Windows 8 disable network locations from search

Using webdrive to mount external SSH/SFTP points, whenever I do a search using File Explorer / Search on Computer, explorer starts to scan these drives as well. Since I have a full ubuntu server mounted as a drive, this results in the whole server's content being downloaded, for a single search.

This is clearly suboptimal.

Tried already:

• Right click / properties on the webdrive does not offer the usual "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed"
• Search index does not lists the webdrives, and windows in fact does not indexes these locations -it's only file explorer, which rampages through the server
• Even disconnecting the webdrive results in re-mounting it automatically.

In what ways can I not have File Explorer not touch any network locations, ever?

Many thanks!

Solution 1:

Disable search on network drive when doing full computer search

I don't have answer to that. So far I don't see such option.

Disable indexing

In theory, indexing enable search to return result faster. Disable indexing on those drive potentially make the search on them slower. However, not sure how effective indexing is on network drive.

Search without touching network drive

1. Workaround - Search Specific Drive

   It is possible to do that and not complicated.

   1. Open File Explorer
   2. On left panel, expend Computer, select any drive below it (DO NOT select in the right panel)
   3. Enter search term in search box and start searching
   4. File Explorer will only perform search on the selected drive

   For example, if C: drive is selected, then only C: drive will be searched.

   If there are more than one local drive and you want to search all of them, it become multi-step process.

2. Workaround - Library Folder

   1. Open File Explorer
   2. On left panel, right click on Libraries, select New, select Library
   3. Rename the New Library to Local Drives (or anything you like)
   4. Right click on library Local Drives, select Properties
   5. In Prperties windows, click Add... and add all local drives into the library

   Whenever you need to search all local drives, select Local Drives under Libraries on the left panel (again, NOT the right panel), enter search item. It will search only drives added in Local Drives.