Search Problem in Windows

[Fadetoblack]

Wondering if anyone can help me here.

Whenever I do a search through my documents in Windows, when it eventually finds the document it freezes, preventing me from accessing it.

Any ideas?

[MarcusMel]

:doh PCworld solution :D format the hard drive!

A maybe idea is a conflict between virus checker and the search but its a wild guess.

[Fadetoblack]

PC World usually just tell me there's nothing they can do....they'll send it away and see what happens. I wonder what they actually do all day...sit around waiting for someone to walk in who can't find the "any" key?

I dunno MM, it's a constant thing. EVERY time I do a search it freezes, quite annoying actually.

Thanks anyway.

[Sandman]

Hmm. How strange.
Can you even Right -Click on it? If so, select "Open Containing folder" and access it that way.

[Fadetoblack]

Hmm. How strange.
Can you even Right -Click on it? If so, select "Open Containing folder" and access it that way.

Nope can't click on anything...just freezes completely

[Sandman]

If you log into your PC as a differnet user, does this still happen?

[MarcusMel]

Are you constantly plugged in to the internet? Unplug the internet restart machine and do a search. Does it freeze. Can you press Alt+Ctrl+Del (Windows XP) and look at the task manager process list after it freezes. Can you release the freeze by ending the search process task manager?

Check all the processes running in the task manager should be there by googling each.

[MarcusMel]

Check your startup. Do you have the MS-file indexing switched on?

[Fadetoblack]

Ok...thanks for all the suggestions...will try them now..

[vegyjones]

What about typing Search Problem into the search box? :doh

[GlosRFC]

Marcus is possibly on the right track. This is all to do with the Search Assistant which, in your case appears to have become corrupted.

It's not often realised that, whether you're online or not, Windows tries to connect with an external site and this can be blocked by your antivirus, firewall or any ad-blocking software you've got installed. It can also cause a couple of vital files to become corrupted or even deleted.

First thing is to try to reinstall the search assistant:
1. Click Start, Run and type %systemroot%\inf
2. Scroll down until you find the file Srchasst.inf
3. Right-click and select Install

You might need your Windows CD. Odds on, that will sort it for you but, if it's your AV at fault, it will only end up blocking access again. You'll also need to have a look at the support for your particular AV, firewall or ad-blocker to see if they can tell you how to allow access to http://sa.windows.com
If you're using a proxy server that can also prevent access.

If that doesn't work, MS has a fix at http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=9D1F0B73-259A-4A1B-93A4-F02C21BCB15A

[Fadetoblack]

Ok I just need to find that windows cd now....

hmmm


Thanks Glos (and everyone)