Windows 10: how to rename settings.dat and roaming.lock to *.bak to try to fix win spotlight

how to I rename settings.dat and roaming.lock to *.bak to try to fix win spotlight according to https://www.minitool.com/news/fix-windows-spotlight-not-working.html

:)

 

Windows Spotlight Not Working

If that didn't work then what I originally did to get mine working was to:

1. Switch the Lock Screen from Spotlight to picture

2. Delete the image files in the Assets folder AND

3. Rename (add ".bak" to the file name) each of the files in settings Folder.

4. Close out of settings and restart the computer

5. After restarting switch the Lock Screen back to Spotlight, restart again, and give it several hours to see if new images are downloaded to the Assets folder and the Lock Screen starts updating with new Spotlight images.

I tried the suggestions of just deleting the image files or renaming the files in the Settings folder and neither seemed to accomplish anything by themselves. Doing both at the same time, however, got it working again. Again, that was before I found the
original steps listed in the previous message also got it working again for me.

It does seem, however, that the Spotlight Lock Screen feature is pretty fragile. My desktop went back to the default image after the last Windows update while laptop continued working fine after the same update.

Good Luck

 

Windows Spotlight: Lockscreen image does not change

The standard fix for stuck Spotlight image is:

• Disable Spotlight in Settings > Personalization > Lock screen,
  by setting "Background" to Picture or Slideshow
  
• To delete the stuck image use Explorer to navigate to the folder
  
  
• Select all the files (Ctrl+A)
  
• Press Del to clear the old images
  
• Navigate now to the folder
  
  
• Rename the files settings.dat and roaming.lock by appending .bak to the names
  (just in case)
  
• Reboot
  
• Enable Spotlight in Settings > Personalization > Lock screen,
  setting "Background" to Windows Spotlight
  
• If everything is working correctly, delete the .bak files.
  

 

Spotlight

Hi,

Windows spotlight is an option for the lock screen background that displays different background images and occasionally offers suggestions on the lock screen. For us to better isolate your concern, we'd like to gather more information:

• Is there a way for you to provide us a screenshot?
• Have you made any recent changes before this issue occur?
• Are you able to use spotlight before?

Meanwhile, we suggest that you follow these steps to modify Lock screen background to spotlight:

• Open Settings.
• Click Personalization and select Lock screen.
• Under Background, choose Windows spotlight.

Keep us posted if you need additional help.