Resources For Alumni
Alumni Ask a Librarian - Google Desktop Search Installation
Google Desktop Search is a free downloadable application that allows you to search your files, music and other media, email, chats, and viewed webpages. Google Desktop Search runs on computers using Windows 2000 (Service Pack 3 or above) or Windows XP, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or above or Mozilla Firefox. It requires 1 gigabyte (Gb) of space available on your hard drive. For best performance, Google recommends at least 128 Mb RAM and a 400MHz or faster Pentium processor.
Our AOL instant messaging reference service works with the Google Desktop, which captures and indexes AOL IM chat sessions as well as email, Microsoft Office documents, and pdfs. If you do not already have the Google Desktop installed on your computer, follow the instructions below to Download and Install the necessary software.
To download the Google Desktop:
- Go to the Google Desktop (http://desktop.google.com/) web site.
- Click on the light blue Agree and Download button.
- A dialog box will open and ask you where to save the Google Desktop. We suggest that you save it to your Desktop (although you may choose any directory you wish). Google will now download the software to your computer.
- Congratulations! You have downloaded the Google Desktop.
Now you must install it.
To install the Google Desktop:
- Go to the directory where you saved the Google Desktop (probably on your Desktop). Double-click on the installation file (GoogleDesktopSearchSetup.exe). This will initiate an Installation Wizard.
- Read the information provided at each step, then click the "Yes" or "Next" button.
- Congratulations! You have installed the Google Desktop. The Google Desktop window should now appear.