WINDOWS 7 search bar/registry help!

[phw8558]

Hello all. This is my first time posting. I have been having a recent problem with my windows search bar in the start menu and I cannot explain exactly what has caused it. When you try to search for anything you get a list of blank file icons labeled as programs, files, computer ect.. that do not go anywhere when clicked on. I know there are numerous posts about this problem and I have tried them all to no avail. However the newest one I found was an exported registry key from this post http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/91875-windows-registry.html. I believe that the key "foldertypes" is my problem. Whenever I try to merge the new .reg files I get the following error. "cannot import 'filename' Not all data was succesfully written to the registry. Some keys are open by the system or other processes." Can anyone help me figure out what to close to get this to merge succesfully? Or could anyone export a new zip of this key? I am running home premium 64bit. I have been browsing forums for days trying to fix this any help would be much appreciated!

 

[Maguscreed]

Have you recently scanned for malware?
This sounds like a hijack just from what you describe on the surface.

 

[James Colbert]

In addition to the malware check, I would try a System Restore, choosing a restore point pre-dating the issue. This will also clear out the broken reg entries.

If that doesn't resolve your problem, check Control Panel\Indexing Options. Is indexing complete, running, turned on?

James

 

[phw8558]

Yes there was a malware attack and for a while my security service center did not work because it destroyed the reg key for it. I fixed that issue succesfully with a .reg file merge someone had posted online. Now I believe I can do the same for this issue if I could succesfully merge a new key for Hkey_currentuser/software/microsoft/windows/currentversion/explorer/foldertypes. Have seen some registry pics online as to what should be in the right hand column of this folder and I have none of them. Thanks for the replies. ..oh yeah don't have a restore point back far enough for that to work. Did make a new user account and it worked until I transfered everything and experienced similar issues.

 

[phw8558]

James, I have rebuilt index, turned index and searching on and off with rebooting to no avail.

 

[phw8558]

First image is from a different registry.
Second image is from my registry.

Ok I have an unexpected update. I took a snap shot of my registry and one from google images which I will include in this post. However I went to take a snapshot of the problem in the search bar and search results actually came up. It is however a little different then before perhaps because of indexing. At least I can search something instead of getting blank files though. I'm afraid to mess with anything at this point, I will definitly setup a system restore. Question about how to merge the .reg file without error is still open. Thanks.

 

[James Colbert]

Yes there was a malware attack

Are you sure you've completely cleaned your system up? Full scan with free Malwarebytes?

James, I have rebuilt index, turned index and searching on and off with rebooting to no avail.

It is however a little different then before perhaps because of indexing

But what was the state of the index? Was it indexing, completed, turned off? If indexing or completed, that's expected. If turned off or disabled (not by you), that's another story.

Question about how to merge the .reg file without error is still open.

I suppose you could manually enter it, but I would back up the registry first. If you downloaded this from CarlTR6 in the thread you link to, then I have no doubt that the file is safe (although maybe the download was corrupted), so I'm not sure why it won't merge.

I wasn't aware that the FolderTypes key was relevant to this issue, so I'll be interested to hear how this comes out.

James

 

[Maguscreed]

I am going to say it again even though it's been said before.
You should start in safe mode and do a deep scan with the malwarebytes antimalware tool.
The on demand scan version is free and it will clean out any remaining little pieces of what caused the problem in the first place.
Until we are certain it is completely out of there any attempts to fix this are rather moot anyhow.
Malwarebytes : Malwarebytes Anti-Malware is a free download that removes viruses and malware from your computer

 

[phw8558]

Here is a screenshot of my taskbar now that search is working again. As you can see I typed in reg as an example and got a ton of extra stuff. I think I can play around with the indexing settings to remove some of these extra results. I also realized my windows defender wasn't working and found out that the registry key for that got removed just like the security center. I found one online to merge and that is back to good now. I will try the safemode/malware bytes scan and post results.

 

[phw8558]

Malwarebytes safe mode - 0 files infected

 

[Maguscreed]

In that case try running a secure file check now

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

Followed by a check disk to see if it can't rebuild the index cache.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

 

[phw8558]

Yeah I ran that two times over the course of my attempts to fix. I think I'll leave it as is since I can search for files and that is all I needed. I'll hold off on the registry merge unless it ever acts up again. Thanks for the suggestions/time.