Have you ever wondered how web search services like Google, MSN, Yahoo… can find websites corresponding to the keywords you choose among countless sites on the Internet in an instant? In reality, the quick search is possible because they use an existing index database on their servers. Applying this principle, these companies have continuously developed extremely powerful search tools for computers, far surpassing the slow Search feature of Windows, transforming the search process into a lightning-fast experience similar to online searches. However, these fantastic tools come with their own set of drawbacks.
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After installation, you will find that the software occupies only a few MB on your hard drive. However, during the database (DB) construction process, each indexed file has at least one or more different cached copies, which causes the database to grow larger, potentially reaching several GB. To conceal this, the database is often placed in a hidden system directory. For example, with Google Desktop Search, the installation file only takes up a few MB “visible” to the user at X:Program FilesGoogleGoogle Desktop Search, while the actual data files are located in X:Documents and SettingsusernameLocal SettingsApplication DataGoogleGoogle Desktop Search (with X being the drive where the operating system is installed). Moreover, since the software always runs alongside Windows, it consumes a portion of system resources and increases boot time.
You might think: “A few GB is not a big deal, as long as I feel comfortable and don’t have to wait anxiously when searching, it’s worth it“. But consider the issue of security. Suppose you have a very private and important document on your computer that you don’t want anyone else to access. Once you no longer need this document or after you’ve copied it to a smaller storage device for safekeeping, you decide to use a professional data destruction software like WhiteCanyon SecureClean, Ontrack DataEraser, or Symantec Wipe Info… to delete it entirely. However, a new issue arises: only the original file is completely deleted, while many cached copies created by the indexing process still remain intact in the search tool’s database. Without even trying hard, others could easily discover the full content of the document you worked so hard to hide thanks to these cached copies.
The remarkable search capabilities provided by search tools cannot be denied. Even the security drawbacks sometimes have their own advantages. Let me share a case that inspired me to write this article: One day, while cleaning up my hard drive, I accidentally deleted a significant document using the Shift+Delete key combination (bypassing the Recycle Bin). By the time I realized my mistake, it was too late; even a professional file recovery software like EasyRecovery Pro couldn’t help because, ironically, the data had been completely deleted during the copying and defragmenting process. What to do? Give up? Of course not. Google Desktop Search came to my rescue. Just by using the Windows+G shortcut and entering a keyword, within 0.4 seconds, the lost document appeared, although it showed “File Not Found,” I easily located the most recent cached version with the exact content of the original file, and I even learned about the changes made to my document over time.
In summary, if you aren’t too concerned about storage space and security, these lightning-fast search tools on your computer are still a fantastic application. They will help you discover all documents on your computer in the shortest time possible. And let me tell you, by now, the .doc file containing this article has accumulated “43 cached” versions!
Nguyen Tien Dung
Email: [email protected]
