CNET'S QUICK GUIDE: Windows Vista's new file system

Search

Within Windows Vista, Search is an omnipresent feature, available in a number of locations, except the desktop itself. Available within most applications, Search eliminates the need to think in terms of file structure. Files located from a variety of sources quickly become accessible.

The handiest use of Windows Vista Instant Search occurs within the Start menu; use search to find common applications. For example, type ex, and you'll see a wide variety of options; as you continue to type explor, and you'll see the list winnow down to only those few applications with the word explorer within them. This eliminates the need to remember that Windows Explorer lives in the Accessories folder of the Start menu. The Start menu still exists--except in Windows Vista it expands and collapses as needed within a hierarchical outline instead of expanding in nested menus across your desktop--but it becomes less necessary with Search.

The brains behind Windows Vista Instant Search is its extensive index. The Indexing Options program allows you to limit the index to filenames (the default setting) or to include file contents. With administrator permissions, you can also index encrypted files, treat similar words as different words, and even filter or add file types to the index.

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