Windows 7: 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 Windows 7 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

Hi TVeblen

I've ran sfc /scannow before posting and I should have mentioned it, I am sorry for that lack of information.

This had no effect, I've run it again since your posting and still there is no reaction when I search from the toolbar in any window, IE and firefox work fine though.

I still get the same error when clicking on Show more results when searching from the start menu.

I'll try anything short of reloading the PC because it's only the search operation that has a problem.

Thanks!

Just curious if you have done this:

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

Anyhow, Yes, all drives are set to index. I've rebuilt the index as well.

Windows 7 Search also has the ability to allow you to specify that it's to search for non-indexed files, but it doesn't even allow this.

The gist is that if you search within a Window (other than a search in IE or firefox etc) nothing happens at all, it ingores you. If you search in the start menu, it finds nothing and errors out when you tell it to look for more results.

It's almost as if it thinks it's looking in a drive that does not exist. I do not have any other drives than C, D, E and all work fine.

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?

Type Indexing Options in Start Search box. On Advanced tab, select Delete and Rebuild Index.

Make sure the drives and folders you want indexed are what are showing in the window - delete others or add more.

Hello I am having the same problems with windows search. Nothing, literally nothing, shows up when I try to search in either the start menu or the explorer window. With the start menu, clicking "see more results" brings up the same error message.

I hope you've figured out how to handle this, or that someone else can help me.

Do you need to search for file contents??

Or just file names?