Windows 9 search indexing and drive selection
Early Windows 9 previews showed search becoming more selective. Instead of treating every connected drive as one searchable mass, the interface could let people decide which volumes contribute useful information. That change matters on computers with several disks, large game libraries or shared family storage.
Windows 9 search indexing lets you choose which drives to include, rather than accepting a fixed list. The choice controls a local catalogue of file names, properties and content used to make results appear quickly. It does not turn excluded storage into a separate operating system or prevent every basic filename match.
Microsoft later carried the release forward as Windows 10, and early build numbers differed in wording and placement. Readers should therefore treat the feature as a configurable search system rather than assume every build exposes identical switches. Checking the actual indexing panel in the installed build remains the safest guide.
A more selective search model
Search works by consulting a catalogue of records rather than scanning every matching file each time you press Enter. The index can store file names, folders, timestamps and selected content, allowing Windows to narrow a broad request quickly and deliver relevant matches.
Previews made drive-level choice more visible. Keeping a drive out tells the indexing service not to spend time recording its contents. That avoids unnecessary background work on a spare disk, but it also changes which documents can appear in content-aware results.
Readers following the preview period could consult The Bloggeek for broader reporting on Microsoft’s interface changes. Reported layouts varied between builds, which is why options labelled indexed locations and indexed folders can describe closely related controls.
How drive selection works
Open the search-related settings in the build you are running, then look for indexing options. Depending on the preview, the detailed controls sit in the classic Windows Search panel, while the newer Settings app provides the entry point. Some builds expose a drive selector; others require adding a drive’s folders to the indexed locations list.
Including a drive adds it to the background index. Excluding it keeps that volume out of content indexing, although basic searches may still reveal its file names through other parts of Windows. Excluded does not mean invisible, encrypted or deleted; those are separate states.
Leave the system volume included if you rely on indexed mail attachments, recent documents or applications that store settings in user folders. A deliberate exception is sensible for a drive full of archived media, completed downloads or confidential material that ordinary users should not discover through casual searches.
Choosing drives for everyday PCs
A common Australian setup is a laptop with a modest internal SSD and a larger drive for games or creative work. Include the internal system drive for everyday speed, and include the second drive only when its contents genuinely need deep searching. An old disk full of installers and duplicated files is usually better excluded.
External SSDs and USB hard disks deserve extra caution. Indexing a fast drive may still create noticeable disk activity, heat and battery drain during the first pass. For an occasional backup disk, excluding it preserves the benefit of quick starts without paying the full indexing cost every time it is connected.
These storage boundaries can reinforce other preview-era changes. Coverage of Windows 9 multiple desktops described a separate workspace for active tasks; placing project files on an indexed volume and bulky downloads on an excluded one can keep each workflow distinct without duplicating large files.
Windows 9 indexing options compared
No single setting suits every machine. The useful choice depends on how often you search inside a drive, whether it is internal or removable, and how much background activity the hardware can tolerate.
| Choice | Search coverage | Main benefit | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| System drive included | File names, properties and content across the main Windows volume | Fast, predictable results for everyday files | More background indexing and disk activity |
| Secondary internal drive included | Deep matches on the additional internal disk | Useful for large working libraries | Initial indexing can affect battery life |
| External drive included | Content search on a connected SSD or hard disk | Convenient access to indexed portable files | Repeated indexing and possible I/O strain |
| Drive excluded | Limited content matching; some names may still appear | Less indexing and lower background activity | Slower or incomplete searches within that drive |
| Index rebuilt | A refreshed catalogue after changing locations | Repairs missing or outdated entries | Takes time and temporarily increases disk activity |
The index usually provides the quickest route to a precise match, while an excluded drive still allows browsing. For a large archive consulted only occasionally, that trade-off is often sensible. For active documents, a fully indexed drive is more useful.
Rebuilding, pausing and repairing the index
If results are missing, first check that the relevant folder or drive is included and that indexing has finished its initial pass. Preview builds may also expose advanced controls for pausing or rebuilding the catalogue. A rebuild reads eligible locations again; it does not delete or duplicate the original files.
Disconnect an external drive before rebuilding if you do not want its contents scanned, then reconnect it later. Rebuilding can take much longer on a mechanical hard disk than on an SSD. Because the index is local, an NBN or fixed-line broadband connection will not speed up the main operation, although online results can still load over the internet.
Everyday search habits in Australia
Australian PC gamers often keep large Steam libraries on a second drive, especially on compact laptops bought for travel or university. If those games rarely need searching, excluding the game disk keeps the everyday index focused on documents, screenshots and communication. On a shared desktop in a Sydney or Melbourne household, the same separation can stop one user’s downloads dominating another person’s results.
The local PC market makes this relevant beyond enthusiast rigs: JB Hi-Fi and Officeworks stock plenty of Windows laptops and desktops, many with more than one storage option. Search preferences should still be set after setup, since the default drive layout varies between manufacturers and may include a recovery partition.
Online and local results should not be confused. A web query for keno for beginners is answered by a search provider, while selecting a matching document on a separate drive depends on the Windows index. Fast NBN broadband makes the first quick; it does not make the second complete.
Privacy, performance and realistic expectations
The index normally stays on the machine, but local storage is not the same as complete privacy. If online search is enabled, queries may be sent to Microsoft’s search partners, and the Windows account can retain search history. Review those account settings separately from the list of indexed drives.
For managed devices, organisational rules add another layer. The Australian Privacy Act 1988 governs how many businesses and government agencies handle personal information; it does not prescribe a single Windows indexing layout, but employers may set stricter access and retention policies. Excluding a drive reduces discoverability through indexed content without replacing file permissions, encryption or secure deletion.
Drive selection is most valuable when it reflects real storage habits. A focused index makes routine searches feel quicker, keeps removable disks from creating unnecessary work and gives people clearer boundaries between everyday files and long-term archives. The control is simple, but its effect comes from matching the setting to each drive’s role.