Windows 7 start menu search programs and files is broken for everything except folders

Question

One of the really nice things in Windows 7 (and Windows Vista) is the way that the search box works on the start menu: that is, open the start menu, type stuff until you get what you need, hit enter...

It's stopped working properly on my principal box.

If I type a file path (for example, c:\data\) it works exactly as you'd expect, listing matching folders.

If I type an application name (for example, Excel), instead of the link to Excel appearing, I get a blank icon and "Programs". Similarly for files I know to have been previously indexed/remembered by the system and indeed anything that isn't a file. The most obvious other "broken" elements are URLs - normally if one types www.google.com or http://superuser.com then hitting Enter will launch the browser. Now I get nothing (hitting Enter has no effect).

I'm at a complete loss here as to where even to begin to look to sort this out (which is scary, because I'm supposed to know what I'm doing).

Answer 1

Ok, I found the answer here:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-fix-windows-7-search-problems/

The answer that worked for me was to manually delete a registry key as follows:

1. Using regedit or equivalent (which can be found in your windows folder - c:\windows by default).

2. Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FolderTypes\{ef87b4cb-f2ce-4785-8658-4ca6c63e38c6}

3. Right-click on this sub key, and then select Delete.

4. Close regedit
5. Reboot the machine.

There is also a link, on the above site, to a Microsoft hotfix - however I haven't tried this.

Answer 2

Probably has something to do with your user profile. You can try and create a new profile or do some heavy cleaning within the regedit on your current profile. Maybe reinstall the Search Indexer? It's not an answer to your question but it might help you in the troubleshooting procedure.