Comments on: Searchindexer.exe -> Taking up too much memory Windows XP

By: Jalen Threadgill

Jalen Threadgill — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 10:40:18 +0000

I loved your blog article.Thanks Again.

By: Simon

Simon — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 09:57:55 +0000

I have the same issue as coex. I just restarted Outlook, and Indexer kicks off and uses over 400MB of ram, then it drops down (out of site in my top uses, but I am a power-user at work).

You can disable this in Outlook options btw, i choose not to because search in Outlook it pointless without it, as then it isn’t an indexed search, it manually chuggs through the .pst file at about 1 email a second (if you have 100,000 emails, you do the math)

This is a real pain if you kick off outlook while waiting for some code to compile (eg arm compiler is using 1GB at the moment). Page file size was up to 2.5GB for a bit there.. ugh.

By: coex

coex — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 15:50:31 +0000

I disabled Indexing service through the control panel. Unfortunately, Outlook Express periodically restarts the service if it’s not already running (regardless of the Administrator settings in control panel). I decided to let it keep running to see just how poorly this thing performs. With Firefox and Outlook being the only other user applications running, total CPU usage seems to have stabilized around for 30%: acceptable. Memory usage for searchindexer.exe increased at roughly 50KB/sec, peaked at ~634 MB and then dropped back down to ~49 MB where it seems to have stabilized. The main pst file for Outlook is about 665 MB, so I’m assuming this service will load the entire file (or most of it) into memory to index it. Is it really that difficult to explode data or archive files into smaller more manageable files in a temp location for indexing so that the entire file does not have to be loaded into memory?

By: David Mound

David Mound — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:56:24 +0000

Hi,

I know this is an old post, but for future visitors who come across it like I did, I offer this suggestion…

If you don’t use the functionality, but are shy about uninstalling it because you may want it back (and don’t have the Windows CD handy or whatever), you can simply disable it. Here’s how…

1) Open the Services panel:
Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative
Tools -> Services

a) To turn Search off immediately, from the Services window, right-click ‘Windows Search’ and left-click ‘Stop’.

b) To prevent it from running again:
Right-click ‘Windows Search’
Left-click ‘Properties’
Change the ‘Startup Type’ to ‘Disabled’
Click OK

2) Close all the windows you just opened

Regards,
David

By: Chris Bach

Chris Bach — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:46:53 +0000

i run Windows XP Home Edition 5.1 and can not find searchindexer.exe in my processes nor is it anwhere in my add/remove windows components.

perhaps a patch took care of it or maybe its been renamed? i see a services.exe but it’s running like 2,500k in the background.

any suggestions? i severely dislike memory hogs.

thanks

By: VistaX64

VistaX64 — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:52:45 +0000

I was just searching for some information on this topic and found your page. With Vista running my SearchIndexer.exe is taking up a little over 100 MB I also never use it. So wasteful.

By: Koopa

Koopa — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:36:24 +0000

Yeah, it may have also been an issue that has been fixed in a windows service pack as well. I only apply the hotfixes that deal with security issues and I hate doing it because it interferes with my up time!

By: doug

doug — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:52:28 +0000

my apologies.. it get it now.. you are entirely right. I now feel like an idiot.

My searchindexer service was at 10mb!

By: Koopa

Koopa — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:35:09 +0000

Doug,

I started my post with, I never use the windows desktop search therefore, do not need to have the thing sucking the life of my computer. You use it, great for you. I wouldn’t advise you to get rid of it then.

The point being is, I DON’T want to use search and find data! I only store documents in a few locations and don’t really to search for anything.

The end, if you use it, keep it. If you don’t use it (like me) get rid of the fucking thing because it is a memory whore. My computer has ran much better since it has been gone!

By: doug

doug — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:27:57 +0000

I have thousands of data files spread across several hard drives and a 2gig OST outlook inbox on my pc.. I use wds all the time and appreciate it’s ability to find pieces of data.

If you want to use search and find data, you have to give up a little ram and processing to rebuild the index.. jeanne doesn’t just fold her arms and blink and voila it’s found!

You’re probably the same person who complains about resturant service and cuts in line on the freeway onramp..