"We're getting search ready" error - Windows/Cortana Search

Entropy said:

Hello,
I followed your instructions but it was not fixed.
As you see below I get results from the web and store but not from settings and moreover I still get the message “we're getting search ready”
Has anybody found a different solution?

Attachment 28325

I am in exactly the same boat. Tried mostly everything and while it finds apps, programs, web searches and Windows Store apps, it never finds options or control panel items and continually has the same 'We are getting search ready' message at the top.

Otherwise Windows 10 seems to be working just fine.

Time for a bigger hammer!

If you use Libraries and have folders other than the defaults, make note of the folders in each Library.
These instructions restore the default Library locations and you will have to add the folders back in the Library after completing the steps.

Search and Indexing are closely related.

Check if the indexing options are wrong ... many people index entire drives and that makes a VERY big index. A large index is also really slow.

Control Panel > Indexing Options
Press the [ Modify ] button
Remove all check marks from all locations until there is nothing displayed in the lower pane.
You might have to press the [ Show all locations ] button to get them all removed.

When you're finished this process, the index still exists, but new entries from those locations will not be added. You'll rebuild the index in another step. Keep the Indexing Options window open

Launch File Explorer
In the left hand navigation pane, right click Libraries
Select Restore default Libraries

When that finishes, return to the Indexing Options window
Press the [ Advanced ] button
Press the [ Rebuild ] button

This should not take very long because you previously removed all locations, but the default Libraries add your user folders back in to the index. These are mostly the files you want indexed anyway.
Let crawler do it's job, when it's finished see if the issue still exists.

Entries in the index have the contents of the files so you can use search to find text in the body.
Indexing programs or other non-text files adds no value and affects system performance drastically.

There are two other locations you might want to include (Start and your Mail folder).
Windows will add some locations it thinks you want, that's ok.

Guys, I've had this same issue for a few days now and just worked out what it was! It's UAC !!! I turned it off a few days ago and only worked out this was the cause when I tried to open windows calculator and it said you have UAC disabled and need it on to run windows programs!? I turned it back on to the first lowest level then rebooted and the start button search works and displays programs and no longer the we are getting it ready... msg...

hope this helps!

That UAC is more annoying than helpful

JoeShades said:

That UAC is more annoying than helpful

Tell me about it! It's like being forced to have stabilisers on every bike you buy!

I turned it off a few days back and also changed the registry to stop it from prompting for permissions to do anything in windows explorer and then a day or so later noticed start button search had stopped returning programmes in it's search and had that stupid getting search ready msg. I tried loads of things then tried to open windows calculator and was informed I needed UAC on to open or use calculator or windows programmes!? WTF then realised this must be the cause of the search issue! Moved UAC level to the next one up from bottom and rebooted and boom all sorted!

Turn UAC back on and then reboot!

Entropy said:

Hello,
I followed your instructions but it was not fixed.
As you see below I get results from the web and store but not from settings and moreover I still get the message “we're getting search ready”
Has anybody found a different solution?

Attachment 28325

Darran said:

Turn UAC back on and then reboot!

Thank you for the tip, however, it didn’t work.

Can anybody else report that the UAC trick did the job?

The funny thing is that if I search "wallpaper" I get results only from the store and the web and off course I get the message “we're getting search ready”.

If I click on "My Stuff" then I get to a window which gives me local results, however, there is a possibility for "other places to look". (first pic)
There is the option to search in settings and when I click on settings then I do get the results that I was searching for in the first place. (second pic)

Weird or what?

Just restart Windows explorer in Task Manager until they fix search.

Try going to Bing Settings

Select History

Press the [ Clear All ] button and then confirm the action
- Press Yes, clear all search history

you might try turning off history for a test
if you want Bing to keep history, you can turn it back on later.