Microsoft Windows Search 4.0

Microsoft released the latest version of Windows Search on June 3, 2008. When installed on Vista Service Pack (SP) 1 systems, Windows Search 4.0 updates and replaces the existing search files. On Windows XP and Windows Server 2003, Windows Search extends the existing search functionality.

According to company officials, among the new features added to Windows Search 4.0:

• Faster querying and indexing (”how much faster depends on the machine and the data,” according to company officials)
• Improved reliability (”system failures won’t get in the way of the indexer and all data will be scanned and available for searches,” according to a spokesperson)
• Broader PC-to-PC searches (a k a “Remote index discovery”)
• More Group Policy controls over aspects of search functionality

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