Indexing and Searching broken

The indexing and search functions are both broken

When I try to index my files using the index option in the control panel, it looks like its trying to do the indexing, but when I look the next day I still get 0 files indexed.

The search function in the start menu and the control panel don't work. As far as I can determine, when I key my search criteria, nothing happens.

I suspect that these two failures are somehow related, but I don't know what to try next.

I'm not clear on "When I try to index my files using the index option in the control panel..."

Control Panel -> Indexing Options
click the advanced button
then click the rebuild button

Search is different in Win7. Could you provide an example of your search term?
or try typing the word below in the Start menu search box
solitaire

Here are some other things to try:
Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
Fix Windows Desktop Search when it crashes or not showing results
You cannot find files when you search a Windows Vista-based computer even though the files exist on the computer

Post an update if the above helped or did not help

I understand that this is a difficult issue to describe, but every little bit of information might help.

Does search work in an explorer window?
Did you perchance fiddle with any settings or services?

Slartybart said:

I'm not clear on "When I try to index my files using the index option in the control panel..."

Control Panel -> Indexing Options
click the advanced button
then click the rebuild button

I have tried this several times. I always get
0 items indexed
indexing is complete

Slartybart said:

I'm not clear on "When I try to index my files using the index option in the control panel..."


Search is different in Win7. Could you provide an example of your search term?
or try typing the word below in the Start menu search box
solitaire

If I key solitaire and hit enter, nothing happens, the key word here is nothing
If I ask for more results to be displayed, I get an error that says some like:

Windows cannot find 'search:query=solitaire'. Make sure you typed the name correctly and try again.

Here are some other things to try:
Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter
Fix Windows Desktop Search when it crashes or not showing results
You cannot find files when you search a Windows Vista-based computer even though the files exist on the computer

Post an update if the above helped or did not help

I understand that this is a difficult issue to describe, but every little bit of information might help.

Does search work in an explorer window?
Did you perchance fiddle with any settings or services?

Some of my reply is within the quote.
I have tried all of the things that you have suggest and none of them work. Searches do not work in an explorer window.
The operating system is Win 7.
One more thing, the search box when empty has a magnifying glass. When you key the first letter, the magnifying glass disappears and is replaced by an 'x'. When you key the search term, hitting the enter key does nothing.

Thanks, we'll just have to dig a little deeper.

This gives me something -> Windows cannot find 'search:query=solitaire'
The syntax looks good, it works if I copy it into an explorer bar on my machine.
Funny thing - I forgot to remove one of the ' marks and I got the same error msg you did
Windows cannot find ''search:query=solitaire'

Your last sentence is odd behavoir - I take it that you didn't type the letter x
The rest seems normal, except for it not searching.

When I type s
search from start menu returns results immediately - I don't have to hit enter and I don't get an x
That should also be true in the explorer search box

---

Ok, let's see what you have set for index options. please post a screen shot of
Control Panel (CP) -> Indexing Options
and another one showing Indexed Locations (hit the modify button to get that window)

Please see Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums for the preferred method of posting files and images on Sevenforums
-

Slartybart said:

Thanks, we'll just have to dig a little deeper.

---

Ok, let's see what you have set for index options. please post a screen shot of
Control Panel (CP) -> Indexing Options
and another one showing Indexed Locations (hit the modify button to get that window)

Please see Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums for the preferred method of posting files and images on Sevenforums
-

I've not posted screen shots before ... hope these work

Aha!

Remove the tick next to C:

Then rebuild the index in advanced

edit: oh yeah, then try a search
screen shots worked great

Slartybart said:

Aha!

Remove the tick next to C:

Then rebuild the index in advanced

edit: oh yeah, then try a search
screen shots worked great

Here is the result .... search still doesn't work

Aha!

Do the modify one more time and remove the check next to Program Files.

You really don't want the entire contents of C:\ or Program Files indexed.
The idea behind indexing is make it easy to search on attributes or contents of a file.
You want to easily search your data files and some other locations. Indexing Windows and the Programs folders really slow down search (when it's working) and doesn't add much value.

After unticking Progam Files (you might have to expand C:\ to untick Program Files), you should rebuild the index again
and have only the following index locations
Internet Explorer History
Start Menu
Users (whatever is in the exluded column is fine)

try a search and let me know.

edit: posted a picture that might be needed in the next step - removed it to avoid confusion.

Slartybart said:

Aha!

Do the modify one more time and remove the check next to Program Files.

You really don't want the entire contents of C:\ or Program Files indexed.
The idea behind indexing is make it easy to search on attributes or contents of a file.
You want to easily search your data files and some other locations. Indexing Windows and the Programs folders really slow down search (when it's working) and doesn't add much value.

After unticking Progam Files (you might have to expand C:\ to untick Program Files), you should rebuild the index again
and have only the following index locations
Internet Explorer History
Start Menu
Users (whatever is in the exluded column is fine)

try a search and let me know.

edit: posted a picture that might be needed in the next step - removed it to avoid confusion.

I am rebuilding the index again. But I have a question. In the Advanced Options window, it says that the index file is stored at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft. I can't find it there. Is it stored in a sub folder? What is the name. What happens if I try to store the index file at a new location.