Windows Search - Turn On or Off

Layback Bear · 09 Sep 2011

Brink said:

I don't think you would have any problems, but you could give it a try and see if you do. If you do, you could always just turn "Windows Search" back on with no harm no foul.

When I get it back form the computer shop I will try it. The motherboard had two memory slots dead out of the box. The computer in my specs. I'm using my old standby now.

kjerstiiann · 18 Nov 2011

I went into Control Panel>Programs and Features>Turn Windows features on or off and the Windows Search box is checked. (Meaning turned on) I click "OK" and it says, "An error occurred. Not all of the features were successfully changed." I repeat this over and over and it says the same thing. I also tried the pressing Windows+"R" option, and Windows Search cannot be found. HEEEEELLLLLLLPPPP

Brink · 18 Nov 2011

Hello Kjerstiiann, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Do you have the Search tab in Folder Options like in the example screenshot at the top of the tutorial?

If you press Windows + F, does it open a search window?

kjerstiiann · 18 Nov 2011

No I do not have the search tab. When I press Windows+F is says, "Class not registered." But When I push Windows+R a search bar opens.

Brink · 18 Nov 2011

Kjerstiiann,

You might see if unchecking "Windows Search" and clicking OK in Windows Features to turn it off, then afterwards turn it back on may toggle it to work again.

If that didn't work and you have a restore point available dated before this happened, then it may be easier to do a system restore with it to hopefully fix this for you.

If not, then you could see if running a sfc /scannow command may help.

kjerstiiann · 18 Nov 2011

Well, my computer recently crashed. I just got it back from the repair shop. I have already recovered all of my old files including music and photos along with personal changes. If I do the System Restore will I lose all of the data I just restored?

Brink · 19 Nov 2011

You shouldn't, but I would recommend to back them up somewhere to be on the safe side.

kjerstiiann · 19 Nov 2011

Now if I do request System Restart am I guaranteed that the Windows Search will reappear? Or is this just another option to try and recover it.

Brink · 19 Nov 2011

There's no guarantee that doing a system restore will fix it, but if you select a restore point dated before you had these search issues, then there's a good chance that it would.

zapp22 · 28 Nov 2011

Brink, similar but not identical to a previous post: is there a way to simply not have Win Search begin running at the first keystroke?

and another: because I am a 'tree' sort of thinker/organizer, I usually know pretty closely where I will find some thing I am looking for, and I rather miss the Windows xp type of advanced search where I could do date, date range, size of file, etc. versus having to remember exactly how to form a proper search string with filter indicators is a waste of brainpower... is there something about Windows Search I'm missing that would make such precision easy?