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Improve computer performance: Disable indexing service in Windows XP

 

There are many methods that you can do to improve Windows XP, to make it move faster and in the same time to save more resources regarding your CPU ( computer processor ) and RAM ( computer memory ) and we are going to talk here about the indexing service in Windows XP. In my opinion it is an unnecessary service that can be stopped without affecting system stability or anything like this. However if you are using a lot the search function of Windows XP I would recommend you to leave it and forget about this article. The indexing service will help you to find your files faster when you're searching them on your computer.

 

If you decided and want to disable it ( don't worry you can enable it back in the same way that you are going to disable it ) I am going to show you, step by step how can we do this. First of all, click on the START button, go to Settings and choose Control Panel, exactly like in the picture below :

 

Access Control Panel in Windows XP Professional

 

This is how I am accessing Control Panel in my Windows XP, yours might look different but you can try to look for Control Panel and click on it, it will open the same window like in the picture below :

 

This is how Control Panel looks on Windows XP in Category View

 

If your window looks different than this, don't worry, look up on the left side - right under the Control Panel for : "Switch to Category View" and click on it and you should see the same picture. Now, click on "Performance and Maintenance" and a new window should appear like in the next picture :

 

Performance and Maintenance window in Windows XP

 

Now click on "Administrative Tools" and you should see a new window like in the following picture, look for "Services" icon :

 

This is the Administrative Tools window in Windows XP

 

Make sure to click on "Services" icon and you should see a new window like in this picture, make sure to resize it, make it larger so that you can view "Indexing Service".

 

Services window in Windows XP

 

Now, we need to locate as I said the "Indexing Service", resize this window to make it larger and scroll down a little to see "Indexing Service" or you can press the "i" letter on your keyboard and it will take you directly to the "Indexing Service". Once found please do a "right-click" with your mouse on it, like in the next picture :

 

To stop the Indexing Services do a right click with your mouse and click on STOP. The service will be stopped

 

That's it, you have stoped the "Indexing Service" on your computer running Windows XP and you can always start it when you need it by performing the same steps like we did when we wanted to stop it.