Vista - Index - Windows Search Service

Thanks Brink. A repair is more of a hassle than its worth. I'll just do a clean install.

Sorry about that. I hope this one runs smoother for you.

I am having a similar problem as discribed here with Windows Indexing not working.
In the tutorial I note:

2. Go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data (See screenshot below)
NOTE: You may notice that one or more of these folders may be missing from your window.
WARNING: If you installed the Windows Search 4.0 update, then you need to go to:
C:\Users\User_Name\AppData\Local\Search\Data instead.

In my machine, under the path: C:\users\robert\appdata\local There is not file "search." I therefore added it along with Data and all the other files as recommended. Nothing different. Any suggestions. I need to get this to work quickly as I need the indexing feature for an upcoming trial.

I should note that Windows Search 4.0 is installed. I tried reinstalling and got a message that "the update does not apply to your system."

I have 32 bit Vista Ultimate

Hello Speet, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Other than reinstalling Vista, you might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this problem may help.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for the quick reply!
Unfortunately I cannot risk the time and issues that can come with a reinstall right now. Can you consider two other things:

1). The Data Directory entry in regedit indicates: %programdata%\Microsoft\Search\Data\

I did go there and there are the files that were NOT in the C:\users\robert\appdata\local directory. However, the gathrprm.exe and schema.exe files in %programdata%\Microsoft\Search\Data\ appear to be the zero bit files I created yesterday.

Should I change the datadirectory entry in regedit? I note that my Vista 64 bit machine also shows the data directory as: %programdata%\Microsoft\Search\Data\ and everything works fine.

2). I think the problem may have been created by installing Nuance Software's professional PDF converter. Things ran slow after that. I uninstalled it some time ago. There are many error messages in the event log. I should also note that Windows Search 4 failed on the first install and then installed "correctly". Does that give any direction?

Unfortunately I do not have a system restore point far enough back.

Sorry Speet, but it looks like it is beyond a simple repair. I would recommend to just disable the index to have non-indexed searched instead. They may be a little bit slower, but they will always be accurate and up to date without your hard drive running as much to.

Sorry,
Shawn

Hi,

when I go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search
there are no entries, or subfolders, aside from a preferences folder that contains five cryptic entries such as this :- {0077B49E-E474-CE11-8C5E-00AA004254E2} , all with values of 1.

When I try to update to windows search 4.0 I receive an error 'the update does not apply to your system' - this is using update filename Windows6.0-KB940157-x86.msu

My system is Vista Home premium SP1.

There is no control panel icon for any index options.

When I open 'computer', then type in a search (to force the appearance of the search tools menu option across the top), then click on search tools, then click on indexing options - nothing happens. (IE no indexing options appear)

When I search for indexing options at start, no icons appear.

So, I removed windows search 4 update, reinstalled. Still no resolution, I still can't get to any indexing options.


UPDATE - problem resolved

As per this website, I ran the srchadmin.dll from an administrator cmd prompt. Once this sucessfully ran, I can now access the indexing options. Hope this helps someone.

Indexing Options missing from Control Panel in Windows Vista « Tom Doyle

Also, here is another way to get into indexing options - that would have probably resolved my issue as well.

Indexing Options is missing from the Control Panel - iTechtalk

As a side note, making changes to the indexing options (such as index location) is now creating entries in the empty preferences registry key mentioned at the start of this note. Cheers, Xenek

Hello Xenek, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm happy to hear that you got it resolved. If it happens again, then you might also check to see if it may have been hidden from the Control Panel as well.

Control Panel - Hide Icon

Yeah, funny - I tried that earlier. There were a bunch of other icons hidden but not the indexing icon. Beats me!

Umm, strange indeed.