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

Remember - This is a public forum so never post private information such as email or phone numbers!

Ideas:

Programs you are having problems with
Error messages
Recent changes you made to your computer
What you have already tried to fix the problem

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.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

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

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum

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

us know what you think.

0 comments

62 additional answers

Anonymous

2012-10-05T06:31:02+00:00
HERE'S A SIMPLE SOLUTION. IT'S EASY AND IT WORKS!

YOU JUST NEED DISABLE INDEXING CERTAIN FOLDER, THEN RE-ENABLE INDEXING THAT FOLDER. THEN THAT FOLDER BECOMES SEARCHABLE INCLUDING THE CONTENT!
1. Press start button, enter "search" in the search field, and select "Change how windows searches" This will allow you to see if the system is indexing.
2. Open File Explorer
3. Right-click the directory that you want to index (e.g. C:\Users\Myself) and select Properties.
4. Select Advanced...
5. Uncheck "Allow files in this folder to have contexts indexed..."
6. Click OK, then click "Apply"
Watch the system run indexing to apply the changes. When indexing completes, do the same thing as above except to turn back on the "Allow files..." at step 4.

Ta-dah~ Once the indexing completes, test it by opening an existing file, add some random word, save & close it, wait a few seconds, then search for that term. The search result will pop up. (It may not pop up as fast as you might imagine. Just wait a few seconds.)
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2012-05-28T00:06:44+00:00

got stuck on second step!!

( Right-click CMD listed above and click "Run as administrator".)

nothing I right-clicked had that option.....
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2012-05-27T22:55:34+00:00

Thanks som

will try
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2012-05-25T10:05:43+00:00

Does not work for me but thanks for reposting! Hope it helps others.

MICROSOFT:

I posted in this thread 7 mos ago and am still waiting for your giant, rich, oh-so-advanced company to provide a simple fix for this issue that I easily can download as a update. Does the customer mean so little to you? Do you think you're too big to fail? I cannot fathom why you haven't deigned to just go ahead and fix your lousy search function? Please, what's the plan? Inquiring minds need to know.

This is the second time I am posting this IT IS EASY AND IT WORKS!!!

I got an easy fix from a user after trying all their suggestions that never work. This worked for me

.

In Windows 7, right click on the LOGO start button, select PROPERTIES, then select CUSTOMIZE on the start menu tab. Scroll down to "search other files and libraries" and select either search with public or without public folders (or hit RESTORE DEFAULTS) at the bottom. Apply, hit ok and search away.

The paragraph above is just how he explained it. His exact words. I followed these instructions and I finally found all my doc files and individual doc files. Why this was set not to search the libraries is absolutely stunning stupid to me. I did not hit "restore defaults because I was afraid it would go back the way it was.

It is easy enough to do and very logical so give it a try.

Joan

P.S. The guys name was Paul - that is all I know.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments