Windows 10: Windows Search Service wont start, Index fails to rebuild

I go the same problem as here, but nothing in the thread helped:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/windows-search-service-wont-start-index-fails-to/e651a51d-0264-432c-a8e8-830f630242c3?page=2

I tried every single suggestion that I could find out there, nothing works.

I am quite sure it happened when I changed hard drives and renamed them and one of them contained the search index.

Did anybody ever successfully recover from this error?

To repeat, it happens when you try to start the Windows Search Service. The error is "Windows could not start the Windows Search service on Local Computer. Error 21: The device is not ready.

:)

 

Windows Search Service wont start, Index fails to rebuild

The Windows Search service wont start in Windows 10. I was on build 17134 and then upgraded to build 17723, but the issue persists.

This is the error I get when I try to start the Windows Search service in Services:





Here is everything I have tried, each were performed individually before attempting to start the Windows Search service:

1) The Search and Indexing Troubleshooter.





Result: Ineffective

2) Changing the SetupCompletedSuccessfully to 0 and restarting then starting the Windows Search service.

Result: Ineffective

3) Running the System File Checker command (sfc /scannow). Completed successfully, no issues.

Result: Ineffective

4) Running Check Disk commands on all drives (chkdsk /f C. Completed successfully, no issues.

Result: Ineffective

5) Starting the Windows Media Player Network Sharing service:

Result: Fails with Error 1068 (The dependency service or group failed to start)

6) Running the DISM commands to ScanHealth/RestoreHealth. Completes successfully, no integrity violations.

Result: Ineffective

7) Delete files in C:\Windows\System32\config\TxR in Safe Mode. Some cannot be deleted as they are in use by System.

Result: Ineffective

8) Delete files in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows, and C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Temp.

Result: Ineffective

9) Rebuild the Index in Indexing Options. It does nothing after warning that it may take a long time to rebuild the index.

Result: Ineffective

It seems that no matter what I do, the Windows Search service refuses to start.

Any help appreciated.

 

Windows 10 Windows Search / Indexing Stops Completing

Hi,



Thank you for posting your query in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern and will assist you to resolve this issue.

I suggest you to follow the steps below and check if it helps

• Press Windows key + R.
• Type Services.msc In the search box.
• Select Windows Search
• Restart the services and set the service as Automatic

If the issue persist try performing Rebuilding Index again.

To rebuild the index follow the steps below:

• Open the Control Panel from the Start menu.
• Open Indexing Options in the Control Panel.
  
• Select the Advanced button in the Indexing Options window.
• Select Rebuild in the Troubleshooting section of the Advanced Options window.
• Select OK when it asks if you’re sure you want to re-build the search index.

Hope this helps. If the issue remains unresolved, please get back to us and we would be happy to help

 

indexing options blank, can't rebuild index, search service won't start

I had my indexes stored on a separate hard drive (e:\). That drive died, I removed it and I did not replace it. After reboot, Cortana said indexing was off. Tried turning on, indexing options pane is blank and that attempted index rebuild did nothing.
I tried starting from the services.msc. First it failed because it said it could not find the files in the specified path. Based on various MS community postings, I gleaned that I first had to

take ownership of the registry keys

set the SetupCompletedSuccessfully value to 0 (it already was zero)

change the file path for the indexes and temp storage under the GatheringManagerKey to someplace on my C: drive

run the system file checker with /scannow option (it found no errors)

Search service still won't start.

Latest system msg is "The Windows Search service terminated with the following service-specific error: %%2147749222"

Latest Application error includes "<1, 0x80040d66, Failed to add Gather Application: Windows>. "

Ideas, please?