Windows 7
Default Description
Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
Additional Information
This service is not installed by default and should not be installed on a “home” system as Windows Search has taken over the duties of this service. You can add or remove this service by heading to:
- Head to Start
- Select Control Panel
- Select Programs
- Select Programs and Features
- Select Turn Windows Features on or off
- Check or Uncheck Indexing Service
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 7 Starter | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Windows 7 Home Basic | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Windows 7 Home Premium | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Windows 7 Professional | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Windows 7 Ultimate | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Windows 7 Enterprise | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): CISVC
Display Name: Indexing Service
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\CISVC.EXE
Log On As
Account: Local System account
Dependencies
What service Indexing Service needs to function properly:
-
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
- DCOM Server Process Launcher (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
- RPC Endpoint Mapper (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
What other service require Indexing Service to function properly:
- None (S, HB, HP, P, U, E)
Windows Vista
Default Description
Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
Additional Information
Not installed by default, but if needed, you may install it later off the Windows Vista CD/DVD under Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off > Check “Indexing Service”.
This service is provided only for backward compatibility and its functions are not needed as the Windows Search service performes the same duties.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista Home Basic | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Vista Home Premium | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Vista Business | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Vista Ultimate | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
| Vista Enterprise | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) | Not Installed (Automatic, Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): CISVC
Display Name: Indexing Service
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\Windows\system32\CISVC.EXE
Log On As
Account: Local System Account
Dependencies
What service Indexing Service needs to function properly:
-
Remote Procedure Call (RPC) (HB, HP, B, U)
- DCOM Server Process Launcher (HB, HP, B, U)
What other service require Indexing Service to function properly:
- None (HB, HP, B, U)
Windows XP Pro x64
Default Description
Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
Additional Information
This service always has been a major resource hog. Remove the function via the Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components > Uncheck “Indexing Service”. It uses about 500K to 2MB in an idle state, not to mention the amount of memory and CPU resources it takes to index the drives. I have had people (and witnessed it on other people’s computers) report to me that the Indexing Service sometimes starts up even while the system is not idle… as in the middle of a game. You may feel, as I do, that this is unacceptable. If your computer suddenly seems “sluggish,” Indexing Service is usually the cause of it.
As a side note, I “rarely” actually use the search function of Windows, so if that is an important feature for you, Indexing service will be valuable to you. It, however, for me is useless as I might search for a file name once a week, if that.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| XP Pro x64 | ? | ? | Manual |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): cisvc
Display Name: Indexing Service
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
Log On As
Account: Local System Account
Dependencies
What service Indexing Service needs to function properly:
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC)
What other service require Indexing Service to function properly:
- None
Windows XP
Default Description
Indexes contents and properties of files on local and remote computers; provides rapid access to files through flexible querying language.
Additional Information
This service always has been a major resource hog. I never recommend having this service enabled. Remove the function via the Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Add/Remove Windows Components > Uncheck “Indexing Service”. It uses about 500K to 2MB in an idle state, not to mention the amount of memory and CPU resources it takes to index the drives. I have had people (and witnessed it on other people’s computers) report to me that the Indexing Service sometimes starts up even while the system is not idle… as in the middle of a game. You may feel, as I do, that this is unacceptable. If your computer suddenly seems “sluggish,” Indexing Service is usually the cause of it.
As a side note, I “rarely” actually use the search function of Windows, so if that is an important feature for you, Indexing service will be valuable to you. It, however, for me is useless as I might search for a file name once a week, if that.
Default Startup Type
| OS | SP0 | SP1 | SP2 | SP3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XP Home | ? | ? | Manual | Automatic (Started) |
| XP MCE 2005 | ? | ? | Manual | Automatic (Started) |
| XP Pro | ? | ? | Manual | Automatic (Started) |
| XP Tablet PC 2005 | ? | ? | Manual | Automatic (Started) |
Service Names
Service Name (registry): cisvc
Display Name: Indexing Service
Default Path and Command Line Options
C:\WINDOWS\system32\cisvc.exe
Log On As
Account: Local System Account
Dependencies
What service Indexing Service needs to function properly:
- Remote Procedure Call (RPC) (H, M, P, T)
What other service require Indexing Service to function properly:
- None (H, M, P, T)
Additional Reading
None at this time.