Problem with Start Menu search

I had to restore a older image of my Windows 10 install, after copying my current user profile.
I restored it, copied the new user profile over the old one and got all working.

Except the Start menu search feature stopped finding programs, the only results it returns are Web and Store suggestion ones.
For example I could type "paint" or "calc" to open Paint or the calculator, now it only returns store suggestions and/or web suggestions instead of these apps, same as any built-in or third party app.



(The first result only opens Edge with a Bing search for Paint)

I rebuilt the search index, I reviewed its settings I typed a powershell command that supposedly fixes that, and still nothing. I think the problem may come from the profile. Meanwhile I will create a new user account.

Thanks for any suggestion or clue :)

Edit: I can't create a new user account. When I click "Add someone else to this PC" an empty grey window pops up for a second then closes. Definitely there is something very wrong here

dalchina said:

Hi, if restoring your image gave you a consistent system (did it, without your current problems?), I'd stay with that rather than trying to fix what you now have.

Hi
Yes I used Macrium Reflected, and the backup and restore operations came without any errors.

I don't understand the second sentence, do you mean to try to restore the image again? I only have one image and I think the issue cam after the profile restoration, but I can try (but being a SSD i don't like to put so many write cycles on it!)

Thanks :)

Thanks!

dalchina said:

Hi, great you're using disk imaging- very wise. Yes, if your present system is broken, and it was ok after restoring the image, then I'd restore the image again and go from there- but don't try copying profiles.

Many thanks again!
I have restored again, but instead of copying the entire user profile, I've copied the essential folders to the current one. Seems fine so far :)