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void
New to the neighborhood
void
2 Posts
12 Nov 2004, 4:55am

XP Search Companion Error

Hi all

I'm newb

I've got a really weird problem; the standard F3 search option (XP SP2)doesn't work. Didn't give any detailed error message, don't know what to make of it or how it happened

All I can do is enter the search criteria and when I hit 'Search' it come up with an error dialog

Have I deleted some dll accidently?

Thanks

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void edited : 12 Nov 2004 at 5:04am .
spazz
Icrontic Regular
spazz
44 Posts
12 Nov 2004, 12:09pm
Hey void, what is the error? Does this happen when you go to Start>Search ??
When I installed service pack 2 I lost the ability to use the Search Companion all together and can't search for files and folders on my computer. I get the error "A file that is required to run Search Companion cannot be found, you may need to run setup", and the left sidebar where the search fields should be is transparent. The only thing that shows up is the dog at the bottom. I have reinstalled this feature several times but still get the same thing.

I also had the same problem when using Search in Internet Explorer, but I resolved that by going to Start>Control Panel>Add or Remove Programs>Add/Remove Windows Components and uninstalling and reinstalling Internet Explorer. Now when I use Search in IE I at least have some internet search options in the left sidebar, but still can't search for files and folders on my computer.
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Straight_Man
Playing with Virtual Painter
Straight_Man
3,716 Posts
12 Nov 2004, 12:53pm
Normal SP2 search works here, but third party things do not. Also note, that any hijackers or other malware or virals present when SP2 is installed might yield results like this. IE 6.0 SP2 comes with XP SP2 and SP2 needs the SP1 .Net Framework update present before install of SP2 to work right, also. you might TRY this:

Uninstall SP2.

Restart Windows.

Install all security packs for SP1 that are not present after uninstall. make note of any that fail to install.

Do a complete and thorough malware and virals cleanup (I would try an F-Prot AV or Command AV trial to begin with). Remove TV Media if present, also.

Reload any security packs for SP1 that errored before.

Now, reload SP2, IF you do not mind not using Yahoo's products. Yahoo is partners with other companies, and one of them puts things on computers that some folks find objectionable, and they work in SP1 but not after a completely successful SP2 install, as of now.
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Kwitko
Sheriff of Dicktown
Kwitko
6,647 Posts

» Subscriber

12 Nov 2004, 1:59pm
Quoting Straight_Man
SP2 needs the SP1 .Net Framework update present before install of SP2 to work right
Absolutely, positively 100% untrue. My rig at home has SP2 without .Net installed. All of our XP rigs at work have SP2 without .Net installed. Do you have proof to back this up, a verifiable source perhaps? A non-johndanielsonii.comnetorgbizinfoname link?

Now, reload SP2, IF you do not mind not using Yahoo's products.
Again, no. I have Yahoo messenger, works fine with SP2. Again, do you have proof to back this up?
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spazz
Icrontic Regular
spazz
44 Posts
12 Nov 2004, 8:39pm
Greetings from Clearwater Straight_Man. Thanks for the detailed instructions on how to resolve this problem, but to be honest I finally got my computer stable after upgrading to sp2 and don't think regaining the use of the Search Companion (maybe) is worth the risk of what might happen jumping back and forth between sp1 and sp2. Personally speaking, my pc was up-to-date with sp1 before installing sp2 so I don't think that's the problem. There are so many people left without the Search Companion after installing sp2 I'm sure some have tried what you describe, but there is no evidence that I can find that this problem has a resolution, even from Microsoft (not surprising). There seems to be more serious sp2 problems than mine and I should probably consider myself lucky. In retrospect I wish I would have stayed with sp1 and may go back if I have to reformat in the future. Right now I have so much software working good I hate the thought of starting over.

I recently installed Copernic's Desktop Search program, and it's working pretty well and is much faster than Windows' search for files and folders feature as long as you keep it's index up to date by letting it run in the background. The only problem is right after adding, moving or deleting files it may not be fully indexed for an accurate search. Maybe Microsoft will address this issue for sp2 sometime in the future, but in the meantime, anyone else know of a better alternative to Copernic?
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void
New to the neighborhood
void
2 Posts
12 Nov 2004, 11:11pm
There are so many people left without the Search Companion after installing sp2 I'm sure some have tried what you describe, but there is no evidence that I can find that this problem has a resolution, even from Microsoft (not surprising).
I thought it was just something I had done. How come MS didn't address this issue and released a botched up version of SP2? . Can I report this problem to MS directly? or are they aware of the problem already? { since you said "there are many people left w/o search companion after sp2 }

Yeh I agree with you on the point that just to regain search companion it's not worth the hassle going back to SP1 etc however I might try it cos my C: drive is Imaged anyway so I can go back to the current state anytime.

