Win10 search: “These results may be incomplete”, won't find files

Hello. Windows 10 bugs are driving me insane, I hope some of you can help me. I'm using a 3 months old hp Spectre x360 (early 2016 model) which came preinstalled with Windows 10. It currently has the Anniversary Edition installed. When I try to search based on the files contents from the search menu, I get the known “These results may be incomplete” message on top. In Windows Explorer, the search box on the top right only searches for filenames, but not file content, and it takes a lot of time to process (as if it worked with the search index disabled). Outlook 2016 / 365 search doesn't work either, at all (it doesn't even search on the mails' subjects).

• The locale is en-US.
• I've uninstalled and reinstalled the search component using dism.
• I've rebuilt the index several times.
• I've restarted the Windows Search index many times, too.
• I've run the search and indexing troubleshooter.
• I didn't install an AV other than using the built-in Windows Defender.
• This is most likely another Windows 10 bug, because I haven't thinkered with this computer at all.

I don't know what else to do. Normally I'd pave over with a fresh install, but I'm not sure every driver will be readily available, and I don't have as much time as I used to for playing with the computer. Any ideas?

Thanks!

Btw,

Code:

C:\WINDOWS\system32> dism /online /get-intlDeployment Image Servicing and Management toolVersion: 10.0.14393.0Image Version: 10.0.14393.0Reporting online international settings.Default system UI language : en-USSystem locale : en-USActive keyboard(s) : 0409:00000409, 0409:0000080a, 2c0a:0000080aKeyboard layered driver : PC/AT Enhanced Keyboard (101/102-Key)Installed language(s): en-US  Type : Fully localized language.The operation completed successfully.

Hi, whether search searches content or not depends on a couple of settings e.g. folder and file:


& this in Indexing Options.


Clearly in file explorer search you need to be searching something which has been indexed.
(See control panel, Indexing Options).

"These results may be incomplete"
- often associated with an incomplete language change- but you say you haven't done that?

Please post a screenshot of your Indexing Options. Thanks.

Have you run the search indexing troubleshooter?

Hi, As you have made language changes, what I suggest you do is to set everything back to English-US (except you don't need to bother about the input language).

See:
Issue with Windows 10 Search Indexing and Display Languages Resulting in "These results may be incomplete".

E.g. here:



and here:


I asked this previously:
Please post a screenshot of your Indexing Options. Thanks.

It isn't that you're facing bugs exactly, but a conceptual design weakness (i my opinion). I.e.the difficulty MS has created for users to get a number of settings to be consistent. In my opinion, changing language settings should be wizard based, so you are pretty much guaranteed to get a meaningful result. As it is, we're left fumbling around. This is NOT a consumer product. Yet.

When you've made these changes, launch Cortana, and look carefully for any helpful messages about language.

If language settings are mismatched, you will also find searching Settings doesn't work properly.

Please post a screenshot of your Indexing Options. Thanks. - Like this:


Also one showing Cortana like this:

(You can't use snip for that, do print screen then crop as you like in e.g. Paint).

What you've observed is interesting- and suggests something related to startup being applied. I can't think what it might be.

Have you changed anything related to so-called privacy?

Also try searching in Settings and check if that works.

Unfortunately that doesn't help solve the question. I use Locate32 - which, like Ultrasearch, Everything, gives 'instant' results for all files and disks. But it is handy at times to have Windows search working.

None of the above 3rd party tools index text file content.

By the way: if you use the search box and find things in the start menu, or search Settings, and get quick results, you are using indexing.

And I believe that Windows indexing takes a lot of time and slows your PC considerably.

Not true. Windows indexing is done when there's little activity on your PC. It backs off (stops) when you're using your PC.

Once the indexing is done, unless you change or add files in regions indexed, rebuild the index, or change indexed folders, there's very little for it to do. I suspect your comment goes back to XP days when it was common to disable it. Doing that now is to do yourself a disservice in respect of searching the start menu and Settings.

Please can we not further deviate from the objective of this thread as originally posted. Thanks.