Microsoft releases first public test build of Windows Search 4.0
Summary: Microsoft released on March 27 the first public test build of the technology it calls "Windows Search 4.0."
Microsoft released on March 27 the first public test build of the technology it calls "Windows Search 4.0."
First things first: What is Windows Search 4.0? It's the search technology formerly code-named "Casino," which Microsoft -- at one point -- planned to deliver as a Windows Live Service. It is an extension, but not the successor, to the Windows Search that is built into Vista, as well as to the "Windows Desktop Search" (WDS), which is part of Windows XP.
The Microsoft Download Center, where the public test builds of Windows Search 4.0 are available, explains it a bit more succinctly:
Windows Search 4.0 "lets you perform an instant search of your computer. WS4 helps you find and preview documents, e-mail messages, music files, photos, and other items on the computer. Please refer to the Knowledge base article KB940157 for a full description of the technology."
Here's more, from a company spokesperson:
"At one point Casino was an internal code name for Windows Search. Windows Search 4.0 will address many of the issues Casino was originally slated to address, but it is distinctly different in that WS4.0 is a continuation of WDS3.01 and an update to Windows search functionality, while Casino was a research project. The purpose of Casino was to explore the area of federation, whereas the goal of the WS4.0 release is improved quality, better performance and reliability, as well as removal of deployment blockers."
When it ultimately is released -- a date which Microsoft isn't providing -- Windows Search 4.0 will be supported on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Vista SP1; 32-bit versions of Windows XP SP2 or later; all 64-bit versions of XP; Windows Server 2003 SP2; all 64-bit versions of Windows Server 2003; Windows Server 2008 and Windows Home Server.
It isn't clear whether Windows Search 4.0 (or 5.0 or whatever version) will be built into Windows 7. From the aforementioned spokesperson:
"While it is too early to talk about specific details of Windows 7 features, we will be sure to build future functionality so that it extends, not replaces, the features available for Windows Vista SP1."
So now that it's (sort of) clear what Windows Search 4.0 is, here's what's new in the publicly downloadable build, according to Microsoft:
- Most of the bugs affecting Windows Vista users that were reported by private testers have been fixed
- Performance improvements have been made. Even in this "preview version," Windows Search 4.0 query times are 33 percent faster than search queries in Vista, according to the Softies.
- Improvements to Remote Index Discovery is now enabling PC-to-PC search to work on all supported versions of Windows
- Rollback Recovery has been added, allowing the search index to roll back to the last known good state; indexes are not rebuilt from scratch if errors occur
One more piece of information (to try to help explain how Windows Search 4 works, courtesy of our trusty Windows Client spokesfolks: "When it is installed on Windows Vista SP1, Windows Search 4.0 is an update to the Windows Vista SP1 search files, replacing them. On downlevel platforms, it is a downloadable feature, enriching the search experience and functionality. Windows Search 4.0 is an update for WDS 3.01 replacing it when it is installed on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003."
Is anyone out there -- on any Windows platform -- giving Windows Search 4.0 a whirl? What do you think of the technology?
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Talkback
Vista Search SUCKS
That being said, casino here i come.
Outlook 2000 is a pizza.. .and my runtime environment looks like I use DSL
you suck! NOT vista
RE: Microsoft releases first public test build of Windows Search 4.0
I agree
I recently downloaded 4.0 and its better then 3.0, and searches are faster. But... I'm still staying away from it (at least for now), because I've had such a bad experience with 3.0 on numerous machines (I really tried to make 3.0 work for me).
The past couple years I've used a few others such as Google and Copernic, but they all have blocking issue for me. The only one that reliably finds what I'm looking for and doesn't use a bunch of system resources is Mo-Search. Each version has more features, improved performance and fewer bugs. It only runs when you tell it to, which I find very important (there's no background indexer slowing down my computer - it only updates when I tell it - very nice in my opinion). It's free, fast, configurable, has a built-in file previewer, integrated shell support, easy to use, allows searching by: folder name/wildcard, file name/wildcard, file text/wildcard (or any combination of those). Overall, it's all I use. I still pull down others and try them, but I keep coming back to Mo-Search. If interested: http://www.meauxsoft.com/21701/index.html
Why waste the time...
that is only interested in further lock-in with shoddy junk.
