Windows 10: Slow/unresponsive explorer search bar/save as and maybe some other stuff.

A few months ago I started having an annoying problem with Windows 10. Usually when I click in the Explorer search bar it will take about 10 seconds to register the click and respond by opening the history panel and creating a cursor there. Until then, it does literally nothing visible.

Once It opens, it will be good for a long while, responding immediately, but will revert to the 10 second unresponsiveness after a while.

This seems to be related to an issue I've seen when I select "save as", which I most notice when using windows apps like paint, although it can happen in others. I will click and again no response will occur for a few seconds, then the blue rotating circle cursor will appear and run for a few seconds until the dialog box appears. Once it's done once, it will be good and instantly responsive for awhile, too, but will revert at some point like search does.


I have also occasionally noticed that when I open explorer, especially through one of the smaller open or save dialog boxes, that sometimes all my drives do not list under "This PC" unless I forcibly refresh the panel somehow.


This all seems related and I don't know what's causing it. I have tried all the various suggestions Googling the problem which only I seem to have in this presentation recommends, and nothing seems to be able to fix it.


I would prefer not to reinstall windows if I don't have to.

:)

 

Win10 Explorer search has that slow green bar

@prairie, Welcome to TenForums!

There are two places where you can change File Explorer's search options, too many options turned on may be slowing the search and causing the slow progress of the green progress bar. The first is covered in this Tutorial.





File Explorer Options - Open in Windows 10

The second is the 'Advanced options' on the 'Search' ribbon, click in File Explorer's 'Search this PC' box to show this ribbon.

 

Win10 Explorer search has that slow green bar

I use the WindowsKey-E to bring up File Explorer (FE). I want to search for something in indexed locations. FE comes up with "This PC" in the "where to search" bar. That's fine... that's what I want. When I type something in, I get the slow green bar coming across. I don't know what it is searching .... all I want is an index search. By the way, the same thing happens on my Win10 laptop. Is there some way to get instantaneous results?
I can use the search at the lower left of the windows desktop. It is quick, but I get an abbreviated list. I have gone so far as to buy Lookeen search ... and it works pretty well. But doggone it, I ought to be able to get Windows to cough up its index results quickly and comprehensively. Thanks, Dave

 

Shortcut key for "My Stuff" ?

Using Windows 10, here's the steps I'm taking to search for files on the computer:

• Click Start Menu (or tap the Windows key on the keyboard)
• Start typing a search term
• Click "My Stuff"
• When it finds your file, click it to make the file open
• If you want to open File Explorer and peruse similar files without opening files:
  • After clicking "My Stuff" (in Step 3) go to the bottom area under "Other places to look" and click "File Explorer"
  • File Explorer opens
  
  Question: I don't want to use the mouse to click "My Stuff" in step 3. Is there a shortcut key?