Start\Search\files etc. in Win2kPro

I have a recurring problem in w2k. When I click on Start, then Search, and Files/Folders, I can enter the name of the file I want to look for . Then when I click on the search button / link , nothing happens. The screen displays a message to enter search criteria and but no search results.
I run a P4 2.4 Intel 512ddr, partitioned 80gig hd, with clean install of Win2KPro done 2 months ago. I run Norton Systemworks 2003- uptodate always and Spysweeper. Puter is clean. Have also done online scans to make sure.
This problem occurred before and I did a complete clean re-install of w2k which fixed it. I have also run System file checker - it does its thing but doesn't change anything to help. Does anyone have an idea of why this should stop working again, causes etc., and maybe a way to correct this without doing another install? Any help would be gratefully and greatly appreciated. Thanks to all in advance.

frums

Kind of a random guess, but when I click Search Now Regmon (Sysinternals) reads:


HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{e17d4fc0-5564-11d1-83f2-00a0c90dc849}

and

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{e17d4fc0-5564-11d1-83f2-00a0c90dc849}

Maybe check to see that you have those keys and have permissions to them. If you don't I can post a .reg file with all the stuff I have.

Thanks ottr for the reply. I don't have regmon as an option in search, but did use regedit and checked out the two areas you mentioned for those entries - which are the same. I don't have those entries at all in either place. No e17.....at all. Could these be added to the registry in those locations manually? Would they be the same exactly for all instances of w2k? In other words, would they be the same registry entries on any puter that was running w2kPro? A lot of questions, but am trying to learn more without re-installing all the time. Thanks again.

frums

It is most likely that they would be the same for all installs of Win2k.

In my registry there are some entries under the keys I listed... I'll post a registry import file for you later on... I had one prepared, but don't have it on hand. You'll be able to double click it to import the keys and values. You can also open it in Notepad to make sure there is nothing questionable in there.

BTW Regmon is just a utility that displays registry calls... it can sometimes be helpful in tracking down what part of the registry things are reading. Check it out: http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/regmon.shtml

I can confirm it's the same for W2K Pro. I can also confirm just how useful REGMON and it's partner in detection FILEMON are - helped me sort out some real head-scratchers in the past.

Thanks ottr and rambler for the information. I have dl'd the files from sysinternals, and will be running them shortly to see the results. From your posts, I believe this means that I can manually add these registry items to the appropriate places and it should work. Will back up everything first and give it a try. Will let you know shortly how it works.

Thanks again.

frums

Sounds like a plan. Here are the import files if you want to shortcut it.

To ottr and rambler - a big THANKS!
I ran the regmon, did the search and found that the entry you had mentioned ottr was not in the HKLM, but was in the HKCR. I dl'd your zip file and used it. Works perfectly now. If, for some reason this happens in the future, can I just use Regedit and go to the HKLM .....namespace and manually add the registry code? Another thing I discovered, while running filemon, there are a few files listed as Not found. These are supposed?? to be in C:\Winnt and C:\ or so the program suggests. These files are all dll files e.g. dsquery, dsuiext, ntdsapi, activeds, apsldpc, query. Also shows winspool.drv is not found. In C:\Winnt\Installer, desktop.ini is not found. I believe the dll files should all be found or installed, as should the desktop.ini. Everything seems to work ok right now, but should I be looking at getting these .dll files and putting them in the C:\Winnt folder/directory?

A lot of questions, but am trying to learn more about this w2k system. I very much appreciate all the help you have given. I have asked this question to other techs etc. and the answer was always re-install. Thought there had to be a better way and thanks to you, the information has been received and is muchly appreciated. Thanks again.

frums

Sometimes those "file not found" etc. messages are useful diagnostics for a problem, but are usually the software "going through the motions" - checking for all possiblities. Despite there being a valid search path for files, you'll see many programs search the root directory first, which of course is a waste of time.

Now you've got a window on what's going on, be amazed - be very amazed - it's a wonder anything works at all!

Come to think of it, that's why we're all here - very often things don't work!

As to your last point, I have very rarely had to "reformat and reinstall" as is so often advised on forums. Sitting beside me is my (t)rusty old NEC Powermate, 1996 vintage. I installed W95b on it's 1.1 Gb HD when I got it, and that O/S is still running as installed. Mind you, the hardware HAS changed - several step-ups in HD to 2.2 Gb, 4.3 Gb, 20 Gb, now dual drives. Memory from 16Mb up to 128 Mb. Processor from 166 MMX to 233 MMX.

It's now dual-boot with W2K Pro, and is netwoked to my main machine, all on the original O/S installation.

There are two approaches to any problem - find out what's causing it, fix it, and learn from it. The second is to get round it and wait for it to occur again. In a professional environment, the "format and reinstall" option is only very rarely available, and can result in new problems - missing drivers, problems with reinstalling applications etc.