Solved Search function from Windows 7 Start button not working

[kenmackay]

When I try to run a file search from the Start button, firstly the pop-up box clears when I type in the first letter of the search and I am unable to run a search. If I click "see more results" I get the message "Windows cannot access the specified device, path or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item." I have not added any new programs, only Windows updates and use Avast Free as my anti-virus defence, which updates itself several times a day.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ken can you post a screen shot please.

 

[kenmackay]

Screenshots as requested

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Ken first up mate some more system specs as I can see what you have got but not what you have got if that makes sense ie RAM hard drive etc etc http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/180324-system-info-see-your-system-specs.html
Then run these if you haven't already in this order and delete any of the rubbish that malware scans find


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

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html<= DO NOT run on a SSD

http://www.superantispyware.com/

http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/

http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

(ADW download from bleepingcomputer)

 

[A Guy]

Welcome to Seven Forums kenmackay. If the suggestions ICit2lol made do not help, specifically the SFC, see if the issue occurs on another user. If you don't have a 2nd user, you can create one to test.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/181024-user-account-create.html

Do you know when this occured, and do you have a System Restore point from just before it began? That may be an easy fix.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/700-system-restore.html

It sounds like you may have a corrupted user profile, have you experienced any other issues? If the new user works ok, you can transfer to the new user.

Fix a corrupted user profile

A Guy

 

[kenmackay]

Problem solved

Thanks to ICit2lol and A Guy for looking at this problem for me. I have actually found the solution on another thread, which solved the problem really simply.

 

[A Guy]

Well, there is that Glad you got it sorted, thanks for sharing the fix. A Guy