Solved Search function not working in libraries.

[Surgikill]

Hey guys, I have a problem where my search function will not turn back any results when used in a library. I want to search my music library for songs, and when I type the search criteria into the search bar when I am in the library directory it does not turn back any results. However, if I go to the drive or the folder the search function works fine. Is this normal or am I missing something?

 

[Brink]

Hello Surgikill,

Double check to make sure that you have the Index enabled. If it's disabled, you will not be able to do searches in libraries.

Index - Enable or Disable

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Kari]

I had a very similar issue a while ago using Windows 8. The reason was a damaged library which I got fixed as told in this post: Solved Cannot search in Computer or in Libraries in File Explorer - Page 2.

As the libraries work the same way both in Seven and Eight I thought this might help you.

Kari

 

[Surgikill]

Hello Surgikill,

Double check to make sure that you have the Index enabled. If it's disabled, you will not be able to do searches in libraries.

Index - Enable or Disable

Hope this helps,
Shawn

I had a very similar issue a while ago using Windows 8. The reason was a damaged library which I got fixed as told in this post: Solved Cannot search in Computer or in Libraries in File Explorer - Page 2.

As the libraries work the same way both in Seven and Eight I thought this might help you.

Kari

Neither of these proved effective. Still having the same issue. If it helps I have save recent items set to off so if I rightclick a program on the taskbar it will only show pinned files. Don't know if that affects it in any way.

 

[Kari]

Did you check all of your libraries by double clicking them to see if the library opens without an error message? All libraries, one by one.

 

[Surgikill]

Yes and the search function is not usable in any of the libraries either.

 

[Surgikill]

Alright this is weird. Now the Search function works in Music and Documents but not pictures. I didn't do anything except set the library optimized to music. Also I can't change the icon of the library.

 

[Brink]

As a test, change the folder template of the other libraries to another one, apply, then change back to what you like to see if the search will work for them as well afterwards.

The tutorial below can help show you how to change the icon of a library.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3011-libraries-icons-change.html

 

[Surgikill]

I figured out how to change the icon. And switching it back and forth is no dice.

 

[Brink]

Hmm, ok.

Check to see if the libraries are still added to the index.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/17854-index-locations-add-remove.html
​

Next, rebuild the index to see if you are able to search them when it finishes.

 

[Surgikill]

I checked the index earlier and the libraries themselves aren't added, and the directories in the libraries aren't included either. Is there any way to add just the libraries or do I have to add the indexes. I have multiple drives on my computer and don't want to slow it down by having a large index of each drive.

I am rebuilding the index now. It originally had just over 100 items in it, and now it is over 7500. This could have very well been the problem. I will post back when the rebuild is complete.

 

[Surgikill]

It just completed with ~15,00 entries. It includes one of my music folders, the start menu, users, and windows sticky notes. It does not contain my documents, pictures, or videos. When searching in my libraries I am able to search documents and music without a problem, however I cannot search pictures or videos. I have tried everything suggested. I am going to make another library with the same directories and see what happens.

If I added all of my files to my index how would it affect performance?


EDIT: The new library works perfectly fine in search with the same folders as the picture library, but now I cannot delete my picture library. It deletes and then instantly shows back up. It even appears in the recycle bin. What??

EDIT 2: Alright, I fixed it. I deleted both the pictures and video libraries and they reappeared with the default locations. I then added the locations I wanted and now it is perfectly searchable.

 

[Brink]

Sounds good. Are they all searchable now?

 

[Surgikill]

Yea, they all work flawlessly now. I have no idea what the issue could have been.

 

[Brink]

Great news. It sounded like they were not included or updated in the index to be included in the search results.

 

[eyo]

I have a related question.

I added some custom locations to libraries (none of them are on the C:\ partition), but searching doesn't find anything. Do I really need to manually add them as indexed locations or will they get indexed eventually?

 

[Brink]

Hello eyo,

Yep, those locations will need to be added to the index to be included in indexed search results.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/17854-index-locations-add-remove.html
​

You might also see how doing non-indexed searches may work for this.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/117952-search-have-more-accurate-search-results.html
​

Hope this helps.