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Howto enable Windows Search Service in Windows Server 2008

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I found that the Windows Search Service in Windows Server 2008 is a bit hard to discover. The Windows Search Service is actually burried as a Role Service under the File Services Role.

 These are the steps to add and enable the Windows Search Service in Windows Server 2008:

1) Start Server Manager

2) Click on Roles in the left navigation pane

3) Select Add Role in the Roles Summary pane to the right

4) Select the File Services role and click Next

5) Select the Windows Search role service

Finish the wizard and now you should have the Windows Search service up and running.

Comments

  • Anonymous
    January 06, 2008
    PingBack from http://bradmarsh.wordpress.com/2008/01/07/2008-server-where-is-indexing-service/

  • Anonymous
    January 07, 2008
    Since I do all of my development work using virtual machines, I have been very interested in the new

  • Anonymous
    January 08, 2008
    Since I do all of my development work using virtual machines, I have been very interested in the new...

  • Anonymous
    February 14, 2008
    Following on my previous posting about setting up Win2k8 on my laptop, I realised that I cannot do Instant

  • Anonymous
    February 23, 2009
    awesome, was looking to turn this on, didn't think to goto file services.  thanks!

  • Anonymous
    September 05, 2010
    Very helpful as it's really hard to find it.

  • Anonymous
    April 07, 2011
    great, very helpful! I already have File Services role, so I just added the role service.

  • Anonymous
    July 23, 2011
    If the File Services role is already installed, go to Roles in the Server Manager, and under Roles go to FIle Services. Click on Add Role Services and select Windows Search Service and click next, select drives to index.Takes a few miinutes to install.

  • Anonymous
    October 25, 2011
    Thank you for posting this - saved a lot of time!

  • Anonymous
    October 02, 2012
    Thank you.. the same applicable for Window 2012 as well...

  • Anonymous
    October 10, 2012
    Thank you. It's very helpful.

  • Anonymous
    February 27, 2013
    Carefull!!! Indexing a large number of files can create a large .edb file. Pay attention to the size of this file or it will consume disk space. If you VM is think provisioned, it will expand until it hits the hard cap.

  • Anonymous
    July 13, 2013
    Indeed helpful, not in the least through Eric Schrader's addition. Thanx.

  • Anonymous
    August 05, 2013
    Thanks for the info. Saved me much time seaching for it. I wouldnt have thought to install it as a role. Cheers

  • Anonymous
    September 18, 2013
    I was looking all over in there. Thank you!

  • Anonymous
    November 18, 2013
    Server 2008 r2

Service Manager, Roles, Add Roles, Server Roles, File Services,  Role Services, Windows Search Service, next, next, Install Control Panel, All Control Panel Items, Indexing Options, Advanced, File Types,  Check/Add your file types and select Index Properties and File Contents    (Note: it doesn't matter if the folder is actualy indexed or not) File manager, Organize, Folder and search options, Search,  Always search file names and contents  Find partial matches (Note: still needs start of word)    Ex: to find BindForm, bInDfO works, indForm fails

  • Anonymous
    June 25, 2015
    Many thanks for your post. I have the service installed, just added the role service.

  • Anonymous
    November 16, 2015
    Is it same for Win2012? If not, Any useful links to install the same on Windows Server 2012?