No Start Search, no Win+F, but Constrained Search works?

foursaken · Mar 22, 2011

Wow, have I been bashing my head on a brick wall with this problem. Been lurking here for a while, great site.

In a nutshell, my search field on the Win7 Start menu returns no results. If I click "see more results" it returns "Windows cannot find 'search:query=search string'. Note that this is not the 'Showing only category headers' problem. Search returns a big, white box with "No items match your search" and "See more results" no matter what you type.

Win+F simply does nothing (I've only just noticed this).

Constrained search in Explorer works fine (!).

I've tried:
The built in search troubleshooter - no problems detected. The MS downloaded troubleshooter - no problems detected. Deleting a bunch of registry keys and restarting the service (detailed here), service starts up fine, start search still non-functional. I've been mucking around, rebuilding indexes, trawling the web for anything, but alas, any offered solutions I have come across do not make any difference.

I'm not entirely sure how this happened - SP1 maybe? A reg cleaner? One of the two possibly.

I'm at a complete loss. I've just tried to do a reinstall following the guide that's around here somewhere. I've a 30gig SSD primary boot drive. Windows wants 15gig free to reinstall. Not going to happen considering the Windows directory is 10gig. I'd rather not clean reinstall for such a 'minor' problem, but I really miss that neat feature.

Any help provided greatly appreciated!

four

brianzion · Mar 22, 2011

hi and hello

Perform a SFC Scan (System File Check)

1. Click Start, click All Programs, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and then click Run as administrator. If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow

2. Type the following command, sfc /scannow and then press ENTER:

(A message will appear stating that 'The system scan will begin'. Be patient because the scan may take some time)

3. If any files require a replace SFC will replace them. You may be asked to insert your Windows 7 DVD for this process to continue

4. If everything is okay you should, after the scan, see the following message "Windows resource protection did not find any integrity violations"

5. After the scan has completed, close the command prompt window, restart the computer. (TIP repeat scan 3 times)

How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7 >>> How to use the System File Checker tool to troubleshoot missing or corrupted system files on Windows Vista or on Windows 7

How to Check / Repair the Windows System Files from a Command Prompt at Boot >>> http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html

foursaken · Mar 22, 2011

Wow, thanks for the quick reply.

I've run sfc a few times now, and just ran it again to check. No problems found. :/

I should also add I'm not running anything odd, and using MS's virus protection.

brianzion · Mar 22, 2011

have you run it from boot? How to Check / Repair the Windows System Files from a Command Prompt at Boot >>> http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/139810-sfc-scannow-run-command-prompt-boot.html

brianzion · Mar 22, 2011

try this fix

1. Open Indexing and Search Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Indexing Options.
2. Click Advanced, click the Index Settings tab, and then click Rebuild. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Hopalong X · Mar 22, 2011

Try all of brianzions suggestions.

If you made a System Image before you made registry changes you can restore the Image.

As a last resort if nothing else works to repair registry go with a repair install.
You will need your Windows disk.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

This way you don't loose any files, pics etc.

Mike

brianzion · Mar 22, 2011

hi i found this on a Microsoft forum its worth a look

Only just recently, however, have I discovered another possible cause/fix to this issue.
More specifically, I have discovered that the windows search error occurs as a result of ADDING A NETWORK LOCATION to the local computer (e.g., via the "Add a network location" menu option which appears when clicking on the File menu in a windows explorer window displaying contents of the local computer (corresponding to the "COMPUTER" icon). The SYNC CENTER settings of my computer have been set to disable syncing of network or "offline" files, and I suspect that this setting is also part of the cause of the search error.

To fix this issue, one simply needs to tell windows search not to include the "network location" in the search index. To do this, one needs to access the settings of the windows search INDEX LOCATIONS (via Indexing Options->Modify) and then uncheck the box corresponding to the network location (which on my computer begins as follows: oneindex://{s-1-5-21.....

After unchecking this box, click on OK button, and then CLOSE button to exit out of the Index Options windows. After that the error message should hopefully not return. If it does, try restarting the computer and test search again.

Hope this helps!!

and this

Here is much simpler user level option, My son fixed this issue with the following on Windows 7 (32 bit Home)
Control Panel -> Programs -> Turn Windows features on or off -> Select Indexing Service and Windows Search
When promted reboot your machine..

brianzion · Mar 22, 2011

you can change the location of the index.

If you change this location, the Windows Search service will automatically be restarted, and the change will not go into effect until the restart is complete.

Open Indexing Options by clicking the Start button , and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type indexing options, and then click Indexing Options.

Click Advanced. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In the Advanced Options dialog box, click the Index Settings tab.

Under Index location, click Select new, click a new location, click OK, and then click OK again.

Note

When you change the index location, you should choose a location on a non-removable hard disk that is formatted using the NTFS file system.

(i have just moved mine without a hitch)

Improve Windows searches using the index: frequently asked questions >>> http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/...es-using-the-index-frequently-asked-questions

foursaken · Mar 22, 2011

sfc at boot - no problems.
Rebuilding the index - no problems.
Can't do a repair install, I don't have the drive space (30gig SSD).
Don't have the network location problem, and I've tried uninstalling search. No dice there either.
Have just changed the location of the index, no help.

