"windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX'" error message Windows Serach

I don't know if this will fix your problem, but it fixed mine after many temporary fixes:

Blue Screen Solutions: Windows cannot find 'search:query=cmd"

Originally Posted by rastamanx

Hi All.

I am hoping to get some additional assistance for resolving another "windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX'" error I have been experiencing lately.

The problem is similar to the one I described previously (here: Windows could not start the Windows Search service on Local Computer)

...namely, I am running Windows 7 Pro 64-bit, and have experienced the same error message ( windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX', where XXX is my search query) when attempting to initiate a search via the Windows start menu search box. Unfortunately, my previously proposed solution (of removing a network search location from Windows Search Index list) does not resolve it.....and so finally I resorted to using Samhrutha's proposed solution of modifying the registry to reset Windows Search back to default (which DID work...but ended up removing all the search index customizations I had made).

However, when I then modify the search indexing options to include indexing of my C: drive, I get the "windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX'" error message.

If I then uncheck the C: drive box in the search in the search indexing options, the error message does not occur....so I then went thru a tedious process of trying to identify which folders on my C drive were causing the issue, and from what I am able to tell, the "windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX'" error message seems to always occur when the indexing options include at least one folder WHICH IS OWNED by TRUSTED INSTALLER (e.g., program files folder, program files (x86), c:, etc.). This wasn't a problem previously, so my guess is that MS Update recently (e.g., w/in the last few months) changed some security setting which now prevents Windows Search from being able to index/access folders owned by TRUSTED INSTALLER, resulting in the "windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX'" error message.

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge about this issue and/or any suggestions on how to resolve?
I would prefer a solution which does not necessitate me changing ownership of all the folders/files on my c: drive (as I am worried this may cause other problems).


Any help/advice greatly appreciated.


Thx.
~rx

@ksl82--did you see my previous post?


Re: "windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX'" error message Windows Serach


SOLVED!!

I just discovered a solution to my problem:

In "Customize Start Menu" options (of Taskbar and Start Menu Properties), set 'Search other files and Libraries' selection to SEARCH WITHOUT PUBLIC FOLDERS. Then click OK twice.

Doing this, I am now able to add: I add the entire C: drive (or selected C: drive folders) to my Windows Search index w/out getting any "windows cannot find 'search:query=XXX'" error messages when I search via the Start Menu search box, and select "See More Results". The same is true even if the OneNote index box ("oneindex://{s-1-5-21.....") is checked in Windows Search indexing options.

This worked for me:

Blue Screen Solutions: Windows cannot find 'search:query=cmd"

Very frustrating problem with an easy fix, fortunately. Just took forever to find.