Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing

Try0x101 · 18 Oct 2017

I tired of these things, every time when i try come in Windows 10 same bugs happened again and again. One of this - Cortana not indexing any new files, i tried restarting services, changing different folders, rebuilding indexing, making system scan, troubleshooting, nothing not work.

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-showcase.png

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-scannow_check.png

She show only default programs and settings, all new installed things not showing. In Windows 7 Start Menus folder always indexing.
I installed system yesterday. I thought maybe Fall Creators Update fixed that problems but no, today all repeat as in first release in 2015.
DxDiag.txt file attached (Full info about my system)

dalchina · 18 Oct 2017

In Indexing Options you only have Start Menu shown. You have eliminated any other areas from being indexed. But you are blaming Windows.

Note- that will also mean search in Settings (which is useful) will be slow.

Cortana file search only finds items which have been indexed. Nothing indexed= noting found.

You need to expand the areas indexed in Indexing options. Then you can watch the number indexed increase in Indexing options (wehn your PC is idle).

My indexing options:

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-1.jpg

Try0x101 · 18 Oct 2017

dalchina said:

In Indexing Options you only have Start Menu shown. You have eliminated any other areas from being indexed. But you are blaming Windows.

Note- that will also mean search in Settings (which is useful) will be slow.

Cortana file search only finds items which have been indexed. Nothing indexed= noting found.

You need to expand the areas indexed in Indexing options. Then you can watch the number indexed increase in Indexing options (wehn your PC is idle).

My indexing options:

I said i tried indexing different folders and drives, nothing work, for example i maked same indexing folder in windows 7 - all working normally.. in windows 10 same indexing configuration - not work. I try against rebuild indexing for C drive with that config.

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-cindexing.png

dalchina · 18 Oct 2017

So the indexing count has increased. That means the database is growing.

Could you be more specific - 'nothing works'? Where - what- how...?

And have you compared a search using file explorer? See if that finds one of your indexed files.

Try0x101 · 18 Oct 2017

Alright, my bad, that indexing desktop images and folders on C drive, but not all, ProgramData folder still not indexing, i am can't find anything from that folder, and i want indexing that folder, all shortcuts from new programms installing right in Start Menu folder, it is being always, this folder created for shortcuts and Windows search.

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-indexingdesktop.jpg

dalchina · 18 Oct 2017

Hi, I suggest you
a. wait for indexing to be complete
b. open file explorer at a point in the file hierarchy above a folder you wish to search which has been indexed
c. type the file name in file explorer's search field
d. post
i. Indexing options showing the folder is specified to be indexed
ii file explorer showing the search text and result
like this:

There you can see H: is indexed; explorer is open at H: ; I'm searching for a file doc-47 ; That's been found in a folder on drive H:

Try0x101 · 18 Oct 2017

Explorer search work properly.

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-explorer_search.png

dalchina · 18 Oct 2017

Good. Now Cortana search will NOT find any form of executable file or dll.

Also note that you may need to select a file filter (along the top and the drop down V) before you see your result

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-untitled.png

Try0x101 · 18 Oct 2017

No, ProgramData items still not indexing in Cortana search (Of course i am not idiot and i tried selecting different files type) but i found different solution, no so convenient as it being in Windows 7, this requires manually dragging shortcuts. I am just create Shortcut folder in Documents, and select this folder in indexing options, now Cortana indexes files in this folder and displays it.

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-solution.png

That not exactly what i want, but think is can be marked as Solved.

dalchina · 18 Oct 2017

ProgramData items still not indexing in Cortana search

- note- Cortana does no indexing- it relies on the Windows indexed search data base

Here are some examples from a folder in my ProgramData. Note the different results and search text and choices in the Cortana window.

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-1.png

Cortana search not work / Windows search not work / Not indexing-3.png

You shouldn't have to do what you're doing: Try comparing a file explorer search with a Cortana search for the same file in ProgramData. if it's found in the former but not the latter it may be a file type Cortana won't search for.