Google Desktop Search - 'Like a photographic memory' for your PC

Google Desktop Search
'Like a photographic memory' for your PC
(old news - 12:21PM Thursday Oct 14 2004)
tags: business

Google today announced they had added a desktop search feature to the popular search engine, allowing users to quickly dig through PC files and browsing history (Screenshots). "It's like photographic memory for your computer--if you've seen it before, you should be able to find it," says Marissa Mayer, director of consumer Web products at Google. ZDNet and the O'Reilly Network share their thoughts on how the desktop search push could change the search technology industry and raise privacy concerns in the process.

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Forums » Google Desktop Search


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Supafly Premium join:2000-07-15 Lancaster, CA	It works pretty damn well It takes a while to index because it only does so when you are idle, but still. The emails are index and displayed through the web browser, maybe a sign of things to come from GMail? It's EXTREMELY fast, I was able to search the text within a microsoft word documents across my entire hard drive in a split second, try doing that with your normal XP Search feature.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 12:23:05 ·

navalpatel join:2003-07-28 Lubbock, TX	Re: It works pretty damn well hell that would take AGES -- you know instead of WinFS for longhorn they should build on Google's filesystem! its much more efficient! BTW i know they are not releasing WinFS with the release of Longhorn -- so no comments need on that.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 12:36:17 ·

nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA

·Cox HSI

·Speakeasy

Re: It works pretty damn well

said by navalpatel :
BTW i know they are not releasing WinFS with the release of Longhorn -- so no comments need on that.

Given that it's been delayed for about a decade, now, I am dubious that WinFS will ever see the light of day. Vaporware, anyone?

-tom
--
"Some people have morals, standards and ideals about quality, but I'm an American: I couldn't care less." --Tony Pierce (paraphrased)

permalink · 2004-10-14 12:46:23 · Print ·

Talis join:2001-06-21 Houston, TX	This isn't a file system, its a searching and indexing algorithm. WinFS is a totally new OS-level file system.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:40:59 ·

mmmno @adelphia.net	Re: It works pretty damn well No, WinFS sits on top of NTFS and uses mssql.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 16:21:11 ·

MikBo Just Happy To Be Here Premium join:2002-01-04 Lynchburg, VA	Sounds like a nice addition,think I will wait a bit,make sure it doesn't have any unwanted goodies or vulnerabilities! -- "Things will get better,despite our efforts to improve them!"--Will Rogers
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:28:35 ·

Supafly
Premium
join:2000-07-15
Lancaster, CA

Re: It works pretty damn well

It does install a webserver of some sort, which kinda concerns me, but it doesn't look like it can be accessed from any other host except localhost.

Can anyone confirm this?

On a positive note, it supports standard wild cards *.exe, *.bat, etc.

On a negative note, it executes exe's just by clicking on it, no prompt to download or to execute, it just does it. While this feature is cool, you have to wonder how it overrides the security built into IE and Firefox.

permalink · 2004-10-14 14:35:19 ·

Morac join:2001-08-30 Riverside, NJ ·Comcast	Re: It works pretty damn well Probably because the executables are already on your machine and are considered safe. Similarly to how Explorer doesn't ask you if you really want to running Word when you double click on it. -- I'm Morac and I approved this message. The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 16:00:23 ·

Skyrunner8 join:2002-01-10 Berkeley, CA	How else would it work from a browser? if it was from a google.com address, people would claim information is being sent out. This is a simple way for them to point out that everything is still on their computer -- -Jeff
	permalink · 2004-10-14 16:00:40 ·

dddane join:2002-01-10 Chicago, IL	i think local pages can start executables? maybe its an activex control that executes it?
	permalink · 2004-10-14 16:36:49 ·

Supafly Premium join:2000-07-15 Lancaster, CA	Re: It works pretty damn well It's not local though, it's not just a html file it's loading, it's a true web server that's being accessed locally. So IE and Firefox wouldn't know the difference.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 17:19:57 ·

Gwailo

join:2000-07-16
Richardson, TX
clubs:

Looked here »groups-beta.google.com/group/Goo···p-Search but did not find anything.

