Support1000

Action

Tried to start the Windows search services in services.msc

Result

Unable to start the services with error

Cause

Windows search services registry files are corrupted and search related dll files are corrupted

Resolution

Follow the below steps :

Step 1:Check the Windows seach services and make sure its status is started and automatic.

Step 2:Open the Notepad and copy the below text and save it as reset_search.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search]
“SetupCompletedSuccessfully”=dword:00000000

Step 3:Open registry through Start search ( regedit) and take back up -

Step 4:Double click the saved reset_search.reg to merge it to registry.

Step 5:Navigate to Path - HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search

Step 6: In the right pane, right click on SetupCompletedSuccessfully and click on Modify.

Step 7:Type 0 and click on OK.

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.

Reparing Search services related files and folders

Step 1: Open Folder Options.

a) Click on the View tab.
b) Check Show hidden files and folders.
c) Click on OK to apply and close folder options.

Step 2:Go to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data

Note: If windows search 4.0 is installed the Path differs - Go to C:\Users\User_Name\AppData\Local\Search\Data

Step 3: If the Applications folder is missing, then right click on a empty area and click New and click Folder.

Note:If the Applications folder is not missing, then open Windows folder and delete all it contents.

> if Windows folder is missing create new folder and name it as Windows.

Step 4:Look for Config and Temp folders - if folder are present delete all contents inside bothe the folders ,if two folders are missing recreate new folders and name its Config and Temp.

Note: If you installed the Windows Search 4.0 update, then the Config folder should now be inside of the Windows folder instead.

Step 5:Open the Config folder and look two text files -if present gathrprm.txt and schema.txt ,delete both the files and copy the new files from Winsxs directory.

Path: C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_windowssearchengine_31bf3856ad364e35_6.0.6000.16386_none_47e1b1bb326f0fb4
\gathrprm.txt

and same for - schema.txt file.

Note: If you have install windows search 4.0 then the Config folder should be empty instead.

Step 6:Close all windows and restart the computer.

Rishi
MS Shell User &
Media technologist