Windows 10: Multiple search & preview problems

Hello,


I have been experiencing an accumulating number of small problems on my laptop - starting with not being able to use the search bar on the task bar nor the search function in windows explorer.


In addition, when I click on the start button and start scrolling through the list of applications to choose one, the start menu will automatically close itself.


Most recently, I now have a problem previewing Word or Excel files attached to an email I have a message saying no previewer is installed and when I try to open them, I get a message saying "Word experienced an error trying to open the file". So each time, I have to forward them to a colleague and have them save the file on our drive in order for me to access it.


I have windows 10 pro and have completed all the necessary updates, and yes - rebooted my computer several times. I have also tried several of the help pages here, including all of the steps in: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4520146/fix-problems-in-windows-search, however I often get messages that my access is restricted even though I am an administrator of my computer.


Thank you in advance for your help!

:)

 

Edge Search Does Not Permit Change of Region


I got these suggestions from the Microsoft Community forum.No. 1 worked for me:

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community. I am glad to assist you on this.
We have reproduce the issue here and we are able to access non-regional search for google using Microsoft Edge.
I would suggest you to try the below steps and check if it helps.
Step 1:
Clear browsing data option of Microsoft Edge and check if you face the issue. To do so perform the steps below.

1. Click on the More actions icon next to the feedback icon present on top right corner of the Project Spartan homepage.
2. Select Settings and click on Choose what to clear.
3. Check the boxes Browsing history, Cookies and saved website data and Cached data and files and click on Clear.

Step 2:
I suggest you to create a new user account and check if the issue occurs.

1. Go to Settings.
2. Choose Accounts and then select Family and other users.
3. Select add someone else on this PC.
4. Enter a user name and hit next.
5. Click on Finish.
6. Sign out from the current Account and Log into the new account.

Step 3:
It could also happen because of network issue. I suggest you to try with different network connection and check if it helps.

 

Quick Access not searching Pictures folder

Summary, that last suggestion didn't work.

• I moved the pictures to another folder temporarily.

• Then I tried to remove the Pictures folder with option one at Add or Remove Folders from This PC in Windows 10 | Windows 10 Tutorials. Even after rebooting, the Pictures folder remained.
• So I tried using option two. Same thing: reboot >> Pictures folder still there.

• Since there were no troubleshooting steps for this scenario, just for the heck of it, I ran through the restore steps. Copied some pictures into the Pictures folder, ran a Quick Access search and initial problem remains: Searching all of QA doesn't find any files in Pictures folder, running search on just the Pictures folder does. I want to run a global search and find matching files in any/all of the Documents, Music, Videos, and Pictures folders.

That article dates from 2015 and I'm guessing is out of date. I hope it didn't create potential future problems in my registry.

Bottom line: I'm still looking for a fix.

 

Preview pane doesn't work in Windows 10

Hi RuthZekowski,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Community.

1. Are you facing issue with all your files or any particular files?
   
2. Which version of Windows you are using?
   
3. Since when are you facing this issue?
   

The Preview pane shows the contents of certain files selected in File Explorer. For images, it is a thumbnail preview.

If you are unable to preview in File explorer, I suggest you to try the below steps.

1. Open a new File Explorer window and click the View tab from the ribbon toolbar.
   
2. Click Options, and then click Change folder and search options to open Folder Options dialog.
   
3. Check the Show preview handlers in preview pane box, and click/tap on OK.​
   
   
   

Please reply for all the required information to help you further.



Hope it helps.