Windows 8.1 Search/Indexing Will not Start - Error 2: The system could not find the file specified.

Anonymous

Original title: Windows 8.1 Search/Indexing Will not Start

Running Windows 8.1 and the indexing has stopped. When I go to services and try and restart the windows search service i get the message....

Windows could not start Windows Search service on the local computer.

Error 2: The system could not find the file specified

I've tried disabeling, rebooting and renabling but this did not work.

I've also did a completly fresh install, which fixed the problem, for about 2 days and back to the exact same error now.

Searched on the internet but cannot find any refrence to Error 2 and windows 8 search. Tried some of the simular fixes reported to different error codes in windows 7 but none matched exactly and none worked.

Any help appreciated, only thing I can think of is that it may be windows 8.1 related? As never had problems with windows 8

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

I experienced the same problema and i FIXED it!! after chatting with Microsoft technical service many times, the solution give was: format your PC and reinstall Windows..

However, thanks to Gary and his clue... i fixed and this is my solution (it Works for me now)

I renamed (you can try to delete, but i always like to rename to have an easy way to restore) the key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\FileChangeClientConfigs{A010C594-BAB6-4690-952C-28A0C0365307} value=ScopeToMonitor

renamed to

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\FileChangeClientConfigBAK{A010C594-BAB6-4690-952C-28A0C0365307} value=ScopeToMonitor

and then started the Windows search sercvice (services.msc).. and right now its working. Its already indexing my files!!

The Windows search service automatically created a new entre in the registry named:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\FileChangeClientConfigs

I rebooted my laptop and the service started automatically and its working and indexing!!

Hope this patch helps!

Sergio

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Anonymous

Hi everyone, after 4 months of trying to solve this issue without reinstalling the OS, here is my solution!

(all other remedies failed)

Suggest you start with USB memory stick and format (I used NTFS)

This is a little laborious but works...

Open [Services] application, scroll down to [Windows Search] double click and set to Automatic on Startup type:

Open [This PC] to show available drives and ensure you can see your new USB drive, then click on [Manage]. Under [Storage] menu click on [Disk Management].

Click on the new USB drive box (bottom of window), it should show Drive 1 Removable

Right button click and select [Change Drive Letter and Paths...], then select the aspirate USB drive and literally work through the alphabet (avoiding drive letters that are already in use). Each time you change the drive letter, reboot your PC and check to see if [Services] has started 'ruining' [Windows Search]

Once you have figured out which is the correct drive to enable [Windows Search] service to run, then I suggest you partition some space on your hard drive and rename it to the appropriate drive letter that you know works! (Don't forget to format)

Hope that works for you as it fixed my issue

Thanks to everyone for making the world a better place

Think responsibly

Dom

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140 additional answers

Anonymous

2013-10-29T18:32:27+00:00

I have tried ALL of these and none of them fix the problem Cannot rebuild the index because it can't find the file. scannow finds NOTHING troubleshooting search and index does NOTHING I tried getting a phone call from Microsoft Tech Support and when it, FINALLY, connected all I got was static and some broken music playing faintly in the background and finally just hung up because the call was not successful. You play **** getting any support out of Microsoft from AMERICANS who can speak English.

====================

Hi Scott, Refer to these steps in the order in which they are presented and check. Method 1: Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter to diagnose the exact issue. Follow the steps mentioned below. a. Press “Windows key + W”. b. Type “Troubleshooting” without quotes in the Search box and hit enter. c. Select “View all” option from the left panel. d. Select “Search and Indexing”. e. Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter. Method 2: I would suggest you to run System File Check (SFC), and then check if this fixes the issue. Follow the steps: a. Press “Windows Key + Q” button from the keyboard. b. Type “Command Prompt” without quotes in the search box. c. On the left pane, right click on the “Command Prompt” option and select “Run as Administrator”. d. Type “sfc /scannow” without quotes and hit enter (There should be space between sfc and /). Note: It may ask for windows installation DVD to fix and to enable SFC to make more than minor repairs. Some files saved on your computer might get deleted when fixing corrupted files. Method 3: Rebuild the Windows 8 Search Index and check. Refer to these steps. a. Move the mouse pointer to the lower-left corner of the screen until you see the Start tile appear. b. Right-click the Start tile and select Control Panel. c. Select Small icons or Large icons on the View by menu in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window. d. Click Indexing Options. e. Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the Indexing Options window. This displays a new window titled Advanced Options. f. Click the Index Settings tab if it isn’t selected already. g. Click the Rebuild button to delete and rebuild the file index. h. Click OK to confirm. Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.
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Anonymous

2013-10-29T15:56:35+00:00

Hi Scott,

Refer to these steps in the order in which they are presented and check.

Method 1:

Run the Search and Indexing Troubleshooter to diagnose the exact issue.

Follow the steps mentioned below.

a.         Press “Windows key + W”.

b.         Type “Troubleshooting” without quotes in the Search box and hit enter.

c.         Select “View all” option from the left panel.

d.         Select “Search and Indexing”.

e.         Follow the on-screen instructions to run the troubleshooter.

Method 2:

I would suggest you to run System File Check (SFC), and then check if this fixes the issue.

Follow the steps:

a.      Press “Windows Key + Q” button from the keyboard.

b.      Type “Command Prompt” without quotes in the search box.

c.       On the left pane, right click on the “Command Prompt” option and select “Run as Administrator”.

d.      Type “sfc /scannow” without quotes and hit enter (There should be space between sfc and /).

Note: It may ask for windows installation DVD to fix and to enable SFC to make more than minor repairs. Some files saved on your computer might get deleted when fixing corrupted files.

Method 3: Rebuild the Windows 8 Search Index and check. Refer to these steps.

a.       Move the mouse pointer to the lower-left corner of the screen until you see the Start tile appear.

b.      Right-click the Start tile and select Control Panel.

c.       Select Small icons or Large icons on the View by menu in the upper-right corner of the Control Panel window.

d.      Click Indexing Options.

e.       Click the Advanced button at the bottom of the Indexing Options window. This displays a new window titled Advanced Options.

f.       Click the Index Settings tab if it isn’t selected already.

g.      Click the Rebuild button to delete and rebuild the file index.

h.      Click OK to confirm.

Hope this information helps you. Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.
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