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
    2016-04-11T07:02:46+00:00

    I have a solution which might work for those who have yet to solve this problem.

    1. Create another Administrator account. (Click on the picture on top of your Start Menu > click Manage another account > click Create a new account)
    2. Switch your user to the newly-created Administrator account. (Press the arrow next to Shut Down and select Switch User)
    3. Open up your Start menu and type in regedit and open it.
    4. Go to/Expand HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settingsand select Internet Settings.
    5. Press File (on top), and press Export. Export the .reg file into a public folder or into C:\Program Files.
    6. Now Log off the newly-created Admin account and return back to your original account. Press Win + R to open up reged it.
    7. Press File and click on Import. Find the .reg file you exported and double click on it.
    8. Reboot your computer and there the problem should disappear.

    **You can remove the other Administrator account.

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-03-02T05:02:58+00:00

    Solved by updating missing registry. Try saving the following text as a .reg file and run the .reg file:

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}]

    "CanonicalName"="StartMenu"

    "LayoutType"=dword:00000001

    "Mode"=dword:00000001

    "MostRelevant"="prop:System.Author;System.Keywords"

    "PerceivedType"=dword:00000000

    "Theme"="default"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}\TopViews]

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}\TopViews{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}]

    "GroupBy"="System.StartMenu.Group"

    "LogicalViewMode"=dword:00000001

    "Name"="NoName"

    "Order"=dword:00000000

    "PrimaryProperty"="System.StartMenu.Group"

    "SortByList"="prop:-System.Search.Rank;-System.DateModified;System.ItemNameDisplay"

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