How to improve database searhing performance?

Hi, I am using compact framework 1.1 and SQL CE database for my mobile application. My database has a total of 160000 rows of records and whenever i do a query searching, it will take about 20 seconds to look through the whole database if the record does not exist. Is there any method to improve the searching performance? i am using data reader for the query.

Thanks.

If you are using SQL statements now, consider using Seek/SetRange using an index. More information at http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlserverce.sqlcedatareader.seek.aspx