While this hint will allow you to disable spotlight, it will not remove everything related to spotlight entirely. When new files are created, they have metadata associated with them (in theory anyway...) which is stored in extended attributes. These will remain on your HD and they are attached to specific files, not a global index.

Also, realize that disabling spotlight will also disable spotlight searching in ANY application that uses spotlight for its search engine. That means system prefs, mail, and a host of 3rd party applications will no longer be able to search.

In general, Apple is right on with spotlight searching. Even if you are not sure you will use it you should keep it around. It may turn out to be more useful than you think.

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Concentrate on the Solution, not the Problem

I absolutely agree with your statement(s).

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Regards... Barry Sharp

I turned off Spotlight by editing its line in /private/etc/hostconfig, and restarted.

I am still able to use the search field in the System Preferences toolbar. I searched for and found "wallpaper." I think this should lay to rest whether or not this feature is Spotlight-based in Tiger, as there is some confusion about it (I think it we demoed along with Spotlight in a keynote address).