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

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
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
    2013-12-27T15:30:56+00:00

    I followed this suggestion and it seemed to work.  At least it has been working for a couple hours.  I also uninstalled System Mechanic.  That didn't fix anything but I wanted to avoid future problems.

    I uninstalled System Mechanic, too. Doesn't seem to be worth the risk. For what it's worth, I reported this issue to Iolo a month or so ago. Since then, they released version 12.5, which didn't fix the problem. I reported it again. Here's their response:

    1. Open System Mechanic and click on History.
    2. Under SafetyNet click on Open.
    3. Click on the box next to each Optimize Registry action.
    4. Click on Undo this action and click yes.
    5. Click on exit and restart your computer.
    6. Once your computer reboots launch System Mechanic again.
    7. Click on Toolbox and Individual tools.
    8. Click on the Repair Problems tab.
    9. Click on Start on Registry Tuner.
    10. Under the Advance section click on the circle for Custom Optimization and Repair.
    11. Click Next.
    12. Click Next once more.
    13. Under Exclusions check the box next to "Automatically exclude irreparable items from subsequent searches.
    14. Click on Add.
    15. Check the boxes next to "Key name" and "Exclude this key, all subkeys and values.
    16. Click on browse
    17. Click on HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
    18. Click on Software.
    19. Click on the "Microsoft" folder.
    20. Click on the Windows Search folder.
    21. Click on "Exclude this selected key".
    22. Click OK and Click Next.

    Reboot your computer and Windows Search should work normally.

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-12-27T18:47:59+00:00

    FIXED!!

    I fixed my Windows search error 2:

    1- delete this entry in the registry

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

    2- run services.msc and start manually the Windows search service. This will créate a new entry in oyur registry (same name like the one deleted in the step 1)

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

    and... magic! It Works!!!

    br

    Sergio

    Hi Sergio,

    I cannot find any key called  FileChangeClientConfig under the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\

    What do I do exactly do so that a new entry is automatically created in my registry as suggested by you above when you recommended :run services.msc and start manually the Windows search service.

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-12-31T21:57:44+00:00

    Thanks Scott for the posting and Sergio for the solution. I had the same trouble with Outlook 2010 a few weeks ago, which was fixed somewhat by MS 2nd echelon. Now, it happened again today with the red People tile. Online help couldn't fix it, so I was going to speak to 2nd echelon again tomorrow. Then, I happened across this posting. The solution seemed to have completely fixed both ends. Thanks so much.

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