Solved Start menu search

[SAElmer]

I'm new to the forum, however I couldn't find any discussion regarding my issue.

With Vista Home Prem. SP2, I have trouble using the Start Menu search box to locate - and display anything - especially not Windows Maint aps like REGEDIT or MSCONFIG

They just don't show up until I click on "Search Everywhere".

I have used various indexing options, but nothing has really changed.

I'm sure Im missing something here, but am blind to it w/o your help.

Thanks

 

[richc46]

Welcome
Try to type cmd in search
Right click on cmd and run as adminstrator
Then type msconfig

 

[SAElmer]

I have to laugh.. because CMD isn't visible either. Basically anything but user created files are not directly searchable.

 

[Lorien]

Hi SAElmer,

It sounds like the Search function isn't configured to find all the items for which you want to search.

Right click on Start and click on properties. Click on the Start Menu Tab, click on Start Menu, and click on Customize. Scroll down to the Search section and check every box related to search (not all required for this, but it makes search work better though it will take just a little bit longer to do it - not much longer), but especially the one that says Search Programs (which is why these items are not showing up). Click OK.

Now go to Start / Search Box and type msconfig.exe and enter. At the very top of the results should be a listing of programs including, in this case, only this one. Double-click on that program icon and after the UAC prompt (you may need to enter an administrator username and password if logged in as a standard user) it will open and you'll be there. While this shouldn't happen (it doesn't happen to me), if you get an "Access Denied" message, instead of double-clicking, right click on the program icon and click Run as Administrator and that should solve the problem - but again, I don't think this will be necessary.

You could do the same now with cmd.exe or regedit.exe or most Vista programs of that nature - or even the Control Panel options like services.msc.

I hope this helps. If this doesn't work (and it should), then post back and we'll adjust the search settings themselves and rebuild the search index. I honestly don't think that will be required, but if so we'll do it and THAT will most certainly solve the problem.

Good luck!

P.S. I assume you have Windows Search 4.0 (it should have downloaded as an update). Check to make sure. Go to Start / Control Panel / Programs and Features / Installled Updates and scroll to Windows Search 4.0 in the Windows Section (mine came 9/2/09). If it isn't there, you can upgrade to it at: Windows Search 4.0.

 

[SAElmer]

Thanks Lorien - That's exactly what I needed. I just had "search users files" checked. Once I added the whole index and programs, everything is now good! Thanks for the education.

BTW, what was the default in VISTA for this, in-other-words, had I somehow changed mine way back when, or was this the default? Just curious.

 

[Lorien]

Hi SAElmer,

It was my pleasure - I'm glad I could be of help.

I do not remember the Vista default - but I did make quite a few changes so it is quite possible that I too needed to add them. If you're really interested to know (and don't mind setting everything up the way you want it again), you can always go to the Customize screen and click on Use Default Settings and you will find out what they are. Sorry, but I'm not going to do that myself as I don't want to have to reset everything now that it's as I want it. If you're curious enough, you can try it yourself - that's entirely up to you to decide.

Thanks for the feedback (and the rep) - it is much appreciated.

I've requested that this thread be marked solved.

And welcome to Vista Forums! Now that you know where we are, bookmark the site and post anytime you have further questions or problems or if you just want to browse and learn (especially the Tutorial section offers some excellent advice on a wide variety of topics) or even if you want to try to help answer a question if you happen to see one where you know the answer and it hasn't already been posted. While it most likely won't be us the next time (though it might), there are many very skilled, experienced, knowledgeable, and friendly people here who, like us, volunteer their time to help others and one or maybe even several will respond to your post to assist you. While there are other forums on the web that do this sort of thing, you've now found what I think is the best (and I've posted in and/or checked out quite a few) so don't lose this link - you never know when it might come in handy again.

Good luck and best wishes.