanks for answering

Drive is internal HDD, E:

Drive C: is SSD

Indexing is built-in win10 Pro

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BTW if I set registry "SetupCompletedSuccessfully" to zero and then

set locations in indexing options, I'm good until next restart or reboot

..

 

File explorer search not working in Windows 10

You may want to try re-indexing search (in case it's corrupted) and then be sure to specify "Index Properties and File Contents" for the file types you wish to search internally (i.e. text inside the file).

After tweaking all the file types for which I wanted to search internally, everything appears to be searching quickly. And for directories that I don't index, then it takes some time to search, but it finds things based on the parameters I specify, such
as file properties or file contents.

Best of luck!

 

Hi, suggest you see Indexing Options in the Control Panel
(Windows key + X, click Control Panel)

Please explore the options and post back any remaining queries.




Note:
1. Users (sthg there) must be indexed to support search in Settings.
2. Cortana 'My Stuff' search seems to be indexed items only

 

Yes, I know these options. If you click at File Types you get a list of known file extensions where you can choose if you want file content indexing for every file type. My basic question is how can i avoid getting to each file type separately and changing the value of the desired property or, if I do it once, how can I back up the file Windows is using to save these changes.

 

I think the indexing options for file associations are stored (e.g.) here:
HKU\S-1-5-21-2598030854-2856894942-2756517887-1001\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\UserAssist\{CEBFF5CD-ACE2-4F4F-9178-9926F41749EA}\Count\HRZR_PGYFRFFVBA:

That's what appears to be what's significantly changed when changing one of those settings.

Is your question:
I want to change the settings for file extensions in Advanced Settings, File Types, all at once, rather than each individually. Is there a way to do this?

 

Yes Sir! That is the basic question. Or at least that was my initial concern!