Search will only find recently saved files!

stevem76 · 24 Oct 2010

Dear all,

I've been searching without success for a solution to this problem: the Start menu and explorer search bars will only return recently saved or modified files, dating back perhaps a month.

I've looked at the settings and they are default. Using the option to not use indexing makes no difference.

I've tried this hotfix Windows search is not working and search is slow or shuts down without success.

It's probably something very simple - but cannot see it! Any suggestions are very welcome.

Many thanks,

Steve

Brink · 24 Oct 2010

Hello Steve, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if this may be able to help give you more accurate search results.

Search - Have More Accurate Search Results

Hope this helps,
Shawn

stevem76 · 24 Oct 2010

Thanks Sahwn, had already tried what you suggested without success.

IYour posts did lead me on to trying to rebuild the index - but it only found 215 items and took just a few seconds. All the correct locations were included, including my C:/ drive which is my main hard drive.

Something is limiting the search, but not sure what. I remember it working back in the summer, I noticed this problem about three weeks ago.

Thanks,

S

Brink · 24 Oct 2010

As a test to see if the index may be causing this, disable the index Windows Search service to have Windows default to using non-index search results. This will cause you to no longer be able to search in Libraries though until enabled again though.

stevem76 · 25 Oct 2010

Thanks Brink - that shows something interesting: when the index is disabled, I can search successfully within Computer in Windows Explorer...at least that's something.

Just to double check, I re-enabled and tried to search within Explorer and Libraries with the expected results: no results in Explorer and no response at all in Libraries.

Does this help diagnose the problem?

Thanks for all your help,

Steve

Brink · 25 Oct 2010

Ok, that shows that you may have not have the locations that you want to search included in the index.

Enable the index, then include locations that you want to be searched using the index. Next double check with the tutorial below again to make sure that your settings are identical to the ones in the screenshots under step 1 and 3.

Search - Have More Accurate Search Results

stevem76 · 26 Oct 2010

Thanks, have double checked but as previously posted all areas are added correctly to the index (still only shows 215 items as indexed?!). Most files are on my C: drive which is checked (although ProgramData, Data, AppData, Windows and CSC are excluded).

Have also double checked the other screenshots and settings are accurate.

Have left index enabled but no change to Library searches - still no success.

Many thanks for your continued support.

Cheers,

Steve

Brink · 26 Oct 2010

You're welcome Steve.

Since the easier options didn't work out for you, these more drastic options should be able to fix it.

If this has only started happening not to long ago, then you could do a system restore using a restore point dated before it started to hopefully fix it.

If not, then you can do a repair install to fix this without losing anything if you used a retail Windows 7 installation DVD to install your Windows 7 with.

kiwichick · 27 Oct 2010

Hi stevem76, Have you tried resetting the search setup? Check out this thread:

Search Index Broken, Rebuilding won't help

About 2/3 down the page there is a post by DocBlase titled "This finally worked for me". It may help.