Calling Agent Ransack

So about 45 seconds on my system after initiating my search for files containing the string "hosts," Vista found three files: HOSTS in the usual location (C:\windows\system32\drivers\etc), a backup copy of HOSTS in c:\windows\winsxs\backup, and the file (get ready) X86_MICROSOFT-WINDOWS-W..NFRASTRUCTURE-OTHER_31BF3856AD364E35_6.0.6000.16386_NONE_024E4071FA6FEA95_HOSTS_D78DF635, in c:\windows\winsxs. Now it's time to perform a little experiment.

I recently learned of a program named FileLocator Pro, apparently masterminded by a gentleman named David Vest (http://www.mythicsoft.com/, based in Oxford, UK). The freeware version of this tool, the charmingly named "Agent Ransack," had been recommended to me as a superior alternative to XP's search facility, which suggested that it might just be vastly superior to Vista's search facility. So I installed it and decided to perform the same search as I had just done on Vista.

The process was far easier in Agent Ransack. Run the program, type "HOSTS" in the "File name:" field, click "C:\" in the "Look in:" field, and click "Start Search." Microsoft, are you paying attention? This is how easy a search engine should be. Of course there were other options that were available immediately in the search window: size options, modification date, contents search, whether to include subfolders, and so forth. But there was no need to jump through hoops to display these options, nor was there any need to begin a faux search just to be able to see the menu choices necessary. As far as ergonomics go, this little freeward tool has it all over Windows Vista, despite its utilitarian demeanor and lack of gleaming green progress bars. But how about performance?

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• Microsoft
• Windows Server
• Windows Vista