Microsoft Windows Search Indexer Stopped Working

Posted by brant : 2006-12-29 at 12:35 am

Windows Vista users will inevitably encounter a corrupt search index at least once. First, you should know that the indexing service is embedded in the OS and is on by default. So what to do? Before you fix it, lets first stop the error from coming up. Stop the service called "SearchIndexer.exe". Ideally, I would just tell you to delete the file that the search indexer uses. Unfortunately I do not know where the index file is located. If you know where this file is, please write a comment for others to learn from. Plus I would be very interested since I did try to look for it. :)



So what I can tell you to do is. . . thats right. . .system restore. Each night your system should have a new checkpoint anyway. So run that and you will be fine. I would suggest restoring windows ASAP.

The next obvious question is: why does this happen? Well, in my case I was downloading from newsgroups which writes an awful lot of data to the hard drive. At the same time a new program I installed cause a bluescreen. That is a recipe for disaster right there. =\ Indexer errord many times and outlook 2007 wouldn't even open because it communicates with search indexer. I rebooted and windows tried to fix itself with scan disk to no avail.

Why can't Microsoft make this easier? The funny thing is that if you go to Control Panel -> Indexer Options under advanced, you can rebuild the index db. So why not just do that right? Well, it has to actually be running for you to get to the advanced tab. At this point our index file is corrupted so we can't even get there to rebuild the index! When you try to force the service to run, it errors immediately afterwards. So please Microsoft, fix this problem and let us rebuild or delete the index without it running. I guarantee a lot of people will get pissed off by this error in 2007.

Windows Vista is still a decent OS. This is basically the first serious problem that I have come across so far. Though if I do see another error that I think others might encounter expect a post!

*UPDATE* Sept 01 2007
Thanks to Kev from the comments below, there is an easy solution to fix this problem. Simply delete the "Config" and "Data" folders located in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search . As stated by Mickmeister, windows will simply recreate and rebuild the index afterwards. If you want to be 100% certain, then go to the indexer properties and manually click rebuild.


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OLD Comments (32)


SHC - 2009-12-16 at 13:50:53
I get the same annoying box but it says Internet Explorer has stopped. How do I stop it?

daisy - 2009-09-10 at 09:46:45
i'm really happy with my indexing system i have 26 catagorys from mature to teens and over 10,000 movies to knock one off to. My indexing system works a treat and would not swap it for anything. The only problem is a keep getting an error message, right i the middle of enjoynig a movie...(Windows Media Center has encounted a gay retarded file that can not be removed due to lack of cock sucking) what is that all about?

Martin - 2009-09-10 at 09:42:36
I had an idea to fix my indexing service and i has worked no hastle for days now. I go home on monday took the pc up to the loft openned the window and at a 90 degree angle threw it out. it smashed to bits on my next doors drive and i am claiming on my accidental damage cover for a replacement. but the indexing service is fixed.

franky - 2009-09-10 at 09:39:28
I been having the same exact issues! So ill tell you how i fixed it.....the index searcher just needs some lovin. Ok so re-boot your computer and enter the bios, now change the boot devices so your computer boots from the cd rom. ( Sorry you will need a copy of win98 for this) boot the computer from the win98 disk. Next get to dos promped if you dont know how to do this google it!. at the dos promped type in the following c:\fdisk then once you have done this next c:\format C: this will fix any issues you have ever had with your indexing service.

baz[Z]a - 2009-05-17 at 01:03:34
Delete the Windows Search Index Program Folder

If the above method did not work, you can try to delete all of the files associated with search indexing in Vista by deleting everything inside these folders:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Temp

If you do not see these folders, you need to turn on viewing for hidden folders by going to Windows Explorer or My Computer and then choosing Tools, Folder Options. Go to the View tab and scroll down till you see “Show hidden files and folders“. You should now be able to see the ProgramData folder.

Again, make a backup of the files in the directories before deleting them just in case, but they really are not that important. If you get an Access is Denied message when trying to delete the files, you will first need to stop the Window Search Index service by going to Control Panel, then Administrative Tools, and then clicking on Services.

The service should be called Windows Search or Windows Searcher. Double click on the service and click Stop.

After you delete the files, restart the computer and the index will be rebuilt and hopefully your error will be gone!

