Instant Search

Another Windows Vista feature is integrated search. The integrated search features allow you to quickly find any kind of information you have stored on your computer, whether it's a text document, picture, email, video, or other content type. Search is also integrated into the Start menu, allowing you to launch programs via search instead of having to hunt through nested folders to find the program you want to use.

When you search your computer for files, you can see simple search results within seconds, limit your search results to a certain kind of file, and view emails and other kinds of content in the search window without having to launch another program. You can also use metadata to tag music, videos, and pictures, making it easy to find content that isn't text based.

If there are searches you might perform often, you can save searches and your search will be executed when you open the search folder. Live icons show you what's in your files before opening them, making it a snap to find the right file.

Learn more about the integrated search features of Windows Vista or learn how to use them in the following tutorials:

• Search for files using Windows Explorer
• Start a program using search
• Search for files from the Vista Start menu