Help me fixing Windows Spotlight (Lock Screen)

Hello.

My Windows Spotlight has stopped working on one of my work pcs and I haven't been unable to repair it.

Ran this batch file (as admin) and it worked for another pc, but it doesn't work on this pc.

:: Created by: Shawn Brink
:: Created on: April 16th 2017
:: Tutorial: Reset and Re-register Windows Spotlight in Windows 10 Customization Tutorials


:: Reset Windows Spotlight
DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Assets"
DEL /F /S /Q /A "%USERPROFILE%/AppData\Local\Packages\Microsoft.Windows.ContentDeliveryManager_cw5n1h2txyewy\Settings"


:: Re-register Windows Spotlight
PowerShell -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted -Command "& {$manifest = (Get-AppxPackage *ContentDeliveryManager*).InstallLocation + '\AppxManifest.xml' ; Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register $manifest}"

Any ideas. Running latest Win10 16299.64

Checking this thread below. I thought I had make a search...

Well I got some ideas after reading some threads about this. The only thing I have left to try is exporting reg keys from the working pc to the non-working one to see what happens. I will check the Windows Search Service too (and restart it if needed) to be sure.

eLPuSHeR said:

My Windows Spotlight has stopped working on one of my work pcs and I haven't been unable to repair it.

Ran this batch file (as admin) and it worked for another pc, but it doesn't work on this pc.
Reset and Re-register Windows Spotlight in Windows 10

Any ideas. Running latest Win10 16299.64

Spotlight has always been 'fragile'. Some changes to Spotlight seem to have been made in the FCU (1709, build 16299). For the first time ever my Spotlight picture appears on a start up (previously a restart showed a picture, usually the 'cave'). It also seems to have become more fragile. So far Brink's tutorial that you used has fixed it for me every time it stopped working.

A couple of things I've noticed. First, it's vital not to skip step 2 from the tutorial.

2. Click/tap on Lock screen on the left side, select to temporarily use a Picture or Slideshow as your lock screen background instead of Windows spotlight...

Second, it can take a minute or two before it starts working again. Presumably because it needs to repopulate its stock of images. If you have a metered connection, best to turn off metering for a while to let it download some fresh images.

eLPuSHeR said:

Checking this thread below. I thought I had make a search...

I spoke too soon. it's broken already and back to default lake and mountain view login screen.

jasonx3 said:

I spoke too soon. it's broken already and back to default lake and mountain view login screen.

Yes, that's happened a few times for me in 1709, most recently today in fact (coincidence? Maybe it's a glitch at the server end?). Brink's tutorial has always got it working again.

Guys. I have been unable to fix spotlight on this pc. I have tried everything I have read here and elsewhere. I have even imported the Lock Screen registry keys from a working spotlight pc to this one (changing the AppData paths of course). Nothing. I think it's time for a clean installation of FCU when I have the time.

It seems that Windows Spotlight is a hit and miss feature (more miss than hit actually). Since I have updated w10 fcu to build 16299.98 spotlight has stopped working again. And today I have fresh installed w10 on a laptop and I haven't been unable to see Spotlight working, ever.

PS - OK, it came to life on my house pc after re-registering it again using the batch file posted by Shawn Brink. Shame on you MS. It seems that, for whatever reason, Spotlight data/cache get corrupted/bloated and the feature is unable to auto-repair itself.