Windows Desktop Search Appears Suddenly for Some

Numerous reports are rolling in about the abrupt arrival of a new search bar on Windows XP machines, located right next to the system tray and reading "Search Desktop." Surprise! You've got Windows Desktop Search, the XP version of Vista's integrated search system.

Windows Desktop Search 3.01 (or just WDS) is available as an optional update from the standard Microsoft Update system (click Custom to get it). With WDS installed, you'll find a not-bad system to search for data files on your PC, indexed in real time the way X1 and Google Desktop do, and without the agonizing wait that XP's normal search system requires. Just punch in a key phrase and you'll be given a short list (see screenshot) of most relevant documents and emails on your computer containing that phrase. Click "more" and a detailed list will pop up, with more information, including a (crude) preview of each item you click on.

Frankly, X1 is better than WDS, but X1 is also prone to crashing. If you have trouble with it, you might give WDS a try instead. (Be advised, though, WDS takes a more aggressive approach to indexing. A typical search on two identical PCs will return 1.5 to 3 times as many results under WDS as it does under X1.)

Today, fingers are pointing at Microsoft, though, with some claiming that WDS was installed without permission. This isn't a trivial matter, because WDS, like all desktop search apps, uses system resources like disk space and can substantially slow down your PC. Since many business computers run on low-end hardware, this performance drag can be substantial. For its part, Microsoft denies it is pushing WDS without permission, saying that it was only installed if administrators previously approved it. Confusion and misunderstandings reign, but the damage has already been done.

If you find yourself with WDS installed and decide you don't want it, it can be easily removed. Just look under the Add or Remove Programs control panel and select Windows Desktop Search 3.01 from the list.