Hope that helps someone with a very annoying error! Remember the search index service is not critical, so you’re not going to mess up your computer by disabling the service or deleting it’s files.

omghelpmeee - 2009-04-25 at 11:16:51
Ive been having the same exact issues and I deleted the files like you said yet nothing happened and the index searcher is still not working

meow - 2009-04-22 at 12:40:39
I hate vista so much its nothing compared to windows xp

Adam O - 2009-04-21 at 18:07:24
I found the you need to go to the ontrol panel, index options and if you are using Adobe Flash... Disable index of off line webpages. This was my cure. If that does not work I would start removing other suspects from the index based on the event errors. I found this to be true for both Vista (all versions) and XP (all versions) reguardless of what Office products are installed. I am using Vista Ultimate with Office 2007 Professional... Outlook too... GL all!!!

knower - 2009-04-17 at 16:08:28
why buy a pc you bunch shit for brains
just get a linux or a mac

amanda - 2008-12-25 at 01:43:58
I tried following C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search and then deleting the config and the Data folders, but I can't even find the ProgramData part in the C: All I have is a Program Files.
I suck at computers and I can't stand having this little pop up crap on my computer everyday. Someone, PLEASE help me! I need it =(
amanda_rocks04@hotmail.com
thanks!

Phil - 2008-10-15 at 09:45:25
I have the same problem with Vista Business SP1 and MS Office 2007. It never finds a solution when it checks. This only happens every week or two. The search crashes and I really don't care. But the pop up window is annoying. My question is: Why doesn't Microsoft provide a fix for this? WTF is wrong with them? Do they really expect everybody to solve this on our own? We all paid good money for their software, they owe it to us all to fix this!

Maggie - 2008-06-23 at 09:11:11
I've kept the XP OS when I "upgraded" to MS Office Small business. "MS Search protocol" error comes up for me also. Wish I would have kept MS office 2003.

shadow - 2008-06-11 at 01:39:21
Try this link.
http://www.techsupportforum.com/microsoft-support/windows-vista-support/138952-microsoft-windows-search-indexer-stopped-working-closed.html

Ben Binks - 2008-02-23 at 13:27:51
I have the same problem with the search indexer as you all. I dont seem to be able to find a firm fix to the problem. Does anyone know if its been sorted yet? Help! bfbinks@bfbinks.karoo.co.uk

amanda - 2008-01-30 at 04:01:08
i am so happy im not the only one to have this problem thought i had done something real wrong i have been putting up with it for 5 months driving me crazy well im glad there some good advise out there microsoft shame on you so wish i stuck with xp not upgraded (down grade more like) system restore sure dont work like xp like the person up top said will only let you go back so far i cant even rebuild index under properties just blank box for me and constant messages thanx for the advise will try it out hope dont mess up my system to much fingers crossed

amanda - 2008-01-30 at 04:00:08
i am so happy im not the only one to have this problem thought i had done something real wrong i have been putting up with it for 5 months driving me crazy well im glad there some good advise out there microsoft shame on you so wish i stuck with xp not upgraded (down grade more like) system restore sure dont work like xp like the person up top said will only let you go back so far i cant even rebuild index under properties just blank box for me and constant messages thanx for the advise will try it out hope dont mess up my system to much fingers crossed

Countrymanbigandrich - 2008-01-17 at 18:21:40
thanks for the tip...i searched microsoft's help data base and it was no help at all, and whenever it checked for an online solution, it never really fixed it....the search indexer stopped about 6 months after i bought my laptop and its been annoying me for about a month.....thanks again, i was just about to put an axe through my pc (lol)

Ben - 2007-12-14 at 18:42:57
Thanks for the postings! As of 12/13/2007 I could not find a solution on the Microsoft site!!! Thanks again!
///BeN

teresa vigil - 2007-10-03 at 13:18:58
UPDATE* Sept 01 2007
Thanks to Kev from the comments below, there is an easy solution to fix this problem. Simply delete the "Config" and "Data" folders located in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search . As stated by Mickmeister, windows will simply recreate and rebuild the index afterwards. If you want to be 100% certain, then go to the indexer properties and manually click rebuild.