I just put a ton of Excel files back on my main hard drive from a USB external drive after I did the index. Google Desktop cannot find any of them.

How do I do a "re-index" and do I have to do the whole darn primary hard drive again? The Excel files are in specific folders on a specific partition on the main hard drive. Thanks.

permalink · 2004-10-14 16:53:41 · Print ·

navalpatel join:2003-07-28 Lubbock, TX	All hail... Since their IPO they have been coming out with all sorts of goodies! :-D
	permalink · 2004-10-14 12:23:32 ·

ParanoiaInc join:2002-08-28 Tucker, GA	Re: All hail... They haven't come out with my personal spinner, yet.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 12:25:03 ·

bubi73 join:2004-02-03 Mundelein, IL	Re: All hail... Copernic Desktop kinda does the same thing and also offers a few more options: »www.copernic.com/en/products/des···dex.html
	permalink · 2004-10-14 12:49:55 ·

LiamJunket
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Ocean City, NJ

·Comcast

Re: All hail...

said by bubi73 :
Copernic Desktop kinda does the same thing and also offers a few more options:

»www.copernic.com/en/products/des···dex.html

Thanks for that Copernic Desktop link. I tried it and it works great.

The Google Desktop wouldn't install because it is incompatible with Computer Associates Antivirus software I run.
--
Come visit the Red Room forum
Bush/Cheney 2004
When the eagles are silent, the parrots begin to jabber.- Winston Churchill

permalink · 2004-10-14 13:40:15 · Print ·

Ctrl Alt Del Premium join:2002-02-18	said by bubi73 : Copernic Desktop kinda does the same thing and also offers a few more options: »www.copernic.com/en/products/des···dex.html I like this Copernic better than Google's Desktop Search at the moment. However, if Google improves theirs (I don't like how it works inside a web browser), I'll have to check it out. -- less talk, more music
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:16:36 · Print ·

B
Premium,MVM
join:2000-10-28

Re: All hail...

said by Ctrl Alt Del :
(I don't like how [Google] works inside a web browser)

But, according to their System Requirements at least, Copernic requires Internet Explorer!

Have you used it successfully with any other browsers?

Perhaps Copernic uses IE's engine but displays its own Windows? Is that affected by a change in one's default browser? By tightening or limiting of IE features? By Windows patches? Just wondering...

-- B
--
In a realm outside causality and function

permalink · 2004-10-15 14:42:54 · Print ·

BayouBum26 join:2002-01-02 Cape Coral, FL	No way Not likely to get installed on my system as it only installs on C and requires 1 GB. I will never allow that.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 12:58:17 ·

ergibbs
Nichego Ne Znayu
Premium,ExMod 2001-05
join:2001-03-07
on the ocean
clubs:

Re: No way

said by BayouBum26 :
...requires 1 GB.

Where did you get that from? I just installed it and it's 400K. From the ZDNet link above:

"To use Google's desktop application, people download the file, which is a thin 400K, or about half the size of its toolbar application. (Users must have 128MB of memory installed on their PC, but the application uses only about 8MB.)"
--
¡¡Viva la cerveza!!

permalink · 2004-10-14 13:13:08 · Print ·

kbennett

join:1999-08-30
San Diego, CA

Re: No way

said by ergibbs :

said by BayouBum26 :
...requires 1 GB.
Where did you get that from? I just installed it and it's 400K. From the ZDNet link above:

"To use Google's desktop application, people download the file, which is a thin 400K, or about half the size of its toolbar application. (Users must have 128MB of memory installed on their PC, but the application uses only about 8MB.)"

From »desktop.google.com/about.html:

"4. What are the system requirements for running Google Desktop Search?

