Windows 10: Taskbar Search and Start Menu Problems

I did the sfc scannow, the powershell app thing, I think I did the DSIM thing too. What can I do?

:)

 

Taskbar search icon and start menu search not working

Pressing the taskbar SEARCH icon (no drop down), or searching by typing after selecting the START menu (automated search), no longer works on our Windows 10 system. We upgraded recently from Windows 7 and the search features initially appeared to function.
However, the features are now non-responsive.

Many people are experiencing similar problems and many of the solutions don't seem to be working, including the 'Search and Indexing' troubleshooter. We did activate the menus one time by HIDING the search icon on the taskbar and then turning it ON. It
seemed to refresh the feature, but only worked for a few hours before behaving badly again.

 

Taskbar search icon and start menu search not working

We are responding to our own post. The only solution we have found so far was recommended by Jean Simeoni in reply to the Microsoft Community thread: "Cortana/Windows Search Not Working: Windows 10" ( quoted below from page 6 of all replies in our browser ).
In addition to his suggestions, we had to DISABLE and reboot, not merely STOP, the 'Windows Search' service, before we could delete the 'Data' folder. Our only hesitation at this point, in recommending the fix, is simply not knowing if it is a permanent fix
or a short-lived fix. Either way, it's effectiveness is definitely a clue to the overall problem.

[ QUOTE ]

I'm running Windows 10 upgraded from Windows 8.1 on my desktop and upgraded from Windows 7 on my Notebook, both were presenting the same problem. What helped me was deleting the "Search Data" Folder. I believe it contains the search indexes and for some
unknown reason those indexes were corrupted.

Below are the steps I used (Sorry, I'm running the Brazilian Portuguese version so some items may be labeled different in English):

• Open Configuration/Settings
• Type Services in the search bar
• Click on Show Local Services
• On the Services window, look for the Windows Search service and stop it
• Open Windows Explorer
• Navigate to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search
  • Note that you may need Administrator credentials
  • Note also that ProgramData is a hidden folder
• Delete the Data folder
• Restart the PC

Let me known if this solves your problems.

[ END QUOTE ]

 

You can start by describing your problem in the most detail to the best of your ability.

 

Create another identical user account.
Logon to the new account and see if the same problem persists.