If you deleate the files, then when you want to transfer files within a folder it takes forever, do not delate the fiels its better to do sytem restore instead. Dealting the fiels will stop one problem but bring on another.

bryce cooper - 2007-10-02 at 07:44:34
Im slightly annoyed with windows vista wish i had of waited a while or just kept windows xp

Mickmeister - 2007-09-02 at 06:47:16
Hi all, I have Followed Kev's advice, having gone to C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search and deleted BOTH the config and the Data folders, and it fixed the problem of the search indexer straight away. Having deleted the folders, vista immediately replaced the folders, although no data was present, so I imagine it is rebuilding the search indexing.
Thanks kev - for the tip, i can now access outlook again, and not forever get the indexer stopped message.

Malcolm - 2007-08-31 at 17:46:36
I followed "Kev"'s advice and it seems to have worked

LStuart - 2007-08-22 at 14:04:06
I've had this problem for a few days and it's really annoying. I disabled the services and also followed the Spanish' path to edit the registry. The values in the registry were '1' Hexadecimal which is what the internet said to change it to, so not quite sure why the error happened. Anyway thanks to those of you who advised how to sort it out. Let's hope Microsoft fix this properly!


Juniper - 2007-08-21 at 09:10:46
Just found this solution on Microsoft Forums under 'Windows Search Protocol Host Has Stopped Working [vista]'
The author is rodri003 and the solution works:
'I kept getting a message saying Search had stopped working. Outlook 2007 performance was so bad that it was unusable. I cliked on the all programs, Administrative Tools, Services. Scroll to Windows Search and right click. Select properties, in the general tab, select Startup type "Disabled" and stop the service if it's running. Everything works fine including Outlook. The only issue is that if I search for a message in Outlook or use the Vista search service it says that the search may be slow because the search service is not running. I hope this works for you.'
Ditto that to you.

muffty - 2007-08-14 at 17:03:05
i have same prob, been told by the manurfacturer to make p a full back up,and put in the aplication and support disk that came wi my lappy and restart computer,puts every thing back to the original state,then use your back up disks

Jojo - 2007-08-13 at 00:21:35
yeah.. i'm encountering the same problem too. it's getting kind of irritating. can anyone please confirm if it can be deleted safely..

Jake - 2007-08-08 at 00:58:24
I have found the file, but I am unsure if i should delete it,

This file can be found at C:\Windows\system32

And go down the page to SearchIndexer

Delete it if you want I am not sure if it is wise

junior - 2007-08-01 at 11:16:38
hello i had the same problem and i found the solution in this page. i'ts in spanish but it has images http://www.trucoswindows.es/topico-4831-windows-search-indexer-dejo-de-funcionar.html

for any questions add me a msn junior_c_6@hotmail.com


Carol - 2007-07-27 at 18:23:01
I am having the same problem where the windows index searcher box has been popping up for the last 2 weeks. Every time I try to get on a messenger or even my email it pops up. My laptop has been real slow since this started. I tried system Restore twice. It is still doing the same thing. Vista system restore is not like the X P's. I cannot go back as far as I would like in my system Restore... Unless, I am doing something wrong and don't know how to go as far back as I would like and need to.Someone please help me with these problems.. I am beginning to hate getting on my laptop lately. It is only 5 months old and I feel I should not be having this problem..

EtownsFinest - 2007-07-17 at 19:40:55
I have the same problem can' get my indexer back on KEV what files do i erase under programdata\microsoft\search

Kev - 2007-07-16 at 17:31:37
The search index is in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search
just delete cotents and all should be fine

Luke Sunset - 2007-07-16 at 05:12:14
I'm having the same problem, on the 26th of June I installed the updates for Vista and when the three updates were done my laptop started to run very slow. I thought nothing of it, I shut it down for the night and the next day when I turned it on it took over 15 for it boot up. When the desktop came up this message poped up saying the Seach Indexer has stopped working. I had no idea what tha meant but after the messgae came up every program I tried to run would no respond and it would take forever for the programs to respond. When the programs would finally respond the same message came up again, I grew annoyed of the the problem and called Microsoft thinking they would provide me with a solution but they haven't. I was on the phone with them for over three hours and all they could tell me is that the have no idea how to fix the problem. It's been almost three weeks and the problem has not been fixed.