Windows 7 Search Programs and Files not working

Forums › Microsoft Windows › Windows 7 Search Programs and Files not working

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#165853 22-Feb-2015 22:39

Hi

I have done a fresh install of Windows 7, and the Search Programs and Files in the Start menu is not working.

Example, typing "msconfig" brings up nothing at all - the window is completely blank.

Any ideas please?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

Stu

Hammered
8754 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2415

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1244477 22-Feb-2015 22:57

Does this help at all?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/25343-windows-search-turn-off.html

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#1245126 23-Feb-2015 20:24

BigHammer: Does this help at all?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/25343-windows-search-turn-off.html

No - "Windows Search" is ticked. I unticked it, restarted, ticked it again, restarted, still no go.

And I can't search in Explorer, either - doesn't do anything.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

Stu

Hammered
8754 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2415

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1245253 23-Feb-2015 22:31

Bummer. Might not be a quick fix. Perhaps look through these and see if any of them help. Although, for it not to be working on a fresh installation is strange. Would it be a hassle to try installing Windows again?

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#1245262 23-Feb-2015 22:45

does Win7 have the "find and fix problems" under troubleshooting in the control panel? I can't remember that far back

if so, run the troubleshoot search and indexing wizard in there

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#1245453 24-Feb-2015 11:39

BigHammer: Bummer. Might not be a quick fix. Perhaps look through these and see if any of them help. Although, for it not to be working on a fresh installation is strange. Would it be a hassle to try installing Windows again?

If it was only the first time, maybe. But it would be the second, lol! That's just going too far...

I was having real problems with the PC hanging on the Welcome screen when restarting, but when it was turned off and back on it was fine. So I re-installed Windows to see if it fixed it, which it didn't.

I then discovered it was the Catalyst drivers for my new R7 260x - which despite trying all the "resolutions" I could find (including what I would have thought would have been a dead set certainty considering it was on the AMD site - http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-articles/Pages/GPU-141002.aspx) nothing has fixed it.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

trig42

5894 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2100

ID Verified

#1245486 24-Feb-2015 12:54

I would check your Hard Drive - run a CHKDSK on it (will do it on next boot, make sure your run the full one, takes quite a while).

Also, have you got the Chipset drivers installed? Any unknown devices in Device Manager?

Is there anything in the event viewer about Indexer not working or the service stopping?

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#1245605 24-Feb-2015 15:03

trig42: I would check your Hard Drive - run a CHKDSK on it (will do it on next boot, make sure your run the full one, takes quite a while). Also, have you got the Chipset drivers installed? Any unknown devices in Device Manager?

Is there anything in the event viewer about Indexer not working or the service stopping?

It's a new SSD - will CHKDSK work on that?

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries

nathan

5695 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1630
Inactive user

#1245610 24-Feb-2015 15:09

did you try the wizard?

Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter

If you're having problems locating specific files, folders, or other items on your computer, try using the Search and Indexing troubleshooter to fix the problem. It makes sure that the Windows Search service is running, and checks to see whether you have the correct permissions to search all the directories on your computer.

Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type troubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting. Click View all, and then click Search and Indexing.

timmmay

20867 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5350

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1245633 24-Feb-2015 15:31

I'd just reinstall - only takes 20 minutes. If it does it again apply all updates. You could try the repair option I guess.

BiggusDoggus

391 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 4

#1245956 24-Feb-2015 21:46

Fixed (found in another forum):

Navigate to this folder,
c:\Users\Your name\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\1033\
And delete the file StructuredQuerySchema.bin

Worked a treat.

Your mother was a hamster and your father smelled of elderberries