Disable the Indexing Service on Windows XP

Posted on February 23rd, 2008 by Jason

If there is one bloated and unnecessary service that you should immediately disable, it’s definitely the Indexing Service built into Windows XP. The idea behind the Indexing Service is that you can search for files more quickly if it is enabled. The indexing service uses a lot of CPU cycles and RAM, which slows down applications you use on a daily basis. Assuming you spend more time using applications more than you spend searching for files, chances are you’ll benefit a lot by disabling the Indexing Service.

To disable the Indexing Service go to Start –> Administrative Tools –> Services. You can see the Status says “Started,” and the Startup Type says “Automatic.”

Next either double-click on Indexing Service, or right-click it and choose Properties. In Startup type select Disabled. Also click the Stop button, then click OK. Now you should see the Status as blank, and the Startup Type should say “Disabled.”

Now reboot your machine to allow the RAM to clear out. You’ve just made one big step towards getting more performance without spending a dime.

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