Google Desktop Search is currently available for Windows XP and Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 and above. To install, you must have administrator privileges (home users shouldn't have this problem; people in offices might). It also requires 500MB of space available on your hard disk. We also recommend a minimum of 128MB of RAM and a 400MHz Pentium processor."

Not exactly 1GB, but still a fair amount of room (I assume that's for indexes and such...)

permalink · 2004-10-14 13:41:29 · Print ·

BayouBum26 join:2002-01-02 Cape Coral, FL	I'mrunning a 2800+ amd with 160 gig HD (not C). I have 1 gig 3200 memory and this is the place I got the info from an error message from the install attempt. I do not know how to include a screen shot.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:02:24 ·

MxxCon join:1999-11-19 Brooklyn, NY clubs:	so far it indexed: Total searchable items 4,249 1:49pm Emails 194 1:49pm Chats 0 - Web history 652 1:06pm Files 3,403 12:04pm and database in \Documents and Settings\%user%\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Google Desktop Search is ~50megs. -- [Sig removed by Administrator: Signature can not exceed 20GB]
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:34:10 ·

Ctrl Alt Del Premium join:2002-02-18	Google is awesome Google has beaten both Apple and Microsoft to the punch, and done it perfectly. I love Google. -- less talk, more music
	permalink · 2004-10-14 13:10:26 ·

stltech join:2002-01-27 Florissant, MO	Re: Google is awesome Think I will have to install this when I get home today! Sweet find! -- are we having fun yet?
	permalink · 2004-10-14 13:24:37 ·

Jeremy341 Bye Premium join:2000-01-06 localhost	said by Ctrl Alt Del : and done it perfectly. I think calling it "perfect" is a little strong... -- I do not trust Firefox. Spread anything besides that horrid piece of crap.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 19:21:17 ·

minkathebest join:2003-09-10 Sacramento, CA clubs:	w00T i got google on my computer power of google in my computer! yeeehaw!
	permalink · 2004-10-14 13:18:59 ·

ender78 join:2002-10-17 Mississauga, ON	Re: w00T i got google on my computer The tool is amazing. Just installed it on my work PC. I have indexed tens of thousands of emails, I search them in seconds instead of hours.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 13:29:30 ·

Jehu Premium join:2002-09-13 MA	hmm yep that's what my work computer needs... a photographic memory. That would get me fired in seconds -- Merry Frelling Christmas.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 13:45:15 ·

muzscman Bow Chica Wow Wow Premium,VIP join:2002-02-15 Florissant, MO clubs: ·AT&T U-Verse	Re: hmm said by Jehu : yep that's what my work computer needs... a photographic memory. That would get me fired in seconds yeah....u and all your midget and goat porn... -- [BBR] muzscman - Socom
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:03:55 · Print ·

sollo join:2004-02-01 Brownwood, TX 1 edit	Firefox Indexing :( Must... have... Firefox support. They say they are considering [ »desktop.google.com/support/bin/a···opic=168 ] it so send them feedback [ »desktop.google.com/support/bin/r···Continue ] if you are a firefox user!
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:07:30 ·

beeman65 join:2001-07-23 Mckeesport, PA clubs:	Re: Firefox Indexing :( This seems pretty nifty, but since I use Firefox as my primary browser, I think I'll wait until they fully support it. -- Get Firefox. Join the new wave.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 15:15:49 ·

MightyPez join:2002-05-01 Saint Paul, MN ·Comcast	Alta Vista? I remember years ago (around the time Netscape 3 was cock of the walk) Alta Vista released something similar. I gave it a shot and realized that the "search for files and folders" feature in windows really didn't need the assistance. The damn thing really latched onto my stsem too.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:23:47 ·

BayouBum26 join:2002-01-02 Cape Coral, FL	screenshot? Maybe I made it this time
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:24:34 ·

Supafly
Premium
join:2000-07-15
Lancaster, CA

Re: screenshot?

default search screen
search results

here ya go, notice the url?

permalink · 2004-10-14 14:39:27 · Print ·

Weasel join:2001-12-18 Lombard, IL clubs:	Other DC apps ? Anyone tried running this along with any distributed computing apps (UD, TSC, Seti)? I wonder how this “behind the scenes” thing will play with others.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:36:01 ·

lestat99

join:2000-08-04
Piscataway, NJ

Security??

