General information
Depending on the amount of data on your hard disk, Google Desktop needs only a few days to create your new index. This initial indexing process occurs only when your computer is idle, so you may want to leave your computer powered up and idle for an evening or two after you install Google Desktop. Also, please make sure that your email program is open during the initial indexing period to speed up the indexing process. If you use your computer or open various programs on your computer, the indexing process may take longer to complete.
While the index is in progress, the message 'One-time index update in progress' appears on your Google Desktop page. Once your index is complete, it'll disappear from your Google Desktop page, and you can enjoy the full search functionality of Desktop.
Troubleshooting
If your indexing appears to be stalled after a few days, please try the following steps to resolve the problem:
- Install an update for wireless peripherals: If you use wireless peripherals (e.g., mice, keyboards, pen tablets), try installing the update titled Microsoft HID Non-User Input Data Filter (instructions are listed in the 'Resolution' section).
- Close unnecessary programs: Verify that other programs and processes are not interrupting the indexing process. Let Google Desktop index your computer overnight.
- Verify that your computer meets the minimum system requirements: Confirm that you have at least one gigabyte available disk space.
- Create a new index: If you've previously used Google Desktop, your old index may be corrupted. While Google Desktop allows you to keep your index across newer versions, you may want to periodically create a new index. To delete your previous index, uninstall Google Desktop and then delete the following folder in your computer (remember to insert your own username in the path):
C:\Documents and Settings\<user>\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Google Desktop
- Defragment and check your hard disks for errors: Badly fragmented disks take longer to index. Generally, it's a good practice to defragment and check your disk for errors.
If the 'Indexing in progress' message lasts for more than a few days, or if new items aren't added to your index, please contact us. Please include the number of total searchable items in your report. To find this number, click the Index Status link at the bottom of your Google Desktop page, then copy the number of total searchable items on this page.