Unable to Search Windows 10 Start Menu or in File Explorer

Possibly a corrupt user profile.

Try creating a new user account and see if it works there. If it does then you have the option of keeping the new account and copying everything from the old account to the new account. If the old account was and Administrator account, make sure the new one is as well.

Alternative is to do a Repair Install.

See this tutorial by Shawn Brink:

Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade

Before doing anything create an image backup of your current system.

The first thing you need to do is backup your current install. The best way to do this is to use Macrium Reflect Free to make an image backup to an external hard drive. If you don't have an external hard drive now is a good time to get one as regular backup should be a part of your normal process. You can get a 1TB external hard drive for $60 (less if on sale).

There are other backup programs available but Macrium is the one I use and recommend.

• Acronis True Image. A full featured backup solution. ...
• EaseUS ToDo Backup. A flexible solution in the backup arena. ...
• Paragon Backup & Recovery. Enterprise options for home backup. ...
• NovaBackup. Does the basics well, but only the basics.

Once that's done then do the Repair install. If anything goes wrong or you're not happy with the results just restore the backup using the Macrium Rescue disk or flash drive you created after making the backup.

Started having this issue a couple days ago even after restarting.

Hi, have you tried using a System Restore point? (SR is only available if you have enabled it at some point - typically after the last upgrade).

There are plenty of threads on not being able to type into the search box - please feel free to search the forum for these.

Ztruker mentions creating a new user account for test purposes. Good idea.

For clarity:

if you see the same problem when logged in under that account, an in-place upgrade repair could be relevant.
Conversely, if you don't, it won't. (It doesn't fix things specific to a user profile).
(And nor would (3) and (4) which you tried).

Hi, have you tried using a System Restore point? (SR is only available if you have enabled it at some point - typically after the last upgrade).

That could save you doing that.

Or have you been following this forum's oh so oft-repeated advice to routinely create disk images.. if so do you have a recent one you can use?

Thank you very much for your reply.

I don't understand. Creating System Restore points happens somewhat irregularly, or can be manually created, or you can set them up on a schedule- I have one created daily.

Creating disk images is entirely under YOUR control- daily, weekly, monthly- whatever.. on a schedule even.

I assume you are confusing these two separate thngs with 'Go back to the previous build'. Totally unrelated.

thumpersd said:

Thank you so much! Creating a new profile worked. How do I transfer the profile over before deleting the original one?

I would copy everything from the following folders from the old account to the new account:

Contacts
Desktop
Documents
Downloads
Favorites
Links
Music
OneDrive
Pictures
Videos

Leave Appdata alone for now and see how things work by testing programs and apps you normally use.

Another possibility:

Corrupt User Profile?

or

Corrupt User Profile?

Both posts by very reputable guys here on tenforums.

As I said, before you do anything, please make an image backup. It6 can save you endless grief.