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

Anonymous
2013-10-28T21:17:00+00:00

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

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Search, touch, and mouse

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Anonymous
2013-11-25T15:31:34+00:00

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
2014-11-16T03:26:40+00:00

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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  1. Anonymous
    2014-07-20T15:40:06+00:00

    Hi Steve,

    I tend to agree with you that there is some kind of "oversensitivity" in Windows 8.1 for this issue.

    Nevertheless the problem is caused by non-Microsoft programs that should not interfere with the MS file-search registration keys if that is not ment to be.

    You are using Avast, which is an "OK" but not the very best of antivirus programs (best performing at this moment are BitDefender and ESET - commercial versions). In many cases spyware or advertisement malware will not be found by anti-virus programs.

    CCleaner will only remove system clutter, but will not remove any spyware or advertisement malware either.

    So, in spite of the use of Avast and CCleaner, your system can very well be infected by spyware or advertisement malware.

    Spyware or advertisement malware can slow down your system seriously and tamper it's normal functions (like rebuilding the registration files) in my experience.

    Therefore I strongly suggest you to run at least SuperAntiSpyware, followed by Adwcleaner, followed by JRT.exe, as suggested above. They are all freely available and will prove to be indispensable additions to you regular maintenance toolbox. Be surprised what they will find and what this means to your systems health!

    Regards,

    Frans

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-07-20T14:55:42+00:00

    Thanks Frans for trying to help.

    It's beyond me too.

    I have never used "System Mechanic". I use Avast and CCleaner fwiw.

    My feeling is that it is an 8.1 problem.

    I avoid all the other obvious tripfalls you mentioned.

    It's irritating reading that "Sergio's solution worked. " blah blah  etc. etc. Then from someone else "oh dear no, it didn't."

    This problem is 13 pages long at time of writing.

    It's an MS problem and it would be lovely to hear from THEM either

    a) they're working on it

    b) that THEY have a solution.

    I did discover Xobni through this thread so all is not bad. Outlook takes a bit of a speed hit but Xobni works quite well.

    Thanks

    Steve

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-07-20T13:53:12+00:00

    This is strange ...

    After restart you should find a new FileChangeClientConfigs set of keys, apart from the one you have called ...BAK. This means that the system is not rebuilding the registry after restart as it should be.

    Maybe it is not a bad idea to do an overall cleanup for viruses and other malware (trojans, spyware, advertisement software), followed by a full defragmentation and optimisation of the system.

    Usefull free available programs that I use and prefer are:

    • for anti-virus: ESET Online scanner or Kaspersky Rescue disk,
    • for other malware: SuperAntiSpyware,
    • eventually, for serious trouble: Adwcleaner.exe, followed by JRT.exe (peculiar DOS-box program)
    • for system optimisation: Piriform CCleaner (for disk cleaning only) and Auslogics disk defrag (defrag & optimise).

    TAKE CARE to download these programs from original manufacturers sites only!!

    (Intermediate sites kan insert unwanted malware!)

    In general:

    • NEVER trust messages, coming out of the blue, telling your system is "slow" or whatever ...
    • NEVER install "useful or handy" toolbars.
    • NEVER click on links in emails without a trustworthy explanation by someone you know.

    PS: System Mechanic is an all-in system maintenance tool by a company called iOlo.

    This product performed well up to Windows 8, but disrupted the Windows search option in the registry of Windows 8.1

    Similar problems have been reported for Windows 8.1 in connection with other programs (see other comments in this threat). The disrupting program mus be disabled first of course, if that is the case.

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