MS Search Enhancement Pack

[larryi8]

I'm continually getting a pop-up window that deals with Microsoft's Search Enhancement Package. I continually have to check the box that says something like "Do not show me this message again". And i click "Don't allow". How can I get this d***n pop-up to stop showing up?

 

[James Colbert]

It appears to be part of Windows Live essentials (although it may have other sources as well), and your problem has cropped up around the internet, often as far back as XP sp3. Installing WLE seems to dump quite a bit of software on your system...a problem for some.

If you unwittingly received WLE via Windows Update, you can verify its presence through: Control Panel\Windows Update. On the left is a list of options, one of which is "View update history".

Assuming you can live without WLE, my first choice (if you don't have an image of your system) would be to do a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html?ltr=S pre-dating it's presence. Barring that, you could try to uninstall it via Control Panel\Programs & Features. If it's not in the uninstall list, on the left list of options, click on "View installed updates" to see if it shows up.

James

Edit: Here is a link in the (now archived) Vistax64 forum:

http://www.vistax64.com/live-messenger/200656-search-enhancement-pack-5.html

Do keep in mind that these posts are months old and likely pertained to an earlier version of WLE. There are a few different solutions posted. Remember, if you attempt to edit the registry, make a backup first.

The link is to the last page of the thread to present you with the newest conclusions.

 

[larryi8]

On the 23rd I got some sort of message from MS that indicated that I had to have some sort of updates. I cancelled some of the updates, but let others install although I didn't quite understand how they would be important. Here's what I saw at Control Panel/Windows Update:

USB Keyboard Status successful
USB Mouse Status successful
Update for Windows 2011 (KB976422) Status cancelled
WLE 2011 (KB2434419) Status cancelled

Also, on the 20th, the above WLE shows Status failed

What I don't understand about those top 2 is that I have a laptop. The keyboard is integral. What does a USB Keyboard update have to do with anything?
With this laptop I use a MS Wireless Mobile Mouse 6000. What does a USB Mouse update have to do with anything?

I installed them because MS indicated they were important updates.

Although the WLE 2011 shows cancelled, should I remove/uninstall it?

Could this have something to do with that "Enhancement Pack" pop-up continuing to show up?

 

[James Colbert]

I can't comment on the keyboard/mouse updates other than to say MS often seems to label seemingly pointless updates as 'Important'.

That said, the failed WLE update could be the problem. Did the issue begin around the time that update appeared? Regardless, since you say it happened on the 20th, you'll likely have a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html?ltr=S point that pre-dates it, but first, turn off windows auto-updating so that the update isn't installed again after you restore the system.:

(apologies if you know this already)

1) Control Panel\Windows Updates
2) Left side of window: Change Settings
3) In the drop down list, choose: 'download updates but let me choose whether to install them'
4) Click on OK.

Then, if you need help with System Restore, here is a tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html?ltr=S

Perform the System Restore, picking a restore point that pre-dates the issue.

This may be the easiest way to correct the issue. If not, or if you don't have a restore point pre-dating the problem, be sure to read the posts at the link I provided in my previous post.

If the System Restore does fix the problem, wait on returning WU to its original settings (if you wish to return them...) until the offending updates reappear, at which time you can hide them so that they don't reinstall.

James

 

[larryi8]

Restore Points

There were three restore points dated 10/23/2010. They all three had the same title and they were staggered about 30 minutes apart. Apparently MS tried three times to install this "Critical Update"! I highlighted the earliest time and performed a restore, then rebooted. It fixed that pop-up problem. Thanks.

However, when I reboot I get a message that there's a problem with the IntelliPoint program and that I have to uninstall it and then reinstall it. The IntelliPoint program was installed on April 12, 2010.
My optical mouse program works fine. Do I have to unstall the IntelliPoint program? Will it affect the proper operation of my optical mouse?
I think that the USB Mouse program that I installed on the 23rd has something to do with this problem.

Getting back to the original problem. How can one determine if a "critical update" is truly critical or just some marketing hype?

 

[James Colbert]

There were three restore points dated 10/23/2010. They all three had the same title and they were staggered about 30 minutes apart. Apparently MS tried three times to install this "Critical Update"! I highlighted the earliest time and performed a restore, then rebooted. It fixed that pop-up problem. Thanks.

Great! Now, 1st thing, make a restore point for where you are now (with problem fixed).

However, when I reboot I get a message that there's a problem with the IntelliPoint program and that I have to uninstall it and then reinstall it. The IntelliPoint program was installed on April 12, 2010.
My optical mouse program works fine. Do I have to unstall the IntelliPoint program? Will it affect the proper operation of my optical mouse?
I think that the USB Mouse program that I installed on the 23rd has something to do with this problem.

I would reinstall it, but do create your System Restore point first:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/697-system-restore-point-create.html?ltr=S

You can name it descriptively.

Also, it's very useful to create regular Restore points or, even better, system backups or partition images. For backups using Win 7:

How To Use Backup and Restore in Windows 7 - How-To Geek

You can also buy an imaging software such as Acronis. When issues occur (if you've made regular backups), you can restore the drive or partition in 20 minutes. very useful.

Getting back to the original problem. How can one determine if a "critical update" is truly critical or just some marketing hype?

You can click on the update and details should appear. Best to keep WU as now set to avoid auto-install of updates you may not need or that can hose your system (as you've just seen...).

Edit: Should mention that you can hide those unwanted updates by right-clicking on the update and choosing 'Hide'. And FYI, I was just notified of updates and found WLE 2011 as an optional update (which I immediately hid).

James

 

[larryi8]

Original "Problem"

This whole can of worms probably started on the 20th (I didn't record the date) when I got another one of those pop ups from MS.
On a paper notepad I wrote down some of the programs that it wanted to install:
hotmail, instant messaging, photo sharing, blog publishing, windows live photos, bing bar.
I didn't want any of these programs and refused it over and over. I finally got tired of refusing it and gave in.
Afterwards I disabled the bing bar and then removed the bing program. But I still had a lot of s**t on my hard drive that I didn't want.

You would think that checking the "Do not show me the warning for this program again", and the clicking on the "Don't allow button" would keep the d**n pop up from reappearing.

How do you keep these pop ups from reappearing?

 

[Phone Man]

I had this same problem a few months ago and here is the fix I found.

"The Search Enhancement Pack is a part of the Live toolbar.

You can try removing this Pack by -
- click Start
- select Run
- type the following:
msiexec /x {299CF645-48C7-4FA1-8BCD-5CE200CF180D}
- click OK.

Hope this helps.

Jim

 

[James Colbert]

This whole can of worms probably started on the 20th (I didn't record the date) when I got another one of those pop ups from MS.
On a paper notepad I wrote down some of the programs that it wanted to install:
hotmail, instant messaging, photo sharing, blog publishing, windows live photos, bing bar.
I didn't want any of these programs and refused it over and over. I finally got tired of refusing it and gave in.
Afterwards I disabled the bing bar and then removed the bing program. But I still had a lot of s**t on my hard drive that I didn't want.

You would think that checking the "Do not show me the warning for this program again", and the clicking on the "Don't allow button" would keep the d**n pop up from reappearing.

How do you keep these pop ups from reappearing?

Since the System Restore corrected the issue, just watch your updates, making sure that you hide the WLE 2011 updates (and any others you don't want) so that they don't reappear and sneak in again. The popups occured because you accepted the update.

If you decide you want WLE after all (with my condolences ), Jim's fix may keep the popups away.

James