Highly annoying: The Windows Search service started then stopped...

[jxm]

I can no longer search in outlook. I've traced this back to the search indexing - if I go to control panel > indexing options it states "indexing is not running".

Sure enough, if I go to services the Windows Search Service is stopped (even though it's set to start on "automatic (delayed start)")

If I try to start it manually it says : "The Windows Search service on local computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs".

Googling the error takes me to this very specific microsoft support article which covers exactly this error:

Windows Search Service will not start, Error: "The Windows Search service on local computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs"

The article states the solution is to delete all the files in the "C:\windows\system32\config\TxR" directory. But I tried this and only some were deleted, but 3 remain as they were "in use".

I've googled around for ways to delete locked files, and tried every trick in the locked files book - but I just cannot get rid of these 3 files - and if these files are what's stopping the search service from starting then apparently I'm screwed...

I've tried deleting them using an admin cmd prompt, safe mode with command prompt, removing the system/hidden attributes etc etc, even lockhunter gave up on these files complaining that it was the system that was using them so it couldn't delete/rename them or kill the locking process.

Any ideas? I use the outlook search all the time (I have zillions of stored emails) and not being able to search is a nightmare...

 

[Sir George]

I can no longer search in outlook. I've traced this back to the search indexing - if I go to control panel > indexing options it states "indexing is not running".

Sure enough, if I go to services the Windows Search Service is stopped (even though it's set to start on "automatic (delayed start)")

If I try to start it manually it says : "The Windows Search service on local computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs".

Googling the error takes me to this very specific microsoft support article which covers exactly this error:

Windows Search Service will not start, Error: "The Windows Search service on local computer started and then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs"

The article states the solution is to delete all the files in the "C:\windows\system32\config\TxR" directory. But I tried this and only some were deleted, but 3 remain as they were "in use".

I've googled around for ways to delete locked files, and tried every trick in the locked files book - but I just cannot get rid of these 3 files - and if these files are what's stopping the search service from starting then apparently I'm screwed...

I've tried deleting them using an admin cmd prompt, safe mode with command prompt, removing the system/hidden attributes etc etc, even lockhunter gave up on these files complaining that it was the system that was using them so it couldn't delete/rename them or kill the locking process.

Any ideas? I use the outlook search all the time (I have zillions of stored emails) and not being able to search is a nightmare...

MoveOnBoot may work in this case;

EMCO MoveOnBoot Freeware download and reviews from SnapFiles

HTH

 

[jxm]

Nope, that didn't help.

I thought I'd try a windows update to make sure everything was up to date, but despite the service being started it gave an error saying it couldn't update because the service wasn't started... strange I thought, wonder if that's connected.

Looking through the system event viewer I found a specific error code when the search service failed to startup. I googled that and found this post:

Fixed - Error %%-2147217025 - Windows Search/Updates won't start after hd clone/Image

This suggested downloading the Intel Rapid Storage Technology update. I did that and it fixed both problems. I hadn't done the cloning thing on a laptop that the article was talking about, but I did rebuild my raid 1 system drive yesterday so maybe that messed something up. But whatever, the driver fixed both issues and everything is ok now. phew.

Now I can do the thing I was going to do 3 hours when I first noticed the search wasn't working...

 

[tmaddison]

Just fyi, I just had the same problem, and this also fixed it.

I'm not 100% sure what the cause was, but I did indeed have a member of a RAID array fail on the machine and be replaced in the last couple months, just noticed now that I could not search.

In my case the indexing service ("Windows Search") also would fail to start, with the same error.

I installed the latest Intel RAID driver update as described, and indexing is now back.

 

[andrew129260]

Did anyone having this issue try the built in windows 7 troubleshooter found under action center for troubleshooting search?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/open-the-search-and-indexing-troubleshooter

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/troubleshoot-problems-with-searching

 

[tmaddison]

If I remember right, that lead me to the services pane with a suggestion that I make sure Windows Search was turned on. That failed, at which point I gave up the troubleshooter and went to the web, found this post...

 

[Magnet]

Just like to say a big thank you to JXM for this post from 2013. Had same issues plus no embedded images showing in emails in Outlook 2010 after cloning Win 7 to an SSD. Also have Intel RAID1 set up using Matrix Storage s/w. Updated to Intel Rapid Storage Technology, and, as you say, problem solved. Phew!! Was just about to clean re-install!

 

[nik321]

PLEASE HELP! I'm having the same issue...

