The new search engine Crawl Rapidshare (via Technospot) tries to raise the bar by providing real time search results that are automatically checked by a script to inform the user if a link is not working anymore. It still makes use of search engines to populate the search results but it does add the real time results and the file checking as added services that makes the Rapidshare service more usable than most other websites that offer a similar one.

The option to check the links has to be enabled by checking the Check Links Validity box beneath the search form. It will slow down the search because every link will be checked first and then listed on the page. The file size of working links will also be displayed next to the name of the file which is another useful information.

Once you click on the bookmark a small form opens waiting for user input. Just enter a search string and all file hosters mentioned in the Javascript will be searched for that string. The script uses advanced Google search parameters to find what you are looking for and you naturally could just use Google for the same results.

The advantage of the bookmarklet is that you just have to click a bookmark to perform the search which means less typing. Please add the following code in one line as a bookmark. Right-click the url and select bookmark this link. You can also copy and paste the code into the address bar to see how it works.

Free File Host Search

The second kind of site tends to be more up to date because they use several sources for finding new Rapidshare files including user submitted ones. I do not like the first kind of sites to search Rapidshare that much because I can enter those parameters by myself into a search engine like Google and get the desired results.

To be able to compare the Rapidshare search engines I have performed searches for the terms “video”, “avi” and “windows”. Finding files is one thing but finding working files on file hosting websites and keeping the file database up to date deleting files that have been removed from the file hosting website properly is another. This has also been born in mind.

I did check three results for each search term, namely the first, fifth and tenth entry to see if the links were not broken.

A basic search engine and site that does nothing more than to offer a search form and a results page.

Video: More than 5000 results. Gave no exact number unfortunately. All three results that I tested were valid and could be downloaded.

Avi: This search revealed more than 5000 results as well. All three results worked fine.

Windows: The search revealed 2096 results, the test downloads were working.

Removed because of Zango Ads on site

Removed as well.

Offers Web and Database search for files hosted on Rapidshare. Offers additional functions that increase the value of this service. Has a Rapidshare link checker for instance and offers keyword email updates.

Video: 1471 links were found in their database for the term video. Passed all three test downloads.

Avi: Not found in their database.

Windows: 2100 links found for the term Windows. All three downloads were working fine.

A basic search engine that seems somewhat slow at this time. You can limit the file size of the files that are displayed in the search results. Users can report broken links.

Video: 500+ results found. All three tests were working.

Avi: 500+ results found. All three tests successful.

Windows: 500+ results found. All three tests successful.

Is not displaying the amount of search results. Search is tag driven and the file size is shown for each file. Is listing dead files as well, wonder what that is good for. Great Speed.

Video: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Avi: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Windows: Does not list the amount of results. Test were fine.

Alternatives:

RapidShare Data
Xoogo

The alternative Rapidshare Search Engines have been added because some of the initial sites have been deleted or added malicious software to their sites.

Searching Rapidshare with Rapidsharing is an alternative. The site lists available downloads from Rapidshare in eight categories including Software, Music and Games. A click on one item leads to a list of all available files in that category. I tried some downloads and all worked well at this time, it could however be that some get deleted eventually and are not accessible as well. Rapidshare seems to host a large amount of files of questionable content to put it this way. The software category contains download links to many full versions, at least that is what the name suggests.

I did not try and download those and they could very well be trojans or viruses instead of the product. The large video and celebrity section contains lot of, well how shall I say it, – adult – videos but also the occasional tv show. I would be very cautious downloading anything that has an executable from Rapidshare, make sure your scanner is up to date before you start unpacking and installing files.

I personally think that Rapidsharing offers a good alternative to Google searching Rapidshare. One should also consider that files uploaded to Rapidshare are supposed to be private. It could very well be that a user uploads a full version of a software that he purchased because he wants to install it on a different computer as well.