Searching your workstation

People use Google and Yahoo for searching the Internet and the WWW, but what about the ultimate 'pool' of knowledge - your PC/laptop and any network shares you connect to? Windows built-in search tools are a joke, and I've already mentioned Lookout for Outlook (which also can search your drives for some file types), here is a tool for everything on your PC - Copernic Desktop Search one of a cadre of new tools. Other candidates in this area are Google's deskbar, the MSN Search Toolbar and Yahoo's entry. I like the Copernic offering best due to its broad range of files indexed and greater privacy control it gives to the end-user (vs. Google or Microsoft's tool). One advantage that MS's tool has over the others is its ability to OCR any TIF files it finds on your machine (assuming you have MS Office installed on your workstation). Try them, use the one that best suits your need. Because when you're in a rush - and you need that file and know that its on your machine somewhere - one of these tools could be your saviour.