Is there a Windows program to search for files that has these 4 specific features?

Possible Duplicate:
What’s the fastest desktop search tools you’ve used on Windows?

Is there a Windows program to efficiently search for files that does not wear down the disks?

Minimum functional requirements:

Search for names of files and folders
Search with modification date, before/after. Ideally in a range.
Search with file size, smaller/larger. Ideally in a range.
Manual control of file/folder indexing

By efficient I mean it keeps a list of all files and folders (file/folder name, size, modification date, creation date) without the need to scan the disks for every search. And by not wearing down the disks I mean it should not try to keep the list of files updated. I am fine with doing this manually. I don't want constant disk activity on my system.

I have a lot files of my system and I am looking for a tool to efficiently search for files. I am currently using FreeCommander's search facility. It is very powerful and much better than Windows XP's. But it does not cache anything.

I want complete manual control over when the list of files is updated and do not want to use the built-in search Windows.

Platform: Windows XP Professional x64 bit Edition.

Peter Mortensen

Posted 2010-03-10T09:10:29.907

Reputation: 10 992

Duplicate of http://superuser.com/questions/100502/please-suggest-a-file-search-tool-for-windows-that-is-not-google-desktop-and-doe and http://superuser.com/questions/8654/whats-the-fastest-desktop-search-tools-youve-used-on-windows

– Mehper C. Palavuzlar – 2010-03-10T10:14:26.983

1I would like to have reopened this question. I have 4 very specific requirements, I am not looking for a list of alternatives to Windows' search. – Peter Mortensen – 2010-03-10T15:04:11.673

Answers

Everything

It's by far the most efficient search tool I know

You couldn't stop the database auto-update actually (it will be implemented), but it's blazing fast because it use the NTFS USN journal... And there's a special version of the tool with update disabled there

(Personally I launch it at startup, and let it monitor changes, it's lightweight enough...)

alt text

Pros:

Quick file indexing
Locate files and folders by name instantly.
Clean and simple user interface
Small installation file
Minimal resource usage
Share files with others easily
Real-time updating
More...

Cons:

Works only with NTFS drive 
Need administrative privileges, so need to deal with uac...
Doesn't search content

fluxtendu

Posted 2010-03-10T09:10:29.907

Reputation: 6 701

Thanks. I have read through the FAQ now. Indexing can be controlled by simply quitting Everything. But can it use modification date and file size in the search? – Peter Mortensen – 2010-03-10T09:40:04.837

Yes it can. Incredible tool that it is. – outsideblasts – 2010-03-10T09:41:38.780

@outsideblasts, @fluxtendu: can you give a hint on how to use modification date and file size in the search? I have downloaded and run Everything, but can't find the place to set these options. – Peter Mortensen – 2010-03-10T10:08:02.303

I don't think it's possible to search by filesize. But for changed files look at this post: http://forum.voidtools.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=606&p=1790&hilit=cm+cd+cw#p1790 (and maybe you will need a beta or alpha version)

– fluxtendu – 2010-03-10T10:35:53.297

I use to use agent ransack. Ugly as a Win95 program, but low on RAM and damn efficient !

Riduidel

Posted 2010-03-10T09:10:29.907

Reputation: 1 467

The first search through my 2.5 million files with Agent Ransack took 52 minutes. I think it is significantly slower than with FreeCommander, but I have to confirm it. I searched for files larger than 300 MB that were modified after 2009-07-10 (73 matches). – Peter Mortensen – 2010-03-10T19:59:38.590

The duration of subsequent searches was about 1 minute. But I think this was caused by caching by the RAM rich 64 bit version of Windows I tested it on. After a restart of the computer the search time was back to about 50 minutes. – Peter Mortensen – 2010-03-11T10:59:41.150

@Riduidel: is there some setting I can change to make it more efficient? I used the 2010 Beta version, 64 bit version. – Peter Mortensen – 2010-03-11T11:00:54.750

Well, I don't know, I must confess I never use it on such huge volumes. – Riduidel – 2010-03-11T16:51:43.847