Windows 7 start menu search not working

Anonymous
2010-02-15T02:37:21+00:00

Whenever I try to search in my Start Menu, I only get ghost search results which I cannot open:

![](http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r215/dimkasmir/img1.png)

In many places I have seen instructions to delete the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6} key in order to fix this issue but it is not showing up in my registry:

![](http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r215/dimkasmir/img2.png)

Anyone have any suggestions? All help would be greatly appreciated!

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

Windows for home | Other | Search, touch, and mouse

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2011-01-28T03:20:49+00:00

This one can be solved,   or least it's solved on my computer.  .    Right click on Start and then on Properties.  On the screen that comes up, click on Customize.    Then scroll down near the bottom of that list to  "Search othe files and libraries.  Insert a radio button just on   "Search with Public Folders"  This did it for me.  Oldnerd

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Anonymous
2010-02-16T01:04:39+00:00

Hi dimkasmir,

Your index requires virtually no maintenance. However, if the index has problems finding files that you know should be located in an indexed location, you might need to rebuild the index. This can take a long time to complete, so avoid performing this step unless you have given the index enough time (several hours) to correct any problems first. To rebuild the index:

1.      Open Indexing and Search Options by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Indexing Options.

2.      Click Advanced, click the Index Settings tab, and then click Rebuild. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Improve-Windows-searches-using-the-index-frequently-asked-questions

You may also refer the below mentioned links.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Open-the-Search-and-Indexing-troubleshooter

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Change-advanced-indexing-options

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Improve-Windows-searches-using-the-index-frequently-asked-questions

 Hope this information helped!

 Thanks and regards,

 Fouzan – Microsoft support.

 Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum 

 http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-%20US/answersfeedback/threads and let 

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-12-14T18:06:10+00:00

    I found that a .bin file in a specific location can become corrupt and cause Search to fail in both Windows Explorer and in Outlook 2010, ("show hidden files/folders" must be active):

    C:\Users(User Name)\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\1033\StructuredQuerySchema.bin

    Note that this same issue can cause your Windows Search to fail or just do nothing. Once I found and deleted this file, both my Windows Search (from the Windows Explorer Search) and the MS Outlook Search worked flawlessly, as it was forced to rebuild a clean version.

    What I sleuthed out is that when the computer in question had a shutdown (power interruption) while a search was open, the .bin file because marked as corrupted and a second one was created as StructuredQuerySchema(1).bin . One showed as encrypted and compressed and one showed normal. For some reason, neither was acceptable to Windows Search (which is the component that allows both Windows Explorer and Outlook to search) and so it would cause Outlook 2010 to crash and restart, and Windows Explorer search to do nothing.

    James Walker

    IT Support Specialist/IT Suppot Contractor

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  2. Anonymous
    2010-12-03T02:09:56+00:00

    lol accidently proposed as answer. um

    anyway i had the same problem as Home in Issaquah, no search results.  turns out a customization option was deselected, to change it back:

    right click on your start menu, go to properties

    go to the start menu tab and click the customize... button

    scroll down and make sure the check box entitled "search programs and control panel" is checked

    you can also select the radio buttoned item just above that to search "other libraries and folders or something"

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  3. Anonymous
    2010-10-01T23:31:41+00:00

    I have the same problem and did the indexing as suggested above and I still can't find anything in the search. I'm operating no other virus software than windows 7 provides.

    You referred to other links. should I also try them?

    Please assist

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