Solved Outlook 2010 instant search not working

[njhal]

The instant search function on my outlook 2010 has stopped working.
I have previously had and then repaired this issue after the initial install of office 2010.
To solve the issue before I did the following.
Search tools > Search options > Indexing options > Modify
Deselect all selected options
Delete and rebuild index (advanced options) and restart machine
Reselect the folders to be indexed.

I have tried to repeat this process but I am unable to delete the MS outlook location
I cannot see the documents and settings folder in the C drive and therefore cannot navigate to User name / appdata / local / microsoft / outlook

I have tried changing the view setting in folder options (to show hidden files)
and I have tried opening outlook as an administrator

I cannot see how to to delete this indexed location

As I keep my PST file on a different partition this means that the search functionality has for the time being stopped completely.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Irene]

Hello and welcome to the forum.

Have you tried the Inbox Repair Tool?
Tutorial here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73585-pst-file-corrupted-repair.html

More info here:
Inbox Repair Tool (scanpst.exe) | MSOutlook.info

 

[njhal]

Hi Irene.
Thanks for your quick response.
I have tried the inbox repair tool. It did discover and repair some errors.
I then went to indexing options as described before and tried to navigate to
Documents and settings \ Me \ App Data \ Local \ Microsoft \ Outlook.
Documents and settings is still not visible in the indexing options list. (Hidden files are selected as visible)

What I did not make clear in the last post was that my outlook pst file actually lives in a different location
D:\ outlook
But everything in the D drive is deselected in the indexing options page.
So maybe the indexer is still looking at a pst file somewhere on the C drive.
I did a search for outlook.pst in the C drive and it returned several files some under c:\ users\me\.... and some under C:\Documents and settings\ me\....
In indexing options there was nothing to deselect under C:\ users \ ..... and as mentioned before C:\ documents and settings is not visible.
So - I am still struggling to see how I can deselect the outlook icon that remains in the indexing list.

Is the problem that the indexer is pointing at another pst file under C:\documents and settings and that I need to somehow access this in the indexing options to deselect it ?
Or does the solution lie elsewhere?

 

[njhal]

Still have no indexing for MS Outlook. Anyone out there with a solution? Any takers? .

 

[njhal]

I seem to have solved the issue. So for the possible benefit of other's here is what I did.

1. Ran a repair on MS office - (This solved the issue with not being able to select / deselect certain indexing locations)
2. Ran Scanpst
3. Outlook > Search tools > Search options > Indexing options > Modify
4. Deselect all selected options
5. Delete and rebuild index (advanced options) and restart machine
6. Reselect the folders to be indexed.

So problem solved - but no idea what made the issue occur....

 

[Irene]

Good result!

 

[emeak]

HI,
I have the same problem. Just wanted to clarify in your last post njhal what you meant by "Ran a repair on MS office"? Did you have the problem on Win7 64bit or 32bit?
It seems that Outlook 2010 on Win 7 64bit is a pain!

Thanks

 

[koolkat77]

Have you tried disabling and enabling search feature from Control Panel :ar: Programs :ar:Turn windows features on or off :ar: Windows Search
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/25343-windows-search-turn-off.html


What version of Office are you running? 32 or 64 bit? and what do your settings look like?

 

[emeak]

Hi, Thanks
Using Office 64Bit on Win PRO 64 bit. My search options looks like your screen shot

 

[koolkat77]

Hi, Thanks
Using Office 64Bit on Win PRO 64 bit. My search options looks like your screen shot

Have you tried the tutorial posted in my previous post?

 

[nicklulu]

Nice info.

I will try this fix.

 

[jkannry]

Only needed to do some steps

I seem to have solved the issue. So for the possible benefit of other's here is what I did.

1. Ran a repair on MS office - (This solved the issue with not being able to select / deselect certain indexing locations)
2. Ran Scanpst
3. Outlook > Search tools > Search options > Indexing options > Modify
4. Deselect all selected options
5. Delete and rebuild index (advanced options) and restart machine
6. Reselect the folders to be indexed.

So problem solved - but no idea what made the issue occur....

Did steps 1-3. Went to indxing. Never modified or dont think did. At best turned main location on and off. Nothing happened and then is tarted detecting all the unindexed emails. Not sure if it rebuilt it self but might have. So id suggest 1-3 and if that doesnt work complete the rest of the steps

 

[mthapar]

Did the folliowing and issue got resolved:
1. From Outlook, click Tools, Options, Search Options
2. Remove the check from each of the items in the section "Index messages in these data files:"
3. Click OK to close the dialog window
4. Click File > Exit to completely close Outlook
5. Re-open Outlook
6. On the left side of Outlook, next to All Mail Items, click the drop-down
7. Place a check next to each item listed there.
8. Should now able to search the entire mailbox and personal folders when searching within All Mail Items.

Hope this helps.

 

[Prompthelp]

Outlook is one of the best tools to manage emails, calendars, and contacts, but the issue of [Outlook] Outlook search index not working can be a nightmare and obstruct essential tasks. Go through the steps below to resolve the issue with the Outlook search index:

• In the 'Control Panel' component of the Windows, open the 'Indexing' option.
• Ascertain that in the 'Included Locations' column, you have listed the 'Microsoft Outlook' option.
• If you don't see Microsoft Outlook in the listed column, click on the 'Modify' option and then check the check box available next to Microsoft Outlook.
• Click on Ok and then on 'Close.'