cortana / search not working properly

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  1. Posts : 2,297
    Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
       #1

    cortana / search not working properly


    Spent all day with new laptop getting it setup. Apart from some hiccups all gone well but one glitch. Cortana works pretty much fine but the search facility isn't working properly. Say I want to 'create a restore point'. I'll type 'res' and it gets found by Cortana as per the first screenshot. But when I click the best match 'Create a restore point' I get the second screen. So it never finds it and opens it. Been like it all day even after allowing the laptop plenty of idle time. Funny thing is it's only doing it for the new settings GUI functions, you know those that have the cog wheel icon next to them. Everything else that is found can be opened, ie. word, old style control panel, files etc etc. Any ideas?

    Cheers,
    Wayne
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails cortana / search not working properly-screenshot-1-.png   cortana / search not working properly-capture.jpg  
    Last edited by Scottyboy99; 15 Mar 2016 at 16:53.
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  2. Posts : 5,169
    64bit Win 10 Pro ver 21H2
       #2

    Hello Wayne,

    The thing that is odd is that the Create a Restore point should not be associated with the new Settings GUI but is actually a control panel function. Here is what I see on mine:
    cortana / search not working properly-capture.png

    It looks like your search has made a wrong association and maybe you need to reset the search index. To do this type index in the search box and you should be able to open the control panel index options.

    cortana / search not working properly-2016-03-16.png

    Then click on advanced and this will allow you to rebuild the index.

    cortana / search not working properly-2016-03-16-1-.png

    Cheers,
    Phil
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  3. Posts : 2,297
    Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Thanks Phil, I'll give that a go. Your certainly right about the association looking slightly wrong. Although I do get the same problem for correctly associated new GUI settings like 'Reset this pc' 'Lock Screen' etc

    I did google extensively the 'search results aren't quite ready yet' phrase and struggled to find anything succinct. A lot of people have had the same problem or similar. It's suggested that it could be down to the language / regional settings - although my machine is set to UK for everything. I did have to download UK language pack etc after initial setup, it seems Windows 10 likes to default to US despite selecting UK during the first time login setup phase. I'll take a system image of my laptop in the next day or two, having worked so long yesterday on bringing it upto speed and after that give your suggestion a try.
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  4. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    Hi, it's not just one download to set up UK language fully for Cortana to be happy as I recall. Speech too (it will warn you about the need to do so - a download).
    There are several things to do- the one thing that's not important (to Cortana) is the keyboard.

    Found my post when I struggled with this..
    Solved Settings: (UK - US ok) - Windows 10 Forums

    On my new laptop, it was 'easy' - maybe 'cos I knew what to expect and look for.
    E.g. Control Panel, Region (or Settings equivalent); Settings/Region & Language Settings/Speech, Location...
    cortana / search not working properly-snap-2016-03-17-09.49.52.jpg
    See Setup Tab:
    why isn't cortana available on my windows 10 pc - Bing

    Note that an in-place upgrade repair install will lose your language downloads...(!)
    Last edited by dalchina; 17 Mar 2016 at 05:02.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 2,297
    Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks I'll look at this too. I wanted to take a system image last night so didn't look into this further yet. I am pretty convinced I already downloaded the above items already (apart from handwriting) but I guess I should check again and then ensure everything is on UK (I am pretty sure it is).

    I am convinced my issue is language related (although I will try the index rebuild too) - I just find the whole Windows 10 setup process strange. During first time boot of my PC it asked me about region which I set as UK. Yet despite this it defaults certain things to US - I would of thought as part of first time setup it should set Cortana's language to match and automatically download the relevant language pack. Seems we have to jump through hoops to get things working as they should. My other desktop PC works correctly on the search. I may need to compare the two machines side by side.

    Cheers,
    Wayne
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #6

    Yep, it's messy, untidy, ill-coordinated. At one point after changing it to UK, for several days my keyboard setting would seemingly randomly toggle. (It's been stable for weeks now).

    As to your search, Cortana search of Settings relies on indexed search, as you know, so if Indexing Options shows your index is incomplete as I'd expect it would, that could explain the odd behaviour.

    Under Indexing Options you could try Troubleshooting...
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  7. Posts : 2,297
    Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
    Thread Starter
       #7

    I didn't do the index rebuild yet but after playing with the language settings over and over tonight I got an improvement as per the screenshots. I added the US language back in but didn't set it as default. Maybe that had an affect or changing overrides and then back again. Anyway search within settings now works and the Cortana search looks more sensible. Although in the second screenshot clicking 'Best Match - Reset this pc' as a test does nothing. So it's better but still not 100% but I'll take it. Other user accounts still have the same issue even though I applied settings to welcome screen, all user accounts and new user accounts. It's pretty hit and miss but seeing as I am the one using this laptop 99% of the time I guess it's important my user account is functioning best for this. I may try the index rebuild soon, but my wife is on verge of throwing the laptop out the window the amount of troubleshooting and time I spend on it - so I better stay off it for a couple days if I can resist, lol.

    cortana / search not working properly-screenshot-2-.pngcortana / search not working properly-screenshot-3-.pngcortana / search not working properly-screenshot-4-.png
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  8. Posts : 42,734
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    The worst thing may be if your wife starts talking to you and you then tell her sthg about PC problems without acknowledging what she says...
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 5,169
    64bit Win 10 Pro ver 21H2
       #9

    Been there!
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 2,297
    Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
    Thread Starter
       #10

    Lol. Yep they don't seem to understand. To her everything just works! And she'd soon get cross if the internet went down or something wasn't working correctly, but has no idea the amount of effort I put into all the tech we have in the house. I'd rather be relaxing than battling a cortana search issue that's for sure.
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