Mo-Search 9.48.4

Overview

Mo-Search is a feature-rich file system indexing application that provides an enhanced hard drive search interface in which you can quickly locate specific files and lost data. By providing advanced search options and a plethora of criteria to choose from this program makes it possible to find any file or folder with very little effort.

Installation

With a file size of only 3.5 MB, Mo-Search is surprisingly compact considering the powerful search capabilities it provides. The setup and installation process is relatively straightforward, and there are no third-party toolbars or malicious software attached to the install file. Compatible with the latest versions of Windows, including XP, Vista, Server 2008 and 7.

Interface

The user interface is non-remarkable in that it is similar to that of every other search module, with a list of optional criteria listed below a text box. However, it is this simplicity that makes the software such a joy to use.

Pros

• Search results are automatically sorted and ranked based on relevance in order to help you maximize search productivity

• Capable of searching networked drives - a feature that is not seen in many other free computer search utilities

• Integrated file viewing module conveniently displays previews of file contents so you can examine file contents without having to launch other applications. An EXIF Quickview screen automatically displays EXIF data next to applicable images

• 'Find File Types' feature can help you quickly determine which type of files are consuming the most disk space

• 'Find Duplicate Files' feature lets you automatically locate/delete duplicate files that are wasting disk space unnecessarily

• Can thoroughly search the contents of more than 170 file types, including Microsoft Office documents, all types of web content, programming source code, and even Windows configuration files

• Utilizes proprietary relational database technology and scoring algorithms to automatically list search results in the most relevant and useful order possible

• Lets you use search operator symbols (?*-^) to gain complete control over which type of matches are returned in search results

• Integrated Windows shell functionality lets you access basic file operations (i.e. – Display Properties, Edit, or Print) via right-click context menus

• Indexes your entire computer's file system immediately after installation to facilitate almost instantaneous searches.

Cons

• Can take quite a while to perform a full search, depending on the criteria you've selected and the size of your file system. However, if you perform an initial index and regularly reindex your file system you should notice that search results take less time to return

Alternatives

The two most popular alternatives to Mo-Search are Google Desktop and Index Your Files, both of which provide comparable functionality. Overall, other than aesthetic preference these three software are almost identical in their capabilities.

Conclusion

If you've been having trouble finding a particular file on your hard drive, or would simply like to have more control over the indexing of your file system, Mo-Search provides an advanced search interface that is both easy to use and packed with an extensive number of settings and criteria. This software is a strong option for anyone who has a lot of data on their hard drive and regularly needs to access specific files without conducting time-consuming manual searches.