Change location of Google Desktop Search index files.
We talked about Finder earlier. Google Desktop is a great tool for keeping a comprehensive index of your desktop. So comprehensive that it create GBs of index file on your precious C: drive. As you know, keeping your C: drive full is sure way for a dead slow machine. We have always wondered why Google have not given an option to set the location for the index files. But there is a way to change the location of the bloaty search index files.
- By default the index is stored in:
C:\Documents and Settings\USERNAME\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Google Desktop Search
where USERNAME is your username on the computer. Local Settings is a hidden folder, you’ll have
unhide it. If you are unsure how to unhide a file or directory read this . - Make sure you exit the Google Desktop Search application before proceeding.
- Now, drag the WHOLE folder titled "Google Desktop Search" to a new drive or partition with lots of space. Lets say "D" so now your search files will be in the folder "D:\Google Desktop Search"
- Next, click Start – Run – type regedit. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Desktop
- change the value of data_dir to D:\Google Desktop Search.
- Exit out of regedit and restart the Google Desktop search.
- You’re done and your search index in now moved.
Technorati Tags: Google Desktop Search
Hey ..Nice tip, Hope it works..
I have been struggling with my office C: drive space issues , especially they installed SP3 last month..
I can hardly defragment efficiently.
I always wanted to move large file and other program files to D drive.
Is there any other trick to save space in Drive C
Now onwards M installing new programs in D.
I have already mobve mY documents folder to d
Neil
September 8, 2008 at 10:17 pm
It’s inacurate, you have to supply registry with the exact folder, where the files are located, should look like D:\Google Desktop\8acdfg6jsgsf77 or something similar.
Ren
January 13, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Running WinXP-SP3
Saved GoogleDesktop.exe on my D: (not my C:).
Executed GoogleDesktop.exe from D: creates: D:\Google Desktop Search\1abcd23ef456g7hi folders (& sub-folders).
Once Google Desktop was indexing, I did Start>Run>regedit — HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Desktop Search was already pointed to D:\Google Desktop Search
UnBounded
January 21, 2009 at 12:40 pm
Any recommendation for best way to do this on Vista?
Chris
June 1, 2009 at 2:18 pm
In Vista, just go to the registry key listed above (HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Google Desktop) and that will show you where your files are located. Mine was at C:\Users\Jeff\AppData\Local\Google\ Google Desktop\334faf690fd7\
Hope this helps.
Jeff
July 19, 2009 at 6:55 pm
It appears google modified the regedit keys. I can’t find a key called “data_dir”. I only see install_dir which points to the program files and exe. Any help?
(I running XP)
Eric
December 3, 2009 at 12:00 am
I found a better solution. Use the google “TweakGDS” plug-in to move the location of the index. It has some other nice features too: http://www.desktop.google.com/plugins/i/tweakgds.html?hl=en
Eric
December 3, 2009 at 12:11 am