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

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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
    2011-04-21T11:38:24+00:00

    Nick Brozack, I dont believe this!. After spending 2 days with registry entries, resetting search, rebuilding index and using microsofts automated troubleshooter etc, search still did not work. And yet this simple tip of yours was all it needed!!!!  Why can't microsoft support use their brains?

    Thank you!

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-03-15T05:28:08+00:00

    So guys, finally I have fixed this issue.

    Read the Microsoft KB article in my previous post.

    These are the steps done by me.

    1. Make a backup of the registry key I wanted to delete
    2. Delete the registry key
    3. Reboot.
    4. Removed McAfee (dont think this is needed)
    5. Reboot
    6. Installed the Hotfix
    7. Reboot
    8. Check if it works (in my case it did not).
    9. Check the registry again and again deleted the key
    10. Reboot
    11. Check if it works (in my case it did not).
    12. Restore the original registry key which I had backed up.

    Voila!!! It worked. May be you need not go through the entire sequence, but I just wrote what I did, in case it is helpful !

    Thanks guys...

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  3. Anonymous
    2011-03-14T13:57:18+00:00

    Guys there seems to be a hotfix

    See this

    http://support.microsoft.com/kb/977380/en-us

    I am just going to try this now.

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