Index - Windows Search Service

How to Fix the Start Error for Windows Search Service to Enable the Index in Vista​

   Information

The Indexing Options are grayed out and you cannot get the Windows Search service to start. Follow the steps one by one, and at the end the index should be running again.

   Note

If the steps below do not help you, then you will need to do either a System Restore to a restore point date before this problem, a Repair install, or Clean install to fix this problem. See the related links below for how to do these.

EXAMPLE: Error Message

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EXAMPLE: Index Options grayed out

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STEP ONE

Set Windows Search Service

1. Leave Windows Search service set to only Automatic. (See screenshot below step 3)​

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2. Close Services.​

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3. Proceed to STEP TWO below.​

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STEP TWO

Reset the Index in the Registry

Option One

Using a REG File Download

1. Click on the download button below to download the file below.​

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Reset_Index.reg​

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2. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.​

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3. Right click on the downloaded .reg file and click on Merge.​

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4. Click on the Run, Continue (UAC), Yes, and OK when prompted.​

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5. When done, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.​

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7. Proceed to STEP THREE below.​

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Option Two

Manually in Registry Editor

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1. Open the Start Menu, type regedit in the search box and press Enter.​

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2. If prompted by UAC, then click on Continue.​

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3. In regedit, go to: (See screenshot below step 5)​

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

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4. In the right pane, right click on SetupCompletedSuccessfully and click on Modify.​

NOTE: If SetupCompletedSuccessfully is not there, then in the right pane, right click on a empty area and click on New and DWORD (32 bit) Value. Type SetupCompletedSuccessfully and press Enter.​

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5. Type 0 and click on OK. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: This is the number zero.​

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6. Close Regedit​

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7. Proceed to STEP THREE below.​

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STEP THREE

Repair the Config Folder

1. Open Folder Options.​

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A) Click on the View tab.​

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B) Check Show hidden files and folders.​

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C) Click on OK to apply and close folder options.​

2. Go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data (See screenshots below)​

NOTE: You may notice that one or more of these folders (Applications, Config, Temp) may be missing from your window.​

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3. If the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications folder is missing, then right click on a empty area and click New and click Folder. (See screenshot above)​

NOTE: If the Applications folder is not missing, then continue to step 3F after deleting only it's contents except for the Windows folder in it. ​

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A) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

B) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

C) Type Applications and press Enter.​

D) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

E) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

F) Open the Applications folder. If the Windows folder is missing, then click on New and Folder.​

NOTE: If the Windows folder is not missing, then continue to step 4 after deleting only it's contents.​

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G) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

H) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

I) Type Windows and press Enter.​

J) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

K) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

4. If the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Config folder is missing, then right click on a empty area and click New and click Folder. (See screenshot below step 2)​

NOTE: If the Config folder is not missing, then continue to step 5 after deleting only it's contents.​

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A) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

B) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

C) Type Config and press Enter.​

D) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

E) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

5. If the C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Temp folder is missing, then right click on a empty area and click New and click Folder. (See screenshot below step 2)​

NOTE: If the Temp folder is not missing, then continue to step 6 after deleting only it's contents. ​

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A) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

B) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

C) Type Temp and press Enter.​

D) Click Continue for Access Denied prompt.​

E) Click Continue for UAC prompt.​

6. Close all windows.​

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7. Restart the computer.​

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8. If this still will not work for you afterwards, then you can try a repair install instead.​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Use the Indexing Options in Vista
• How to Open and Change Search Options in Vista
• How to Enable or Disable Search Index in Vista
• How to Do a Clean Install of Vista with a Upgrade Version
• How to Do a Clean Install with a Full Version of Vista
• How to Perform a Repair Installation for Vista
• How to Do a System Restore in Vista

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Andy, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Thank you for posting your results.

Shawn

 

[HawkeyeLOM]

I had the problem of options grayed out- amd followed the steps in the tutorial and Great it fixed indexing. I then unistalled search update 4.0 and reinstalled the search update, after MS update told me it was unistalled and showed the update again.

Thanks again for the great info. This forum is terrific.

 

[Brink]

You're welcome HawkeyeLOM. I'm happy to hear that you got it sorted out.

Shawn

 

[Galshanite]

I'm having trouble with 3i! I try to insert a new folder. Then name it microsoft. Hit enter. All seems fine, but then 20 seconds later the folder disappears! I never get the "access denied" prompt of 3j! Any ideas?

Thanks!
Carmel

 

[Brink]

Hello Carmel, and welcome to Vista Forums.

I'm not certain why you would be naming a folder microsoft in any part of this tutorial.

You might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point before you had this problem can fix it for you.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[Galshanite]

Shawn,

Thanks for getting back to me. I meant that I tried to name the folder "Windows". See #3J above. Any fixes?

Carmel

 

[Brink]

I would recommend to see if a System Restore can fix it.

 

[Galshanite]

I just attempted a System Restore twice, but unfortunately the restore didnt work! So now I have found that I have another problem with my computer! Any suggestions would be much appreciated! Thanks!

Carmel

 

[Brink]

Carmel,

I would say other than a clean reinstall, you can try a Repair install to see if it can fix it. This would most likely be the best option.

If this is not an option for you, then you can try to undo the last System Restore if that was related to the other problem you have found.

 

[doutrnz]

HI, Sorry for precedent post
I'm talking about How to Fix the Start Error for Windows Search Service to Enable the Index in Vista
STEP THREE Repair config folder
....... F) Open the Applications folder. If the Windows folder is missing, then click on New and click Folder.....

I've a problem with the creation of folder windows into application folder. Appear for 2 seconds and then disappear. Why?

Thank you very much

I am getting the same problem as ellepc. I am currently running a virus scan on the computer but after seeing this post, maybe its not that. Did you or this user find out what this was?

 

[brian12988]

wat if i dont have the Search folder in my AppData/Local directory..i have Windows Search 4.0 installed.

 

[Brink]

Hello Brian,

No, you should still have the Search folder. Check with the WARNING box at the top of STEP THREE to see if you have Search 4.0 installed. Depending on if you do or not, follow the instructions accordingly in STEP THREE.

Hope this helps for now,
Shawn

 

[brian12988]

i have checked and i do not have the search folder in my "C:\Users\User_Name\AppData\Local\Search\Data" and i only have it at the
"C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search" directory..and i have windows search 4.0 successfully installed...

but it seems that in my indexing options, it reports that it is not running but i still have the "advanced" button available to me..the "modify" and "pause" button is greyed out..

 

[Brink]

Is the service set to Windows Search service set to Automatic? You might see if reinstalling the Windows Search 4.0 may help. Be sure to select the correct version for your Vista.

 

[brian12988]

installing windows search 4 makes the indexing turn to not running...so i decided to uninstall it and try again later.

 

[Brink]

I find that unless you do a lot of searches, it usually helps your computer to have the Index disabled.

 

[doutrnz]

Hey Brink,

How about looking at my post prior to Brian12988. Any suggestions? I do not have Windows Search 4 installed.

I would appreciate it.

 

[Brink]

Hello Doutrnz,

Unless you have set Windows Update to not update automatically, then Windows Search 4.0 would normally install automatically. I would recommend to install it to see if it may help fix your problem.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[doutrnz]

Brink,

Turns out I do have Windows Search 4.0 installed. I went in and uninstalled it and then reinstalled it. I also followed your locations for the new paths. The Windows Search service still will not run. soo sad...

 

[Brink]

Brian,

If it had worked before, then you can do a System Restore using a restore point dated when you think it did work. If not, then you can try a Repair install.