I tried looking for a file today and when I used the search on the start bar nothing happened. It's like it there is no process behind it. I can click it but absolutly nothing happens. Thank you for your help.
Hi,
Sorry to hear of the problems with the Search function on your machine. There are a large number of reasons/things that can cause this, so you will need to be prepared to try a number of potential remedies (unless you strike lucky and hit on the correct one first time!)
A reinstall of your operating system is the definitive solution but should not be attempted unless all other steps have been tried and failed, and your back up/archive/copy of all your important settings, files, data, etc is 100% up to date, correct and reproducible. (which it should be anyway!)
Start off by running the Windows Protected System File Checker (SFC), and have your Microsoft Windows XP installation disc handy as this may be required if damaged or missing files are found and cannot be overwritten from clean undamaged copies elsewhere in your system:
Start>Run>
in the white box type:
sfc /scannow
(note the space)
OK
The scan will take approximatelly 20 minutes to run and will automatically fix any problems found in your Windows Protected System Files.
Reboot your computer and see how you go.
The next step would be to follow the threads, set out below, where a number of possible solutions are described.
