Windows restore point messed up my file search function

My Windows 10 Pro build wasn't running right, so I ran a restore point.
Well I have thousands of files on this pc, so I frequently go to This Pc > C drive and then type a file name in the search bar at the upper right corner.
So immediately after the restore point the search bar started wigging out completely.
When I click in the search bar space, it starts scrolling rapidly through various computer file names, terms like platform.js, previous search terms, etc. It scrolls from the bottom to the top of the list which is 10 lines high, and it will do it continuously until I x-out of it.
If I try it again a few minutes later, it will do all the scrolling within the search bar so that it's just a blur of results left to right.

Any ideas on how to fix this?


Edit* Oh, and the start>search bar still works...

Paul Black said:

Hello @JRT10,

As a start . . .

[1] Have you run a Virus and Malware Scan?
[2] Does this happen using another User Profile?

Regular virus scans with Avira, which coincidentally updated immediately following the restore point, and it auto scanned.
I run as admin on this pc, so no other profile.

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I'm wondering if this is something that sfc /scannnow might be able to correct.

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dalchina said:

Presumably this:


refers to the search box at the top right of file explorer, does it?


You might try
Clear Search History in Windows 10 File Explorer

Option 3 - but note this tutorial makes reference to specific Win 10 builds in some places.

yes. the search bar at the lower left corner accessed through the start button works fine.

dalchina said:

Please note- until you have done the 'new user' check there is no point in trying general random Windows repairs

Please see remainder of my post above. Thanks.

It's not responsive when I click on Add someone else to this PC.

I click on it multiple times and nothing happens.

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I'm going to run sfc /scannow and if that doesn't work, i'll just do a reinstall. I'm well overdue on this anyway.
I'll check back shortly with results.

dalchina said:

Seems you have multiple problems so yes, but before you do.. please check your disk to save possible wasted time just in case...

Get a copy of Hard Disk Sentinel- good for SSDs too, portable version available.
Instant results, right on its GUI


Note- it's years since I did a clean install... and never on this PC...!

SFC /scannow worked, the search bar is back to normal.

but I was wondering about the drive too, so I'll do the Hard Disk Sentinel program.

as far as reinstall's go, I do an unbelievable amount of stuff on this computer. on occasion, i'll go through all the folders and do some organizing, and it can take 5 hours a day for two weeks to get everything sorted out.
part of the problem is multiple backup drives for data, so there are files with older contents on those drives, and then all the new stuff from the c: drive. on one of my main backup folders there are 25,000 items from various folders of hobby stuff and health stuff. so i'm used to things getting out of control.
anyway, i'm down to just 200gb of free space on the c: drive, so i'm installing a 1tb nvme drive later this week, so it's sort of moot on whether the c: drive is healthy or not.

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thanks for all the help everyone.

dalchina said:

Worth checking for curiosity at least.. and whether the drive is worth keeping..

Note: strongly recommended.. as early as you can after the clean install and before everything is configured and installed, start a sequence of disk imaging e.g. Macrium Reflect (free), Aomei Backupper...

I use the Aomei Backupper, and I have an image saved from this c: drive when the install was complete.
but there's so much new data in various folders, that it would reverse far too many files.
so i'd have to backup everything to the backup drives, then run Backupper to restore the drive. Then drag and drop everything back in place. But I have a ton of files on my desktop, and when you put those in a folder and drag them back onto the desktop, they go all to one side completely out of order.
So long story short, if i'm doing all that I might as well do a fresh install just to be safe.

But I certainly will run Hard Disk Sentinel if for no other reason than to make sure the drive is still healthy.

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I took a screencap of the backuper file. I considered just running it, but then i'd have to deal with all the latest windows updates anyway, so i'll just do a fresh install.