Windows search stopped working

[sfdqwer32]

the search function in vista no longer works - whenever i type anything into a search box it just sits there - it's not that it cant find a file, it doesnt do a search at all.
ive tried: sfc, system restore, turned indexing, windows search on/ off

also tried this:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/85803-index-windows-search-service.html
but nothing works

 

[Brink]

Hi sfdqwer32, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Other than a clean install, you might give a repair (upgrade) install a try.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[sfdqwer32]

update: changed the start menu back to vista default and noticed when i typed in a search it said "search failed to initialize" - googled around and no fix works except that search works fine if i create a new account - okay - so if i could only figure out what's wrong with MY account... ?

 

[Fumz]

Did you disable Windows Search in the services menu for better performance?

 

[sfdqwer32]

always has been disabled - tried enabling it - obviously it must have something to do with the settings on my particular account but i cant figure out what.

 

[Fumz]

Always been disabled? By default that service is enabled. Are you using the service.msc menu or something else?

 

[sfdqwer32]

sorry - wasnt clear - i disabled a long time ago - didnt want it using up resources -
search worked fine with it but now.... right now im logged on to a new account i created and search works fine - just wont work on the default account

 

[Brink]

If everything works fine on your new administrator account, then I would just delete the old one from within the new one.