Microsoft Corp. today introduced the final version of its Desktop Search Toolbar, a program that will let users search the Internet as well as their hard drives in order to retrieve files spanned online and locally.

Microsoft will compete against Google and Yahoo with its search toolbar.

The company’s MSN Desktop Search Toolbar will let users search from within applications like Internet Explorer and Outlook Express for faster information retrieval for e-mail and information on the web. Microsoft also said due to its free enhancements for Windows 2000 and XP, the toolbar will retrieve videos, e-mails, documents and other files quickly and efficiently.

"Users can now search their PC as fast as they can search the web," said Yusuf Mehdi, Senior Vice-President, MSN Information Services and Merchant Platform Division, Microsoft. "The new MSN Search toolbar makes it easy for customers to find precisely what they're looking for, no matter where it resides," he continued.

Microsoft said the recent version of designed and featured for all users, but the company hopes to have an independent corporate search toolbar in beta by the end of this year.