Windows 7 search does not work for documents, broken, no results

Anonymous

My search function does not pull up files, specifically Microsoft Works word documents, that contain words i entered into the search bar.

I've tried searching through the document libraries and through the start menu, but it says "no items match your search." I've tested this by writing the words "smart world" in a document and the search function still can't find this document.

NOTE: search is not completely broken. it will return results for programs and items in the control panel. Results also return ONE document, and always the same one, which is the first word document i created on this computer.

i've spent an hour finding my way to this forum. along the way, i've seen some complicated fixes on other forums that have not worked for all. i am not a programmer and do not want to try some complicated fix that could damage my already frail and prone to stupid errors hard drive.

I'm using a Dell Inspiron 15 with win 7 32bit that was a free upgrade with the computer.

make it work for me MS!

SO MY QUESTION IS: how can i fix my windows 7 search feature so that it will pull up ms works word document files containing the words that i typed into the search bar?

I am completely enervated by all of this.

Thank you so much for any help you can provide!

rob

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Anonymous

Hi rob,

If you are experiencing problems with searching, such as unusually slow searches or incomplete search results, run the Search and Indexing troubleshooter to see if it can diagnose the problem.

Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter by clicking 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.

Depending on the severity of the problem, the Search and Indexing troubleshooter might need to restart the Windows Search service.

For further information, visit the below mentioned link:

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

You may also refer the below mentioned link.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Searching-in-Windows-frequently-asked-questions

If this not help, you may create a new user account and check if the issue persist.

For further information, visit the below mentioned link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/Windows7/Create-a-user-account

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/Windows7/Fix-a-corrupted-user-profile

Hope this information helped!

Thanks and regards

Fouzan – Microsoft support

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62 additional answers

Anonymous

2011-10-31T06:52:51+00:00

hello------i have the same problem --- but----wow----i mean----wow--all this is----wow---WINK---but ----WOW
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Anonymous

2011-11-05T22:44:12+00:00

Hello White-Alligator,

Are you performing a search from the Start menu? When you open Windows Explorer, what location is selected? (example: Libraries) Are you able to find documents if you do a search in the Search Libraries field?

Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, typetroubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting. ClickView all, and then click Search and Indexing.

Please let us know status.
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Anonymous

2011-11-16T10:06:35+00:00

hello james sorry it took so long to get back,,and my search is still very, very agravating but agin i have learned to work around it. Never ever had a single and i mean none at all any problems with search on XP ---why in the world change something that worked so well. My guess is so microsoft could say its new. My search in windows 7 cant find itself. thanks tho.
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Anonymous

2011-12-03T15:51:11+00:00

Hello White-Alligator,

Are you performing a search from the Start menu? When you open Windows Explorer, what location is selected? (example: Libraries) Are you able to find documents if you do a search in the Search Libraries field?

Open the Search and Indexing troubleshooter by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, typetroubleshooter, and then click Troubleshooting. ClickView all, and then click Search and Indexing.

Please let us know status.

I have had this issue for 3 mons now---have tried the above and everything else MS and others have suggested. NOthing works, Please advise.

Windows Search TroubleshooterPublisher details

Issues found

Windows Search is crashing or failingWindows Search is crashing or failing

Windows Search crashes or fails after it has started. Additionally, an

event ID 7042, 100, or 1000 is logged in the Windows event log, or the

Windows Search service is not running.Not fixed

Reset Windows SearchSucceeded

Windows Search does not start and gives an error messageWindows Search

does not start and gives an error message

Windows Search does not show any search results and there is an error

message on startup. An Event ID 1006 or 3024 is logged in the Windows

event log, or Windows Search service is not running.Not fixed

Reset Windows SearchSucceeded

Windows Search does not show any resultsWindows Search does not show any

results

Windows Search does not show any results. Additioanlly, an event ID 7040

is logged in the Windows event log, or Windows Search service is not

running.Not fixed

Reset Windows SearchSucceeded

Issues foundDetection details

6Windows Search is crashing or failingNot fixed

Windows Search crashes or fails after it has started. Additionally, an

event ID 7042, 100, or 1000 is logged in the Windows event log, or the

Windows Search service is not running.

Reset Windows SearchSucceeded

This resolver will reset the search database and restart the Windows

Search service. This enables Windows to re-index all files and

resolve this problem.

6Windows Search does not start and gives an error messageNot fixed

Windows Search does not show any search results and there is an error

message on startup. An Event ID 1006 or 3024 is logged in the Windows

event log, or Windows Search service is not running.

Reset Windows SearchSucceeded

This resolver will reset the search database and restart the Windows

Search service. This enables Windows to re-index all files and

resolve this problem.

6Windows Search does not show any resultsNot fixed

Windows Search does not show any results. Additioanlly, an event ID 7040

is logged in the Windows event log, or Windows Search service is not

running.

Reset Windows SearchSucceeded

This resolver will reset the search database and restart the Windows

Search service. This enables Windows to re-index all files and

resolve this problem.

Detection details

Collection information

Computer Name: JULIA-PC

Windows Version:6.1

Architecture:amd64

Time:Saturday, December 03, 2011 9:22:48 AM

Publisher details

Windows Search Troubleshooter

Automatically repair Windows Search problems, such as database corruption,

crashes and startup failures.

Package Version:1.0

Publisher:Microsoft Corporation
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