Windows Search, Browse, and Organization

Applies To: Windows 7

The Windows Search Service enables you to perform fast file searches on a server from computers running Windows® 7 or Windows Server® 2008 R2, or from computers that have Windows Desktop Search (WDS) installed and running Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 R2, or Windows Server 2003.

The documentation available or planned for Windows Search and WDS is listed in the following documentation set.

Windows Search, Browse and Organization

Product Help

Search Help File

This document is included with the operating system.

The dsksrch.chm file is installed with Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. It is displayed when you request help with searching and indexing from Help and Support in the Start menu.

Product Evaluation

What’s New in Windows Search Browse and Organization

Windows 7 Technical Library: What’s New in Windows Search Browse and Organization, and Windows Server® 2008 R2 Technical Library: What’s New in Windows Search Browse and Organization.

These topics introduce a number of new features and enhancements for IT professionals to deploy and maintain desktop search, browse, and organization functionality in Windows Server® 2008 R2 and Windows 7.

Windows Search Browse and Organization Administrator’s Guide

The Windows Search Browse and Organization Administrator’s Guide details new and modified group policies, describes how to query shared remote locations, and explains how to employ Search connectors to search a remote data source from the Windows client in Windows Server® 2008 R2 and Windows 7.

Windows Search 4.0

Windows Server 2008 Technical Library:

  • Windows Search 4.0 Administrator’s Guide

    This guide provides information on the provision of search capabilities for most common file and data types—such as e-mail, media files, contacts, calendar appointments, documents, and other third-party formats—in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. It includes procedures for completing common tasks related to installing, upgrading and deploying Windows Search, and how to extend Windows Search functionality.

  • Windows Search 4.0 Troubleshooting Guide

    This guide provides troubleshooting tips for Windows Search 4.0 in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008. It includes guidance on how differences from previous versions may explain support issues.

Download Center:

  • The Windows Desktop Search 4.0 Administrator’s Guide and various versions of Windows Desktop Search 4.0 are available for download on the Microsoft Download Center

Windows Products:

  • Windows Search 4.0

    This topic provides an overview of Windows Search 4.0 by job role in Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008.

  • Windows Search Videos

    This topic provides links to videos that demonstrate using Windows Search 4.0 information in Windows XP and Windows Vista.

Microsoft Help and Support:

For IT Professionals

For Developers

See Also

Other Resources

Engineering Windows 7 blog
OpenSearch