Microsoft released a business version of desktop search that aims to help people more quickly find documents, e-mail and other data stored on Windows-based computers.

The free new desktop search product comes after years of complaints over how hard it can be to locate Microsoft Word documents, sort through long email lists and find other data people use during

the workday.

The software will feel similar to Microsoft's consumer offering for searching files on desktop computers. But the product is designed so corporate technology executives can easily install it on many computers simultaneously, and better control how it is used.

The product also will work with products that search corporate networks, including those offered by competitors