Why does the start search seem to be different to Constrained search, and why doesn't Win+F work? :cry:

winsupertweaker · Mar 23, 2011

Don't need to Google this one. Go to Device Manager, you seem to know your way around W7 pretty well. Check thd device drivers for the keyboard----hell, check them all.

If all is well in device manager, then uninstall the keyboard driver while you are there. Use the mouse to restart the computer so it can install a fresh copy of the driver. If you are using SSD, did you copy the backup from an HDD or clone your HDD to the SSD? IN either case, you may have gotten a bit of corruption in the system. I'm getting my first SSD on Wednesday, UPS. Just 60 GB but plenty for me. I store everything on 2 and 3rd HDD, both are 1 TB each. (I know, I digressed)

foursaken · Mar 23, 2011

No errors in device manager, deleted keyboard(s), rebooted, no change. The keyboard definitely isn't the problem, as the "busy" mouse cursor appeared (the first time) when I hit WIN-F.

I cloned a HDD for this install. It was a nightmare to get everything right. I wont be going that route again, especially when dealing with SSD's.

*Everything* was working fine until around SP1.

brianzion · Mar 23, 2011

have a read of this tutorial by brink >>> How to Do a Repair Install to Fix Windows 7 http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

marsmimar · Mar 23, 2011

Maybe I missed it (if so, blame it on my old age and one remaining - and failing - brain cell) but have you tried uninstalling SP1? If problem(s) persist try running SFC again without SP1.

How to uninstall Windows 7 Service Pack 1 (SP1)

Hopalong X · Mar 23, 2011

foursaken said:
Can't do a repair install, I don't have the drive space (30gig SSD).

No extra drive space needed.
Repair Install repairs the registry.

I would call it a "Registry Repair" function if I had been the one naming the procedure.

As Marsmimar posted remove SP1 then follow Brianzion with a Repair Install.

Follow the links they provided.

Mike

brianzion · Mar 23, 2011

thanks hopalong x

a repair install would be best i think if the file scanner has not picked up on bad files, the posts i have posted should correct the search error you are having. as hopalong x has stated the repair will repair the registry and reset the values for you.

Hopalong X · Mar 23, 2011

That has become the easiset way for most with registry problems and SP1.

I helped someone fix this the other day after spending all day with them trying to fix a problem with Windows Explorer previews.

Repair install fixed it immedeately.
http://www.sevenforums.com/microsoft-office/148932-broken-explorer-preview-office-2010-a-6.html

After you get things repaired you may want to make System Images for future use.
That is why I keep up to date Windows System Images.
Spend all day searching for a repair that may never be found or ten minutes re imaging.

Just a thought.

Mike

johnnya · Mar 23, 2011

Good advice Mike re: system imaging. Almost a must. Quick question for my self.
In post #16 above, you stated "Repair install fixed it immedeately and he didn't remove SP1 first." Was this a Pre-SP1 retail Win 7 DVD he used for the repair install? I didn"t think you could do that. If so, it's very good to know.
Cheers
JohnnyA

Hopalong X · Mar 23, 2011

I'll have to edit my post.

Good catch.

Thanks Mike

johnnya · Mar 23, 2011

Great stuff Mike. I was really hoping you could do that. Oh well.
Thanks for getting back.
Cheers
JohnnyA

Hopalong X · Mar 23, 2011

SP1 has to be removed. In red below.
Only new Win7-SP1 disks will work with SP-1 installed.

Warning

You will not be able to use a OEM Windows 7 Factory Restore/Recovery type of installation disc that came with or created from a store bought computer to do a repair install with. These can only be used do a clean install instead.

You cannot do a repair install with a System Repair Disc.

If you have a 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 currently installed, then you must use a 32-bit Windows 7 installation disc to be able to do a repair install with.

If you have a 64-bit (x64) Windows 7 currently installed, then you must use a 64-bit Windows 7 installation disc to be able to do a repair install with.

If you have Windows 7 SP1 installed, then you must use a Windows 7 SP1 installation disc to be able to do a repair install.

You can use a Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.

You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed Windows 7 SP1.

You cannot use a slipstream Windows 7 installation disc to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.

You can use a Windows 7 SP1 installation disc (ex: Technet (available), MSDN (available), or retail (when available)) to do a repair install with on a currently installed slipstream Windows 7 SP1.

You can only do a repair install from within Windows 7.

You cannot do a repair install at boot or inSafe Mode.

You must be logged into Windows 7 in a administrator account to be able to do a repair install.

You must have at least 8.87 GB of free space, more if you have a larger installation, on the hard drive/partition Windows 7 is installed on to do a repair install.

If you changed the default location of the Program Files or Programs Files (x86) folder, then you will need to change it back to the C: drive, and change any shortcuts that pointed to the other location to also point to the C: drive before doing a repair install.

Click to expand...

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