Dear Sirs,
I have a dual-boot system using Ubuntu 9.4? (the latest upgrade)and Windows XP SP3.

Intel Pentium 4
2 GB RAM
1 terabit SATA HD
125GB Linux Programs, 125 GB Windows Programs, the rest 1/2 for
Linux data & 1/2 for Windows Data.
2 Transcend StoreJet 25 USB external HD; 1 for Linux data, 1 for XP data

I am looking for a desktop search program and have read as much as I could on it. However, I don't seem to be able to get certain information. Currently, it appears that Copernic or X1 is very good. I used to have Copernic and liked it very much. I did happen upon the list of files it can search, but somehow, I can't find that link again. I have a totally different set of search issues now and consequently, I have other questions that are now of import to me and will probably change my selection. I wonder if you can tell me how to access this information? My questions are:

1. How to find the listing of types of files searched for whatever program looks good.
2. I also prefer the 'preview' that Copernic gives so I don't have to open every file.
3. Since my computer is now both Linux and Windows XP, I need to know if the program will search files in either directory in whatever location.
4. Does it make sense to purchase a Linux version because Linux can see Windows files, but Windows can't see files on a Linux drive?
5. How do I find out if it can search not only the NTFS files of XP, but the ext3 files of Linux and the FAT32 files of the Transcend StoreJet 25 drives?
6. How do I ensure that the software searches content - not just megadata? I rarely put in searchable megadata in my regular documents.
7. Will it be able to search either Gmail or Thunderbird emails - or both?

If there is some other Help location that can answer these questions, can you give me a link to it?
I have no objections to paying for what I need, but I truly need an all-encompassing search program. I am thinking that it would be better to integrate the Linux and XP data, so that a search will be easier. I am going to post another entry asking how to create a GNOME window with one side Linux and another XP, as I used to have, which enables me to easily transfer files from Linux to the XP side.


Thank you,

I think it would be much easier, if you saved your data when using Linux in the XP partition. Since the saved file characteristics remains the same (.doc, or .eml or .jpg etc) you need not worry about which filesystem it is in. Then you can use Copernicus as usual. But, you will need to be in XP for searching ( but that issue would arise irrespective...)

First issue is accessing partitions ("drives") from other OS.

a) For Linux there is fuse-ntfs-3g package (I think it is in rpmforge repository. Your technician will have to install it and set mount points for windows partitions. He can do it in such a manner that windows partition/files are in subfolder of your Linux documents folder or anywhere you wish it to be.

b1) For Windows, there is Freeware Ext3 (linux partitions) driver on http://www.fs-driver.org/, or http://www.ext2fsd.com/?page_id=2. It will give you access to your Linux partitions/directories/files. Then you will be able to access Linux files from Windows like all your other files, and any Search tool on Windows will be able to access and search them.

b2) If your Linux is using LVM, you will have to use Windows program from this site. You will be able to access your Linux files only from that program, but should be able to edit and search them (searching only from that program).

For a) and b1), any search tool for that OS will fork for both Linux and Windows files. For b2) you will be able to search Linux files only within given program.

On linux I use file manager called Krusader, and on Windows Total Commander. They give me great file manipulation and excellent file search capability.

That also needs NTFS support for Linux, not available on all Linux distro's by default.

And try Opera for Linux: http://www.opera.com/browser/download/,

Well, I am not sure what you said, so I am going to email this to my computer man, Luis. There are times that my brain simply cannot make logical connections, and this is one of them. I didn't want you to think I am ignoring you, however!
Thank you,
Julia

Julia. You could also try to install google desktop search in linux (there's a native linux version).

Thank you for the various answers. It seems that it might be best for me to do the following:
1) Ask my technician to set me up with the Freeware ext3 at http://www.fs-driver.org, so that Windows can access my Linux files. I will take a look at this, but I really don't know anything other than what a regular computer user knows.
2) Get Opera available for Linux, as suggested, at http://www.opera.com/browser/download. Perhaps Luis could install that in a way that allows me to be working with only the one Opera so that all the bookmarks are in one place?
2) Then install the Desktop Search program in Windows.
3) From what I am seeing, it seems like I would probably be working in Windows most of the time, because Linux can't work on Windows files, but Windows has OpenOffice installed and can work on the Linux files.

4) This also brings up the question of using Firefox in Linux and Opera in Windows. This is a problem because I switch into a search on the Internet several times a day as well. I prefer Opera, but don't know how to get my bookmarks from Firefox into Opera. I went into the Opera>Opera6.adr for the bookmarks, but it didn't give me a listing as Windows did for my favorites under IE. I don't know where Firefox has their bookmark information. I still have all the IE favorites links and want to incorporate them into one place.

I recall Luis telling me to be sure to open Thunderbird under WINE in Linux, so that both Linux and Windows share the same information. I don't know how to do that yet, but is it also possible to use the same Opera Browser from Linux?

I wasn't sure what title to give this.

Thank you,
Julia

There are Opera, Firefox and Thunderbird for both Windows and Linux, and as far as I know, there are no big differences (or none at all) concerning users profile locations (respectively).

With Freeware ext3 (and ntfs-3g for NTFS (Windows drives) support for Linux - it works for very large number of people, even on Ubuntu), setting profile locations in one place for both Windows and Linux versions of those programs should be very feasible. Especially Thunderbird, so there is no need to run it under WINE when native version should run just fine.

Both Firefox and Thunderbird have "add-on's", extensions that make your life much easier.
Best for Firefox are "all-in-one sidebar" - creates sidebar on the left just like Opera has, "video downloadhelper" - downloading flash streams (youtube, ...) to your hard disk, "download statusbar" and "Mozila Archive Format" - for saving one or multiple pages in one file along with pictures, java code, etc (just like IE has).
Thunderbird has "Lightning" - Task Organizer (and more) and Firetray (only Linux, but version 0.1.11) and Minimizetotray (only Windows).

Firefox has option of exporting and importing bookmarks from Bookmarks manager, and Opera should (but might not have) the same capability.

My recommendation is to use Linux daily since NTFS support in Linux is MUCH better then ext3 support in Windows, but feel free to choose your own setup.

There's also native OpenOffice for linux. It should be easy enough to install it on ubuntu.

She is aware of that. When she writes "Linux files" she is mostly referring to OpenOffice files.

Thank you for your suggestions. These are not things that I understand, so I just have to wait until the technician can help me.
Thanks everybody,
Julia