I mean it's perfect at the moment. Just no search companion. Got no bugs/hijackers, systems clean.

Anyway thanks to everyone for their comments. Hopefully there should be a fix for this soon.
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spazz
Icrontic Regular
spazz
44 Posts
13 Nov 2004, 8:19am
void, you might want to try Copernic's Desktop Search program. It works pretty well and it's fast, gives more information, has a preview pane and includes more categories than windows search files and folders. I think I'm going to stick with it. I just wanted to fix the Search Companion because I can't stand something being broke! I'm missing it less and less though.
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Leonardo
Buzzwinkle the Moose FTW
Leonardo
14,843 Posts
13 Nov 2004, 9:59am
I once had that problem with XP as well. If memory serves me right, it was before SP1 even came out. I never did figure out the fix. A 'repair' installation of XP Pro fixed it. I haven't had the problem since then, with either SP1 or SP2.

For me, the Search function is valuable. I use extensively.
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CaptainPiracy
New to the neighborhood
CaptainPiracy
3 Posts
7 Feb 2005, 9:05pm
The Problem is caused by the corruption of the "puppy" that always helps you search in Windows XP.
This is the fix to Remove the dog and use the old Windows 2K style search.

I always hated that dog anyway...

http://www.tweakxp.com/article140126.aspx

(Advanced Users) You can also just paste the following lines in a TXT document and save it a a .reg file to run it and remove the dog..
*********Start Copying the Next Line*******
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\CabinetState]
"use search asst"="no"
****END ON LINE ABOVE****

Bye Bye Doggy , Hello Searchability!!! Woof!....

Later,
John
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spazz
Icrontic Regular
spazz
44 Posts
8 Feb 2005, 2:56am
Great, a solution! But I'm confused How do I enter the value? Is it a new string value or do I edit the default value (value not set) and insert everything including the quotes?

These are the existing values in [CabinetState]


Do I double click the Default key and insert the string here?
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CaptainPiracy
New to the neighborhood
CaptainPiracy
3 Posts
8 Feb 2005, 5:36am
Ok,

just download the .ZIP I created, it has the key saved in it, just run the .REG file and say yes. And the Dog is gone.....

SOrry I tried to make it clearer in my post. But this is easier.

BTW to create a new key you uhave to right click in the white area below the current entries and Create a new key... For this you would choose "String Value"....
Attached Files
File Type: zip nodog.zip (248 Bytes, 1171 views)
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spazz
Icrontic Regular
spazz
44 Posts
8 Feb 2005, 11:26pm
Fantastic! I have been using Copernic's Desktop search and plan to keep it because it has some great features such as preview, sort etc., but it's nice to have windows search back again.

Thanks CaptainPiracy!
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CaptainPiracy
New to the neighborhood
CaptainPiracy
3 Posts
9 Feb 2005, 2:27am
The fix I posted above fixes all the problems with search in WINDOWS..
when you open internet explorer , and hit the search button you get the old error again. I have solved this as well...

Download the updated registry entries and run them. I have also included a way to reverse the changes made. You could try running that option to see if the Search Companion returns repaired. But I did not try it, I hate that dog.... (WOOF)

Anyway. hopefully this is the last update, unless I actually find a way to repair the search, without by passing it...

later,
CaptainPiracy
Attached Files
File Type: zip Search Companion Fix.zip (980 Bytes, 575 views)
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spazz
Icrontic Regular
spazz
44 Posts
10 Feb 2005, 3:14am
I solved the problem with search in Internet Explorer a few months back, can't remember how I did it though. Probably someone here helped me! Anymore I use Firefox anyway. I like it much better. I got tired of Explorer's script warning everytime I preview a page from Dreamweaver and Imageready.

Thanks for the help with windows files and folders search. It's nice to have that working again.
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spazz edited : 10 Feb 2005 at 3:15am . Reason: spelling error
evans627
New to the neighborhood
evans627
1 Posts
12 Feb 2005, 6:31pm
But I did not try it, I hate that dog.... (WOOF)

I used your zip file and it worked wonderfully, but I question whether it has anything to do with the dog because he's still there and cute as ever. Thanks for the fix. I highly recommend it.
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