Windows 7 search issues

If I try to do a search in any Windows Explorer screen, nothing happens. It does not matter what I am looking for, the driver or the folder. I can type the name of the file or even just use a wildcard like *.mp3 and after pressing enter, nothing happens.

If I try to search from the start button I get no results, but I do get an option to show more results, unlike an explorer windows.

If I hit the show more results option, the following error appears:

Window title is "search:query=*.*"

Error window body is "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the proper permissions to access the item."

I am signed in as the true adminisitration (not some stupid pseudo admin) and UAC is disabled.

Windows search service is automatic and started.
Indexing is on and I have verified that the C: and E: drives are indexed, I can not remove the data; appdata; appdata exclusions from the C:. If you modify either drive, all locations are checked for indexing.

under Advanced Options, I have already rebuilt the index from the troublshooting section and that did not help.

all file types are selected for processing.

I don't even get the option to choose unindexed locations.

I have tried multiple microsoft fixits and all of them say that they are not for my windows version, despite the fact that I have Win7 SP1.

There's a lot more that I have tried but it appears that I have already deleted the files... yeah, that's helpful.

Anyone able to shine some light on this? I can't even search for control panel items while I am in the control panel.

The query can be anything, even a direct file path. I just used the *.* to make the example of the error

Hello jamison. Welcome to the Forum

The first step in trying to fix an error like this is to run System File Checker to find and replace any missing or corrupted system files.

SFC /SCANNOW Command - System File Checker

Just curious if you have done this:

jamison said:

I have no idea what a Windows 98 sound issue has to do with Windows 7 search problems...

It would have nothing to do with Win 7 at all. did someone mention it?

Here is a post by James, check it out. He's left a few links to read, hopefully it will help.
I'm completely stumped jamison.

Hi Jamison. Welcome. :)

This almost sounds like it could be a permissions issue (given that access is denied) rather than a Win 7 Search issue. But before we get into it, we need full disclosure so that we can properly identify what your issue may be.

Have you made any related changes to the system?:

• Have you moved any user folders from their default location (Documents, profile, Program Data, Program Files, etc)?
• Have you changed permissions in any way (including TakeOwnership) on any drives, folders, files, etc.?
• Have you made any changes to search? Any other relevant changes you can think of?

Please don't feel intimidated by the questions, but often, people forget to give information that entirely changes the direction of the solution. If you can think of anything that has been changed, please let us know. It helps us help you, and, inversely, incomplete information hinders the process.

Thanks,
James

Edit:In the interim, one thing you can do is set up another user account (or use an additional existing account). How does search work then?