partially reinstating the search function
 

I think, if it's at all possible, that the search function should be re-enabled, but not in full. I think that you should only be able to use it to search for your own user-name, and that's it. Just cos searching for your username is a pretty useful thing. It wouldn't be automatic though, because that would take up just as much (if more) bandwidth than before. There would be a page when a user clicked on the search link that would say. "Search has temporarily been disabled, except to search for your own username." then there would be a button you could click to do just that.

*shrug* never hurts to suggest.

Seconded!
I agree with the need for killing some things though, but this would strike me as very useful. I often search foir myself to pick up those posts that have got l;ost in the midsts of time and I have forgotton I was participating in.

Try using the filters at the bottom of all the post titles. They've helped me when I was looking for things. You can filter by your username.

filters?

seconded. filters?

Each individual search taxes the server the same as any other. If you run a search, it will slow down the whole site until it's complete. Just wait until the main server is back up.

I don't mean the search field boxes at the bottom, but the
"Showing threads 1 to 40 of 245, sorted by ... " option. That has worked for me when I have looked for threads. Of course, you need to know some details of what you are looking for (ie I've found threads by sorting by ascending thread title). It has worked for me a couple of times and caused a headache as well - I was looking for information on the Disc Read Error on the Playstation2 and the topic information could be under PS2, Playstation, Disc Read Error, DRE, or just vaguely Problem.
I'm not saying that you'll find everything that you look for, but it has helped me out some times. :)

wow djp... I never even realized those were there

thanks!

Don't worry, we should have the server back up within a week if everythign goes smoothly.