Cant search for files/folders/programs

[Keelan]

Hey there,

I was optimizing my SSD using various methods and now I can't even search for folders using windows search any ideas what I have done?

Cheers,

-Keelan

 

 

Me trying to search for paint...

 

[lubblig]

I have a similar problem, not with all programs and such. But some. Paint works but I can't search for most games (and some programs), I'll get the install directory instead. So that's kind of annoying.

[Senzelian]

That's simply because Windows 10 and Cortana are garbage.

I disabled Cortana completly, which works a lot better when searching for stuff.

[GoodBytes]

I don't knwo what you did to your system. I don't see what needs to be "optimizing" for an SSD.

 

But in any case:

1. Make sure that the Indexing service is up and running, and set Automatic. To do this (as your search is broken for you), Start > All apps >  Windows Administrative Tools > Services. A panel will open. On that panel, make sure that Windows Search is running, and set to "Automatic (Delay)". You can set those up by double clicking on the entry, where another panel will show to set those things.
    
2. Restart your system
3. Go to Start > All apps > Windows System > Control Panel. On the Control Panel set "View by:" to Small icons, and click on Indexing Options. A panel will show. On it, click on Modify button. Here, you can add paths for the Windows Search system that you want Windows to include. Make sure that when you expend C:\ drive, that Users check box is checked. On it, click on Advanced, make sure that the Index Location is at: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft, and click on Rebuild, and click on OK. The system or Indexing Options panel will freeze for a moment. Wait until it comes back being responsive.
   
   Rebuilding the index takes time even if you have an SSD. Leave your computer idle for an hour of so.  Search should be working. If not, go back to Indexing Option panel, and make sure that on the list that shows on the main section of the Indexing Options, has "Start Menu" listed. If not, add it from the Modify button section.

If that still doesn't work, then what ever tool you used screwed something else with the system.

[GoodBytes]

That's simply because Windows 10 and Cortana are garbage.

I disabled Cortana completly, which works a lot better when searching for stuff.

Nope. The system was indexing your data. Cortana being disabled doesn't change the search engine. All you do is disable the Personal Assistance aspect (the one that connects with your mail, calendar, and stuff, and you tell it do stuff, and it will do it, and can remind you when you get to locations (assuming you have a GPS or connected to a wireless network where it can triangulate your position), or time of day)

[Senzelian]

Nope. The system was indexing your data. Cortana being disabled doesn't change the search engine. All you do is disable the Personal Assistance aspect (the one that connects with your mail, calendar, and stuff, and you tell it do stuff, and it will do it, and can remind you when you get to locations (assuming you have a GPS or connected to a wireless network where it can triangulate your position), or time of day)

Then I still wonder why it works so much better since Cortana is disabled.

Cortana wasn't even able to tell me the time when I tried it out...

[lubblig]

Hey there,

I was optimizing my SSD using various methods and now I can't even search for folders using windows search any ideas what I have done?

Cheers,

-Keelan

 

 

Me trying to search for paint...

-snip-

I may have found what caused it for me, may be something similar in your case (as you said you had done some optimizing for your SSD).

I have a samsung 850 pro as boot drive and therefore I'm using the Samsung magician tool. I had set the OS Optimization to Maximum reliability without reading what that meant........................

 

 

Indexing Service/Search : This feature will be disabled because it requires a large number of random writes.

 

^ What it says in case the image doesn't load, imgur seems to be under heavy load.

 

 

So now that it's disabled, hopefully it'll work (after some indexing).

[Keelan]

I don't knwo what you did to your system. I don't see what needs to be "optimizing" for an SSD.

 

But in any case:

1. Make sure that the Indexing service is up and running, and set Automatic. To do this (as your search is broken for you), Start > All apps >  Windows Administrative Tools > Services. A panel will open. On that panel, make sure that Windows Search is running, and set to "Automatic (Delay)". You can set those up by double clicking on the entry, where another panel will show to set those things.

    

2. Restart your system
3. Go to Start > All apps > Windows System > Control Panel. On the Control Panel set "View by:" to Small icons, and click on Indexing Options. A panel will show. On it, click on Modify button. Here, you can add paths for the Windows Search system that you want Windows to include. Make sure that when you expend C:\ drive, that Users check box is checked. On it, click on Advanced, make sure that the Index Location is at: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft, and click on Rebuild, and click on OK. The system or Indexing Options panel will freeze for a moment. Wait until it comes back being responsive.

   Rebuilding the index takes time even if you have an SSD. Leave your computer idle for an hour of so.  Search should be working. If not, go back to Indexing Option panel, and make sure that on the list that shows on the main section of the Indexing Options, has "Start Menu" listed. If not, add it from the Modify button section.

If that still doesn't work, then what ever tool you used screwed something else with the system.

Thank you, worked a treat.