I often wonder if the Internet would be as useful as it is, if Google did not exist. They have now c...

1. Google Desktop Search: Installation Tips and Advantages
I often wonder if the Internet would be as useful as it is, if Google did not exist. They have now come
out with a new tool, Google Desktop Search. Read on to know more about the installation and
advantages of the same...
Google Desktop Search Tool
Desktop search is the name given to tools that search the contents of a user's own computer instead
of the Internet. These tools are designed in a manner such that they find information on all the
drives including the web browser history, email archives, images and videos.
Google Desktop Search was developed with the intention of bringing the Google search technology
to the desktop. By installing it on your PC, you have access to your own private Google server. It
goes on as a background process and indexes all documents, videos, music files, incoming and
outgoing email messages, instant messaging chats and just about everything else that is available on
your machine. The complete list of file types that the tool indexes is:
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Word
Microsoft PowerPoint
Text Files
Emails
Chat
Web History
Images
Acrobat Files

2. Music and Video Files
After the initial indexing is completed when the Google Desktop is installed the first time, the tool
works real-time. The tool indexes the file system, email and chat applications, browser caches every
time you leave your PC idle for 30 seconds or more. It stops the second the mouse is moved or there
is an activity on the keyboard thus ensuring that it does not affect the normal work. After the initial
inventory is completed, the tool comes into action if an email is exchanged, a new document is
created or updated or you decide to chat with a friend. Everything will be indexed in a matter of a
few seconds.
Installing Google Desktop
The Google Desktop Search Engine can be freely downloaded from Google's website. Although the
application by itself it very small in size (just about 400 KB), the tool will take up about 500 MB of
space on the PC to store the indexing details. For optimum results, you should have a minimum of
128 MB RAM installed on your PC.
After installing the setup, the application will embed a colorful icon in your taskbar and will also
create a shortcut on your desktop. The installation is completed after you have set up a few
preferences in a pop-up. You will then be notified that the search engine is starting the initial
indexing.
Advantages of Google Desktop
The advantages offered by the Google search engine are far too many to count. However, listed
below are some of the advantages that make the tool a must have:
The tool is tightly integrated with the website. Hence, when you search for something on the
website, the result page will display results from your PC (if any) and the web.
The tool duplicates the history of your Internet Explorer. Hence, even if you delete the cache of your
browser, they are still available with the tool.
The indexing is performed when the computer is left idle. Hence, it does not slow down your work. If
you work very extensively on your PC, it is advisable to leave it idle for sometime so that it can catch
up with all the indexing.
Unlike, the Window Explorer Search wherein you have to specify the drive and folder path, the
Google tool can return the results instantaneously without specifying any drive or folder path.
When you want to search for a mail in your Outlook application, the Google search returns results
faster when compared to the search results of Outlook itself.
Text snippets are displayed on the result page. Hence, you get an idea about the result without
actually opening the document.
You can use it on GMAIL and can even read your old GMAIL mails when you are offline.
Disadvantages of Google Desktop
Unfortunately, there a few disadvantages as well. Though they do not outweigh the advantages in

3. any measure, you need to consider them before deciding if the tool serves your requirements.
Password protected files are indexed unless explicitly turned off.
Without any plug-ins and modifications, the tool does not index .tmp, .temp, .obj, .pst and .dat files.
The folders that are not indexed are the System Root Folder, Recycle Bin, Local App Data and
Templates.
Zip files cannot be indexed either. This is on my wish list and I hope that Google implements this in
the future.
Only 10 results at a time are displayed.
Keeping up with Google is like chasing a mirage...you move forward but you can not really get
there...it is a never-ending journey. Keep updating the Google Desktop Search Tool installed on your
machine with every release and maybe, just maybe, the mirage will appear a little closer.