Vista - Search Indexing won't work at all - greyed out

I've had my Vista-based laptop four months now, and finally getting enough
email and files that searches are becoming a problem...My indexing doesn't
exist somehow. Does anyone know how to turn it on?

I've gone into the Indexing Options in the control panel - everything is
greyed out except the CLOSE button. No files are listed, and I cannot click
on MODIFY or ADVANCED.

When I'm in MS Outlook and Click on "Indexing Status", I get a pop up error
message saying " Cannot find this file. Verify the path and file name are
correct.

I have several PST files that I use for work and inevitably my searches will
exclude half of my emails. Lately I've had to troll file by file through my
emails.. not pretty

I've been unable to find anything in online Help relating to this situation.
Has anyone seen it before and if so, what am I missing; what do I need to do?

THANKS in advance
--
Paula

Hi Paula,

See if doing all four steps in this tutorial will get the Index Options not being grayed out and the Index working for you again.

Index - Windows Search Service

Shawn

I've had this same problem too (for weeks and weeks).

I've also tried the instructions in that link - apparently everything on the net links to Index - Windows Search Service

No luck (have tried it many times and many variations).

I have Vista-Home edition. Service pack 1 - all updates applied.

The Indexing Options "box" is all grayed out. I cannot edit anything. And again - the instructions in "How to Fix the Start Error for Windows Search Service to Enable the Index in Vista" have all been done.

Anytime I search using explorer I get some message about turning on indexing (and when I click, it tells me indexing not available). And this causes even more havoc within Outlook contact list searches (apparently uses the same indexing)

HELP!

Thanks ; )

Run sfc /scannow.
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"cornell2" <cornell2.3742g5@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:cornell2.3742g5@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...

OK .. reporting back.
ran ... SFC /Scannow
saw a quick flicker of a dos command window pop up and disappear. And that's it. Indexing etc still severly broken.
Perhaps there were more details to the solution?

Run sfc /scannow in Safe Mode.

If no joy:

Do a thorough check for malware, following all of the steps at one of these
Web pages.
Help with malware:
All MS-MVP Sites.
Consider this: Whenever a new error condition appears on your computer, it
is almost certain that there was some change to the computer soon before the
problem began.
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm
Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315
http://aumha.org/a/quickfix.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/...moving_Malware
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/darnit.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.php

Unexplained computer behavior may be caused by deceptive software.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827315

So How Did I Get Infected Anyway?
For quite a few people it's by installing programs like Messenger Plus,
whose ads for malware don't identify the malware as such and try to convince
you that you owe it to the author. See also:
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=27971

Don't ever do a "default" install of anything. Always choose Custom and see
what else is
being carried along. Don't install any extras you're not sure of.
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*Report back, please*
[When responding to posts, please include the post(s) you are replying to so
that others may learn and benefit from the issue]

[How to ask a question]
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

"cornell2" <cornell2.375edb@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
news:cornell2.375edb@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net...

I will try it - but I need to point out that this entire thread is about several people experiencing this problem (as well as many others all around the net).

The problem did not suddenly appear - but is one that many people experience with Vista. I've been having this issue for months and months (I guess for as long as I've had vista)

Also I am quite certain I've got all the basics covered (no virus s/w conflicts, malware etc etc).

I don't think this issue is specific to my machine. There are a set of odd conditions on Vista that causes this state of affairs (just like the ubiquitous complaint that Vista is amazingly slow in copying/renaming/deleting files - this is not due to any newbie blunder, but is a major downside of vista)

Thanks for the attempt. Has anyone had direct experience with this specific indexing issue?

I would suggest trying the preview of Windows Search 4, which updates the
Vista indexer with a newer version with many bug fixes:

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/wi...0-preview.aspx


"cornell2" <cornell2.375j83@xxxxxx-mx.forums.net> wrote in message
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