Weird problem - cannot find files, search function not working

[jeeper41]

Hey guys, newbie here, I'm experiencing a weird problem with Win 7..for the last 2 days I am unable to search within folders. When I use the search box in the top right hand corner to search, windows returns search results saying "no items found". This was working perfectly fine just a few days ago, where the files I searched for would be found and highlighted. Also, when I go to the "my documents" folder (or any folder for that matter), and open subfolders, it displays the folders as empty even though the preview (when I hover the mouse over the folder) says there are files inside, and I know for a fact there are files there! Sometimes only a few files are displayed, other times the folder appears empty.

I havent changed any settings or options on my computer. This is a really annoying problem, and the standard response from Dell is "reinstall the OS". I have a lot of documents and music and even though they have been backed up, it is just a pain to go through the whole process again. Any ideas what could be happening and how to fix this before I reinstall the whole thing?

Thanks!

 

[Petey7]

Open and elevated command prompt (right click command prompt and run as admin) and type SFC /SCANNOW. See if it finds any problems. BTW, SFC is System File Checker.

I would also test the hard drive to make sure it working properly. You can use HD Tune, Seatools, or the hard drive diagnostics tool made by your hard drive manufacturer.

 

[jeeper41]

Hi Petey7 thanks for the reply. The SFC says no problems detected. The funny thing is if I go to the "my documents" folder through the "C drive - all users - etc" my files are all there. But when I go directly through the "my documents" shortcut (either on my desktop or on the start menu" the files are missing.

 

[Petey7]

It sounds like the shortcut is messed up some how. The main thing is that your files are there. I was worried that the files had somehow been erased.

 

[NoN]

May be try those two MS hotfix....:

First:
The "Search programs and files" box does not display search results correctly in Windows 7 and in Windows 2008 R2

Second:
The "Search programs and files" box on the Start menu does not search files on network locations that are not indexed in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

That might not be directly related to the explorer search tab...!
Thought aswell you could check whenever are the settings of the Options Search Query (Indexing Options) in the Control Panel...

 

[remm]

May be try those two MS hotfix....:

First:
The "Search programs and files" box does not display search results correctly in Windows 7 and in Windows 2008 R2

Second:
The "Search programs and files" box on the Start menu does not search files on network locations that are not indexed in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

That might not be directly related to the explorer search tab...!
Thought aswell you could check whenever are the settings of the Options Search Query (Indexing Options) in the Control Panel...

I tried the second option as I have indexing turned off (extra hard drive work for too little gain), but M$ now makes you enter an email address to send a link with the hotfix! WTF! I used the mailinator service and got the link, but when I clicked, got a 404 page not found error from M$. Cut/pasted the link with the same result.

 

[NoN]

May be try those two MS hotfix....:

First:
The "Search programs and files" box does not display search results correctly in Windows 7 and in Windows 2008 R2

Second:
The "Search programs and files" box on the Start menu does not search files on network locations that are not indexed in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

That might not be directly related to the explorer search tab...!
Thought aswell you could check whenever are the settings of the Options Search Query (Indexing Options) in the Control Panel...

I tried the second option as I have indexing turned off (extra hard drive work for too little gain), but M$ now makes you enter an email address to send a link with the hotfix! WTF! I used the mailinator service and got the link, but when I clicked, got a 404 page not found error from M$. Cut/pasted the link with the same result.

So, why not enter your email to get that MS hotfix? Get it regular and they will send it to you in your mail box with the two passwords (take the first one, the second is in case) to extract it. There will be inside the mail a direct link clickable.

 

[remm]

So, why not enter your email to get that MS hotfix? Get it regular and they will send it to you in your mail box with the two passwords (take the first one, the second is in case) to extract it. There will be inside the mail a direct link clickable.

I did use an email address, like I said... I used Mailinator. Those are temporary email addresses that you can use in situations like this. The link to the hotfix arrived at mailinator, but is no good -- a 404 error as stated.

 

[NoN]

So, why not enter your email to get that MS hotfix? Get it regular and they will send it to you in your mail box with the two passwords (take the first one, the second is in case) to extract it. There will be inside the mail a direct link clickable.

I did use an email address, like I said... I used Mailinator. Those are temporary email addresses that you can use in situations like this. The link to the hotfix arrived at mailinator, but is no good -- a 404 error as stated.

I've save that patch...let me a minute to upload it for you as a x64.

Normally it doesn't link to a page 404, its a direct in the mail downloadable patch, it openned a pop-up window to "save as". Hope this help!

I've up the two patches:

 

[remm]

Many thanks, NoN!

 

[NoN]

Many thanks, NoN!

You're welcome! Keep us in touch if solved!

 

[remm]

Many thanks, NoN!

You're welcome! Keep us in touch if solved!

Unfortunately, did not solve. Installed the hotfix (the first one you uploaded refers to the "second solution" in the original post, which is what I needed -- the indexing fix) and added the reg key as noted in the instructions at M$ and rebooted.

The orb button -> search function just doesn't work. When I have it search for something, it just says nothing was found. (I created a txt file on the desktop to test it, and looked for other files that exist.)

Will keep looking for an answer...

 

[NoN]

Many thanks, NoN!

You're welcome! Keep us in touch if solved!

Unfortunately, did not solve. Installed the hotfix (the first one you uploaded refers to the "second solution" in the original post, which is what I needed -- the indexing fix) and added the reg key as noted in the instructions at M$ and rebooted.

The orb button -> search function just doesn't work. When I have it search for something, it just says nothing was found. (I created a txt file on the desktop to test it, and looked for other files that exist.)

Will keep looking for an answer...

It is because you previously disable the indexing option as you stated earlier post.

Go in "Program & Features=>Windows Features=>(check the box) "Windows search" & "Indexing service".

In Control Panel=>Indexing Options, rebuild your index and make sure you created a DWORD value 32bits for that Hotfix "EnableSearchingSlowLibrariesInStartMenu" set to 1.

Check also in Control Panel=>Administration Tools=>Services, that both "Indexing Service" & "Windows Search" are started and set to Automatic (delayed for windows search only)

 

[remm]

Thanks again, NoN! I was under the impression that indexing service did not need to be on if the hotfix was used, but now that I think about it, that is stupid! IAC it works now... (wonder if I had just turned on the darn service to begin with, it would have worked without the hotfix!). Much grass, dude.

 

[gregrocker]

Indexing Service doesn't need to be turned off except on low-resource machines with weak processors.

As you've learned here, tweaking in Win7 is counterproductive and will work against you. Those of us who beta tested it for over a year learned this the hard way as one-by-one the traditional Windows tweaks became counterproductive while Win7 became a perfectly balanced OS.

You also want it to use all or most of your RAM - that's what it's for. Only where the processor is below Win7 specs can editing visual effects and indexing claw back some performance.

 

[NoN]

Thanks again, NoN! I was under the impression that indexing service did not need to be on if the hotfix was used, but now that I think about it, that is stupid! IAC it works now... (wonder if I had just turned on the darn service to begin with, it would have worked without the hotfix!). Much grass, dude.

Glad you sorted it out! Anyway the Hotfix wasn't meant to be a bad one at least...you got both now!!. You're welcome...!