Is there anyone that still thinks that MSFT produces competitive
products? Can you say Zune, Xbox, Vista, Vista SP1, WM,
SpOT, etc.?
MSFT produces only tedious junk. By design, MSFT builds this
junk to use it to further its monopolies.
Why waste the time with products from this thoroughly
discredited and unethical company which has never shown any
regard for the user?
as opposed to...
BTW - Server 2008 rocks!
Winamp +2
What a rant!
That being said - I have installed WDS (I'm not sure how to get the version number) on my WinXP SP2 work laptop and it flies. It's finding emails, IMs, files, etc as advertised. I see little to no resource utilization. I love it.
BTW, my 2 servers at home are Gentoo Linux, and my secondary desktop is Ubuntu. So there.
You know, I'm not seeing how the XBox is junk.
Let's pick apart your argument for 1/4 of a second...
The Xbox was the most powerful system on the market, which is why it flopped. The same as the ps3. Size/Cost factors are too high for its power.
The Xbox 360, on the other hand, is considered the best system by a great deal. Not too expensive, 1080p quality, well built (other than the first set, but I've never had a problem with my launch 360...)
Vista is the most enjoyable operating system I have ever used. Everyday, I use Vista, and it makes me happy. It's beautiful, quick, simple to use, and is the first truly 3d operating system. Mac is still 2d completely, and Linux is barely a viable alternative. It's not overly flashy like Ubuntu, and not overly bland like Mac.
Vista SP 1 made things faster, and even more stable. I haven't had anything crash since I installed SP1, except for when I was angry at firefox one day, and began shutting down all processes. To be frank, killing svchost (all of them) killing explorer, and ending as many processes as possible does that. I play in the registry, play with program settings, install betas and free ware all the time, and have no problems.
if WM is Windows Media, then I just laugh at you. What do you use? iTunes? For my iTouch I am forced to use iTunes. I hate iTunes. It's slow, bloated, ugly as sin, and not intuitive. WMP11 is beautiful. Dark, rich color scheme, quick response even with a large number (as in 16,000) of songs, and full OS integration
I often stick up for Microsoft not because I love Microsoft or anything, but because of people who are so blinded by stupidity as to not see the beauty MS creates. I use Mac everyday, I use windows everyday, and I use Linux as little as I can. Vista is by far my favorite.
Ethics? You mean like Apple's ethics of pushing Safari on systems that don't support Safari? You mean like Sony's embedding viruses in it's products? You mean like every company that has tried to make money in history? Microsoft offers what is typically the cheapest viable solution, with the most support, largest user base, and most used system. MS supports every hardware under the sun. Linux supports virtually nothing. Mac supports all 2 hardware configurations it made. Who's really trying harder?
Microsoft products
I've especially enjoyed the fact that my camera (powershot SII), phone (tmobile Dash), and mp3 player (archos 604) have integrated seemlessly with it without having to install any extra software.
You dont get it...
Prerequisites!!!!????
Yes, let's see how much M$ shoves down our throats with each item we *might* be interested in.
NO THANKS!!!!
Mike Sr.
Think you need to read.
If you've actually spent a second to read, you'd have figured out to close the offer and continue on with the download.
Nice try at deflection, Apple still holds the crown for worst distribution effort by malware type installation technique.
RE: stay away from WDS
Disagree - WDS does its job!
1. Best results, including searches within archived pst files
2. Least crashes or freezes especially when running searches on network drives
3. Lowest system resources
My secret - I leave my laptop on every night and let the scan finish, then idle it during work time.
Bottom line - I'll try it on my XP as soon as it is released.
WDS and network areas
On the other hand, I installed Copernic Desktop v2.3 on my Vista laptop, and it works like a charm! MS really should try to model their search after Copernic's tool. It is top notch, in my opinion.
Options R Included....
I tried the first one they released...helped my zany way of filing/saving more than once-
Glad MJ mentioned it, think I'll surf over and give it a try-good weekend to stay in up here in the Pacific NW anyhow !!
What about repairing previous omissions?