I am having a terrible experience with getting the "Windows Search" service
to start/run. I would greatly appreciate advice/suggestions for finding a
"fix" for it.

Here are the details so far.

Similarities to previously mentioned "Windows Search" service problems:

When I attempt to start the "Windows Search" service manually, I get an
error message box which says: "Windows could not start the Windows Search on
Local Computer. For more information, review the System Event Log. If this
is a non-Microsoft service, contact the service vendor, and refer to
service-specific error code - 2147218141)"

Related services (RPC and DCOM S.P.L.) running, no problems (that I can tell).

In the Control Panel, in the Indexing Options dialog box, the window
displayes "Indexing not running". Both the "Modify" and "Advanced" buttons
are grayed out (I can not make any changes).

running SFC /scannow had no effect

The folder: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data " is present and has 3
folders in it. They are: "Applications", "Config", and "Temp".

The folder: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Config" is present and
contains two files: gathrprm.txt and schema.txt.

Here is something that I thought seemed peculiar. In the registry at:
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows
Search\Gather\Windows\SystemIndex\Sites\{s-1-5-21-2809944867-2680333499-3313531811-1107}\Paths\15"
when I click on the "15", I get an error message saying, "15 cannot be
opened. An error is preventing this key from being opened. Details: The
system cannot find the file specified." Along that same registry path, under
the "Sites" key, there are four peer keys; the one I mentioned and three more
with similar names.

Does the latter info shed any light as to what's going on with my PC? I am
open to and would greatly appreciate any suggestions (short of totally
reinstalling) anyone may have.

Thanks in advance for any ideas/suggestions on helping me get this resolved,
Brad

ps: I have read Nevet's similar post on 7/31/2007