Hello Everyone, and a happy New Year,

I have just installed windows 8.1 pro on my work machine as I like the OS but for some reason the search doesn't search any settings files? I have had a look online and have tried re-indexing and checking permissions but to no avail. I have windows 8.1 pro at home and have never had this problem before, has anyone out there experienced this?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

Liam

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/df7fe865-b712-4938-bfcd-ea6a2661f14a/desktop-search-doesnt-work-windows-81?forum=w8itprogeneral

Hi,

It seems that your data file was corrupted.

Please perform the following steps to check the result.

1.Open Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Esc
2.On  Processes Tab,click Microsoft Windows Search Indexer,then right-click End Task
3.Go to the directory C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search
4.Delete the folder Data.You will directly see a new folder named Data

Now the issue is fixed.

Hope this helps.

Regards,

Tried the above 4 step solution.

Doesn't help in my case.

When I click on the search charm, nothing happens... except for the charms disappearing.

Also,  I use the lower left corner of the screen to display the menu that includes Search.  Clicking Search there also does nothing... except the menu disappears.

Windows behavior like this just depresses me.

I have the exact same problem.....

I have exactly the same problem with W8.1 Pro.  When I tried the suggestion above ... with no other applications running ... I was able to follow the procedure until I tried to delete the search data folder.  On this step, 48 files started to be deleted, and then I got a message that another program was using the files, and the could not be deleted.

I also agree that this OS behavior is depressing.  W7 Pro worked for me, and all versions of 8 I've upgraded through have been problematic ... including this latest version which derailed the context-based right-clicking option menu ... one that I used frequently.

The problems with Microsoft 8.1 search engine are not caused by inexperienced users, but by Microsoft. It is generally accepted that the 8.1 search function simply does not work. It has been known for a long time, but Microsoft does not care. As Apple's market share is falling Microsoft is again close to have a monopoly and accordingly lacks the motivation to produce a badly needed system to find information in a PC with about 1 million files. 

Google used to have a brillant  desktop search. I dont know whether it is still available and will work with 8.1. It is worth a try. 

BerntJHC

Cannot find the Microsoft search indexer in my windows 8.1

Well 2 things about this.

1. You have to delete the "Data" folder quickly after you end the task because it restarts itself.  If people are having issues where the system doesn't let you delete because it is in use that's what's happening.

2.  This worked for a time.  It was working just fine for about 5 min and then stopped again.

I did disable and re-enabled indexing on my system drive if that makes a difference.  I think this is when it started happening.  Also on another note i have moved the index location to my secondary drive in case that could also be affecting it.

Hope that helps

Update:  I just did it again and paid closer attention.  It seems to only work while it is indexing.  As soon as the indexing is complete the settings search stops working

• Edited by rougeshadow 6 hours 3 minutes ago