- I could not delete 3 of the files in the TxR folder, even in safe mode
- I did do an Intel RAID update, but that did not work
- I have turned Windows Search and Indexing on and off plenty of times under Windows Features and rebooted, but that did not work

What can I possibly try now??

I really really need it for searching in Outlook

 

[Magnet]

Not sure if I can help Nik321, but what was changed on your PC prior to the fault occurring.....a new SSD installed??

 

[nik321]

Magnet! I think you hit the nail on the head... I was updating and running a whole bunch of spyware, malware & antivirus scans with Spybot, Malwarebytes & Avast... Maybe that caused the problem, but how can i fix it??

 

[Magnet]

If you know exactly what you have updated/changed to give rise to the issue and they are all software related, try uninstalling them one at a time, and each time one has been uninstalled, reboot, shut down, then reboot again and see if your search function is restored.

Another, perhaps quicker option is to use System Restore (Click Start button, Type "System Restore" in Search Progs and files button, See prog Icon at top of list) Open Prog and follow instructions, Select a restore point just before the software changes you have made when the Search function was still working.

This will hopefully resolve the issue, but don't forget that all changes made after the selected restore point will be lost, and you won't know exactly which change caused the problem. That can only be solved by systematically making the changes and checking the search function after each change.

Do you need ALL of those security apps?

 

[Sir George]

Magnet! I think you hit the nail on the head... I was updating and running a whole bunch of spyware, malware & antivirus scans with Spybot, Malwarebytes & Avast... Maybe that caused the problem, but how can i fix it??

The 3 software items you mention, Spybot, Malwarebytes and Avast, are all respected and reputable; the only questionable aspect would be the download site you visited which could have had an infected copy of the software. Did the results of the scans show any infections?

As a caveat, don't run all of them concurrently in real time.

 

[nik321]

Thanks, Magnet & Sir George... I am pretty sure I went to the legit download sites... I use all 3 because I don't know of a solid 3-in-one combined anti-spyware, anti-malware & anti-virus... If you have any good suggestions, please let me know.

In the next few hours, I will uninstall them one by one and post an update on if it fixed the Windows Search or not.

 

[Magnet]

I've used Norton Internet Security for several years now and run Malwarebytes (I have to admit) only occasionally.

Just in case it's not connected with your security software, do you know exactly when the problem first occurred? Have you made any other changes.

Might be an idea, to download, install, and run a trial version of one of the top security suites and perform a full system scan. You can always uninstall later if you don't want to stay with it. This should reveal if anything unwelcome has invaded your hard drive.

 

[nik321]

I removed all 3 programs - Spybot, Malwarebytes & Avast - did 3 reboots, tried turning windows search on and off... nothing worked

I have spent quite a lot of time over the last week looking for a solution... I still can't delete all the files under the TxR folder even in safe mode.

Search starts and then stops... says some programs on the local machine are preventing it from starting but does not tell me which ones... PLEASE HELP!! GET ME OUT OF THIS WINDOWS SEARCH MISERY!!!

 

[Magnet]

Trying to solve the problem when I had it, I also could not delete the TXR files, and I don't think you can.

Did you consider any other software installations as suggested above?

Have you installed and done a full system scan with something like this: Kaspersky Free Trials & Product Downloads | Kaspersky Lab GB

Did you try System Restore?

 

[nik321]

The only other software installation was a Salesforce add-in for Outlook... I don't want to disable or mess with that because it took a while to set up... Do you think that might be causing this Windows Search problem.

The exact error I get is "Windows Search service on Local Computer started then stopped. Some services stop automatically if they are not in use by other services or programs."

So, the question is what other services or programs use Windows Search that could be interfering with it??

I didn't bother with a System Restore because I've changed things quite a bit since my last restore point that it would be too tough to go back to.

PLEASE HELP!!

 

[mikep]

Does anyone have any ideas? I have the same problem. Windows search service is set to automatic start, i use Avast free antivirus, I used linux (puppy) to delete all the files in windows/system32/config/txr, and restarted windows and still cannot get windows indexing to start, and it fails to find files i know are present. I've tried to add additional search paths in the indexing options/advanced menu but they will not stick, i've tried rebuilding the index but if it happens it does not help - i don't think they rebuild, as since i deleted them there are now 7 files all of zero size. I'm now using something called ultrasearch which is faster and probably better than windows 7search anyway, but i don't like things to not work and worry what else might be affected so would like to get to the bottom of this issue. Many, many moons ago, i think search did work, but too far in the past for restore to be an option. Any help would be greatly appreciated.