File search slow in XP
 

Indexing is only useful if you are a server or have simply
thousands and thousands of files as well as hundreds of MB
of stuff. I would hazard a guess that you have done
something like compress your drive to save space. The
search must then open and uncompress and then recompress
to close. A simple explanation of what really happens but
details would be useless. Always keep your system defraged
and an occassionall check disk wouldn't hurt either. Or
error checking if you prefer that term. I have mine set to
scan everything including hidden files and folders. System
files and even sub folders and it's still lightening fast.
Good luck.