Oh boy... I can't wait until there is an exploit in this software which allows a malicious program to steal all of your personal information that this program has indexed. As it runs a local webserver I am sure this is only a matter of time. Personally, I don't feel comfortable with Google indexing all of the information on my PC. I noticed that during the indexing the application continuously tried to contact toolbar-query.google.com

While I may be overly paranoid I don't like the idea that they have indexed all of my personal information and then are making external connections back to the internet.
--
Info Network Security:»www.packetdefense.com

permalink · 2004-10-14 14:39:16 · Print ·

MisterMarcus join:2001-11-10 San Diego, CA	Re: Security?? Then tell it not to phone home. Done through Preferences. Personally, I think it's fantastic.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:56:08 ·

Sparhawk6 join:2002-02-04 Salt Lake City, UT	Trillian? Any way to make it search through Trillian logs? It doesn't seem to be catching any of them.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 14:51:37 ·

zengei join:2002-11-26 Bronx, NY	Re: Trillian? Seems as if it doesn't treat .log files as plain text files.
	permalink · 2004-10-14 18:01:02 ·

Cheddarhead Ain't Nuthin But A Thang join:2002-02-19 Hudson, WI	Google Be afraid... be very afraid.... /dons tinfoil hat and runs out the door
	permalink · 2004-10-14 16:12:07 ·

dddane

join:2002-01-10
Chicago, IL

security issues...

while its true that the google web server listens on localhost only... couldn't someone else write their own bit of code that listens on another port, then redirects to your localhost? it would work like a proxy...

there are a gizzillion programs that do this already for legit reasons... can anyone try this to see if this would allow "outsiders" in ? if so, it seems like its only a matter of time before some virus builds that in to exploit this?

permalink · 2004-10-14 16:39:10 ·

wilkinsjme join:2000-10-23 Livonia, MI	Microsoft has something similar I'll definitely have to give the Google desktop a try. Microsoft has had something similar, through an acquisition, to this for a while. This is what I have been using. Good to see some more competition in this area. »www.lookoutsoft.com/Lookout/
	permalink · 2004-10-14 17:38:58 ·

dddane

join:2002-01-10
Chicago, IL

Re: Microsoft has something similar

Check out the google one... Lookout is much different.... Lookout is primarily mail (though they also index files), but I think the Google one is a lot faster. I think I'll continue to use Lookout for mail searching, since its integrated right into Outlook for me. I wonder how long it will be before Google has an "outlook toolbar" or something to do searches from within Outlook.

permalink · 2004-10-14 18:10:38 ·

RickNY
Premium
join:2000-11-02
New York

·Optimum Online

You can change location of cache...

If you want to change the location of the cache, you just need to change a registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Desktop\data_dir

It defaults to C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Google Desktop Search

I just exited the search with the tray icon, changed it to a folder on my D drive and moved the existing files over to the new location and then restarted it and it is now updating at the new location just dandy..

Rick
--
"Make it idiot-proof and someone will build a better idiot."

permalink · 2004-10-14 21:07:20 · Print ·

GeekNJ Premium join:2000-09-23 Waldwick, NJ	Re: You can change location of cache... Seems to work well. Nice find Rick!
	permalink · 2004-10-14 21:33:12 ·

EnglishLad

Thanks Rick! Great tip on changing the location of the Google Desktop Search index folder! It's an amazing Tool - really very very fast and dead smart. I've found stuff I'd long forgotten about!

BUT, this thing is SO powerful and swift that your entire online life can be searched in a few seconds - so, better still, edit the Registry path to have the index saved to an encrypted volume (Bestcrypt or PGP or whatnot!)

