Exclude System Files?

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IsJohnDoe
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2025 1:35 am

Exclude System Files?

Post by IsJohnDoe »

Could you add to the manual what folders are excluded when checking the "Exclude System Files" box please.

I have no idea what it's excluding. I've added to the exclude folders: windows/temp, windows/prefetch, and users/(me)/appdata. I think there is other areas with tons of system files that don't need to be indexed, but don't remember them right now.

Do I have to add a slash to the end of the path name to tell Everything to exlude the subfolders too?
therube
Posts: 5711
Joined: Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:48 pm

Re: Exclude System Files?

Post by therube »

This does not exclude "system" files (per se),
but rather files that have the System attribute attached to them.

You can see what files would be excluded by searching for files with the System attribute set,
attrib:s
.
(Might take a little time as it is not likely indexed.)

Now, said files may end up being what one might consider "system files", but they need not necessarily be so.
void
Developer
Posts: 19839
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2009 11:31 pm

Re: Exclude System Files?

Post by void »

The tooltip is pretty clear:

Exclude files and folders with the system file attribute from the database.



Windows sets this attribute on a few folders. (eg:
C:\System Volume Information
and
C:\$RECYCLE.BIN
)
C:\Windows
does not have the system attribute.

Trailing slashes should not be added.
subfolders are always excluded.

Excluding files/folders from your Index
IsJohnDoe
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2025 1:35 am

Re: Exclude System Files?

Post by IsJohnDoe »

I forgot there was a tooltip, my fault.
After reviewing C:\Windows I can safely exclude the entire thing.
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