prior to "upgrading" windows 7 I used a Microsoft add in to index my network drives, but it its not compatible with the windows 64 bit OS. Are there plans to update this add on or another way to index my NAS files on my local PC? The device runs linux on the backend so I cannot install anything on the server. The existing add on is located below: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/918996

Are you using Windows 7? We do not need to install it in Windows 7 clients. If you would like to index a network location, please configure it as available offline. Understanding offline filesArthur Xie - MSFT

The NAS in NOT a windows box and doesn't support windows search (this box predates MS offering a home NAS). The old addin in was perfect. I don't know why MS doesn't have this for windows 64 bit, it's obviously a needed component since they did write this. offline files won't work as they are not available and do not function (as referenced in the technet article below). The option isn't there, even sync center isn't available. Why is 64 bit worse than 32 bit in so many ways? I thought that other than the memory addressed and the number of bits it can manipyulate at once it would be the same. What I really need is a 64 bit version of that add in, are there any other solutions or is there anyone at MS I can talk to about this? Offline files not in win 7- http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en/w7network/thread/05317813-088b-457f-a368-275bd92de40f

Since your system is Windows 7 Home premium, you may try the method in the following thread to index the network drive. How do I get windows 7 to Index a network mapped drive?Arthur Xie - MSFT

The symbolic link *seems* to have worked, but I don't see a way to force the indexing and how can I validate it worked, just the speed of the searches (and thank you very much for the response)?

Be aware that indexing server shares can gobble up disk space like mad. Vote if answered or helpful, I am running for Office (joke)! IT/Developer, Windows/Linux/Mainframe Need a CPU to finish the new server, AM2/AM2+/AM3

Thanks for the warning, but my desktop has almost as much space as my NAS server :) Thanks everyone for the help.