Declan

permalink · 2004-10-17 17:13:38 ·

GeekNJ
Premium
join:2000-09-23
Waldwick, NJ

·Verizon FIOS

New Desktop + Maxthon

There's currently an issue with a portion of the functionality when using Maxthon. The combined search functionality isn't work. You can search either the desktop or you can search the web, but having it do both doesn't seem to be working yet. I'm sure the Maxthon folks will figure this one out.

Here's a link to a thread on the Maxthon forum if anyone is interested... »forum.maxthon.com/forum/index.ph···pic=8460
--
Tweaked your OOL connection? | Mail Parse | Speed Converter

permalink · 2004-10-14 21:37:49 · Print ·

caesarv

join:1999-08-02
Santa Rosa, CA

I removed it

Well, I thought this was the greatest thing since sliced bread, and installed it on 4 XP computers today. However, after running it on my laptop all night I decided to remove it. I had multiple Mozilla hang-ups and error messages regarding some plug-in error. I am running XPSP2 and Mozilla 1.7.3. I also had numerous wireless problems tonight, but I'm not sure that is related.

In any case, it is gone until they come out with the final version.

jv

permalink · 2004-10-15 03:02:43 ·

click_310
Eat my shorts

join:2002-12-06
Savannah, GA

1 edit

hmm how do i get rid of this

this thing is great but its adding the stuff on my drive to the google search.... how do i get this? Dont want to see all the midget porn on my hard drive when am trying to google it ...

EDIT: found it. Need to buy a new pair of eyes and a brain while am at it. Its right there in prefrences. Funny.. I complain about others who cannot RTFM...

permalink · 2004-10-15 07:46:22 · Print ·

noahv

join:2004-02-04
Seattle, WA

Re: hmm how do i get rid of this

Funny, that's one of the things that I like about Google Desktop (seeing local search results on the main Google results page).

On a semi-unrelated note, I had just uninstalled Blinkx (»www.blinkx.com) because of some performance impacts with indexing. Blinkx provides some additional functionality that GD doesn't (like cross-referencing with Web and blog results), but for searching, GD kicks tail.

permalink · 2004-10-15 12:18:40 ·

valodya

join:2003-10-15
New York, NY

RealPlayer conflict?

Desktop Search seems to conflict with RealPlayer. Has anyone else seen this, or is it just my setup? This morning when I tried to listen to BBC, RP simply froze. I removed Desktop and it worked again. I haven't had a chance to investigate further.

I too could really use Firefox support. Since I almost never use IE, lack of support really limits it's utility.

Finally, Google Desktop asked my firewall for server access. Why in heck would it need inbound access?

permalink · 2004-10-16 12:18:24 ·

d00by Premium join:2002-03-13 india	Firefox support I have installed it. But, I use Firefox. I wish Google will add Firefox support so that webpages viewed through Firefox are indexed.
	permalink · 2004-10-17 02:28:55 ·

your comment..

Forums » Google Desktop Search

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It works pretty damn well

Re: It works pretty damn well

Re: It works pretty damn well

Re: It works pretty damn well

Re: It works pretty damn well

Re: It works pretty damn well

Re: It works pretty damn well

All hail...

Re: All hail...

Re: All hail...

Re: All hail...

Re: All hail...

No way

Re: No way

Re: No way

Google is awesome

Re: Google is awesome

w00T i got google on my computer

Re: w00T i got google on my computer

hmm

Re: hmm

Firefox Indexing :(

Re: Firefox Indexing :(

Alta Vista?

screenshot?

Re: screenshot?

Other DC apps ?

Security??

Re: Security??

Trillian?

Re: Trillian?

Google

security issues...

Microsoft has something similar

Re: Microsoft has something similar

You can change location of cache...

Re: You can change location of cache...

New Desktop + Maxthon

I removed it

hmm how do i get rid of this

Re: hmm how do i get rid of this

RealPlayer conflict?

Firefox support