Vista: Rebuilding the Search Index
Contributed by Rob Rogers 
Tagged: Microsoft Vista If you start to notice that your index becomes sluggish in performance or even stops working, you can rebuild the index and regain the performance you seek. To rebuild the search index…
1. Go to the Control Panel.
2. Select System and Maintenance.
3. Select Indexing Options.
4. Click the Advanced button.
5. When the UAC prompt appears, click Continue.
6. Under the Troubleshooting section, click the Rebuild button.
7. Click OK when the confirmation box appears.
8. Click the Close button to close the Index Options window.
It will take a little time for your system to rebuild the index, Search will not function until the rebuild is complete.
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Anonymous said on September 28, 2009
Yours is the most meaningful hit that came up on my websearch when I was trying to find out what to do when your Index WON’T rebuild.
– Windows Explorer searches are slow, and even small folders never get beyond 95-99%. (Is that green ‘progress’ indication in the addres bar therefore a sham animation, not an actual measure?)
– When I try instructing it to Rebuild its Index, it immediately hangs up (and stays hung for > 1 hr), not admitting to being Not Responding, but not going away for anything less than an End Task.
Anyone there up for the challenge? :-)
Thanks in advance
–Os.
Craig James said on April 12, 2010
Step 2 in these instructions is incorrect. There is no “System and Maintenance”. There is “Indexing”.
Go there and then continue to following the instructions.