Windows 7 search doesn't work

Anonymous

Search box doesn't work. When I type for example 'notepad' it just finds follder where program stands 'Programs' and doesn't find the notepad exe.

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Anonymous

I found my answer here:

http://social.answers.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/w7files/thread/cc378149-8765-498a-9480-b1b494e1a1a9

In effect:

This issue can be caused if an invalid registry key for the Start Menu grouping values gets written to the following registry key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}\TopViews{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

The incorrect registry value is the GroupBy value, the incorrect value is most often “System.Null” but can appear as other values. The correct value should be “System.StartMenu.Group”

You can resolve the issue by follow one of the methods below:

Method 1: Delete the entire key:

To browse to and delete the registry key follow the steps below:

1. Click Start

2. In the Search programs and files box, type regedit

3. In the Programs list, click regedit.exe

If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or click Continue.

4. Browse to and click to select the following registry subkey:

5. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}

6. In the left side of the window right-click GroupByand click Modify

7. Change the value to System.StartMenu.Group and click OK, then close the registry editor

You'll need to reboot your computer for this change to take effect.

Method 2: Add the correct value of GroupBy value:

Follow the steps below to add the correct value to the GroupBy value:

1. Click Start

2. In the Search programs and files box, type regedit

3. In the Programs list, click regedit.exe

If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or click Continue.

4. Browse to and click to select the following registry subkey:

5. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}\TopViews{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}

6. In the left side of the window right-click GroupByand click Modify

7. Change the value to System.StartMenu.Group and click OK, then close the registry editor

You'll need to reboot your computer for this change to take effect.

Ken Smith

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Anonymous

Shukixxx,

Have you always experienced this issue, or is this a recent problem? If so, did you make any changes prior to the issue?

You may want to verify that search is turned on:

Click the Start button, click Control Panel, click Programs, and then click Turn Windows features on or off. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
To turn on a Windows feature on, select the check box next to the feature (in this case Windows Search). Click ok.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Lisa

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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Anonymous

You may want to try this

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.

Note

To make sure you have the most up-to-date troubleshooters from the Windows Online Troubleshooting Service, your computer should be connected to the Internet. For more information, see Troubleshooting in Windows.

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106 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-02-06T19:37:05+00:00

I have a very similar problem, and I find myself back here every few months just to see if Microsoft has a solution to the problem. They don't. None of the so-called fixes in this thread have solved my problem (no offense to those who post them). I am of the opinion that when a user wants to use a basic function that is a feature of the operating system on the computer they are using, it should just work. If there are some registry keys that need to be in place when a user begins typing in the search box, the windows explorer should make sure they are there. The user should not have to muck about in the registry in order to have a simple basic function work for them. Better yet, do not use the registry; rather, make the search operations a low level function of the disk management layer.

I have a folder on the network called data that I have mapped to H:\ drive. Inside that mapped drive is a folder called "forms". Inside that folder is an excel file, that I created using Microsoft Excel, entitled "Mileage Reimbursement Form.xls"

I can navigate to the folder, and I can see the file is there, and I can open it.

But, if I select my H: drive, and enter "Mileage Reimbursement" in the windows explorer search field, Microsoft windows search does not find the file. "No items match your search". It is so frustrating because I know it is there. So, when I am searching for other files, and this stupid Microsoft search cannot find it for me, it is intensely frustrating.

I installed Google search and if I double click my ctrl key and enter "Mileage Reimbursement", Google search finds it with no problem. I don't mind continuing to use the Google product, however, I find it deeply disturbing that the native operating system cannot search and find files on my computer simply and quickly. This is really a disappointment. I really should not have

Secondly, if I have a folder full of simple txt files, and I want to find a string in those text files, the Microsoft search fails again. "No items match your search". I can open the txt file and see the string I am searching for, yet Microsoft search cannot find it! This is just truly a sign of inferior programming. The operating system has a record of the files, and it will display those files. Yet, it cannot search them and display their contents? This is really amateurish and lazy on behalf of Microsoft and their development team.

I don't know who is QAing the product, but It seems to me the department needs to have a pep talk, and maybe hire some more thorough testers.

I also think Microsoft needs to re-evaluate their goals with the search function. The search should be all-inclusive, and if a user enters a string, the search should be able to find that string within any file.

I probably sound like a lunatic, but seriously; how can something so fundamental not work?

tldr; Microsoft; PLEASE fix your search function.
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Anonymous

2011-12-07T22:17:07+00:00

Tried the registry trick, didn't work. I continued searching for a solution and found the right answer. Basically the index has something wrong and Windows search doesn't work anymore.

In the start menu, type Indexing Options in the search box. Go to the advanced and click to delete and rebuild the index, the indexing should start rebuilding and Windows search service should be started.

Note: I had a directory being searched that was no longer available (it was deleted). C:\TMP I don't remember ever adding it to my search index or for that matter creating the directory, yet there it was, supposedly trying to index a folder that didn't exist.

Delete and rebuild the index, will fix the search issue
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