Uninstall Microsoft Desktop Search When Nothing Else Works

This resource hog is almost absolutely impossible to uninstall. I have tried every possible way that I have found on the Internet and none of them worked. I have gone through my registry and deleted all references to Microsoft Desktop Search. It just keeps running like the Eveready Bunny. It is an invader that will not go away.

So, anyhow, this is how I got rid of it, FINALLY!

I had to install the free version of the Unlocker program which you can find on the Internet by searching for "Unlocker download."

Install it on your computer. Then, find the "searchindexer.exe" file on your C: drive. Right click on it and try to delete it. You won't be able to do it. You will be prompted by Unlocker to delete it at the next reboot. Choose that and after the next reboot, the damned *&%$#@ file will be gone and you can delete the huge data files that it makes in your "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Search\" folder.

 

Now, go get the free Copernic Desktop Search and install it. You can tell it where to create its data files so you don't fill up your C: drive. And, you can actually uninstall it.