Index Settings, Advanced Options panel: both the Current Location and New Location fields are blank

Hi

It is possible that indexing is disabled in Services. Go down the apps list to 'Windows Administrative Tools' expand and scroll to and open Services. Scroll way down the list to Windows Search, if this is not running or disabled then your index won't run either. In the left pane (extended tab open) is an explanation of what each service does (just click to highlight), with Windows Search highlighted right click and select Properties from the dialogue box go to Start Up Type and select Automatic or Automatic(delayed start) then click apply now in Service Status click start O/K, close down and restart and hopefully indexing should now be running.  Automatic (delayed start) has no impact on your start up time that's all.

Hi. Thanks. I failed to mention that I did do that, a few times, rebooting between different settings. Did not work. It says it is attempting to start the service then gives this error message:

     Windows could not start the Windows Search service on Local Computer.

     Error 3: The system could not find the path specified.

Which makes sense since the "New Location" field in "Indexing Options>Advanced" is blank and cannot be changed.

I also tried starting it from the CMD line, hoping it had a parameter that would allow an override new location, but the location is not set from there.

Hi Dwight,

We would like to know more about the issue. Have you tried to use the built-in troubleshooter to repair Search and Indexing?

Please check the link below and look for Find and Fix problems with Windows Search:

How to use Microsoft easy fix solutions

Under Windows troubleshooter, click on Find and fix problems with Windows Search:

Update us on the result.

I ran the troubleshooter just now. This is the result.

First panel says:

The program SearchIndexer.exe has failed recently.

Please check Security and Maintenance for possible solutions to this problem.

I clicked on the Next button. The next panel says:

Search and Indexing

Troubleshooting has completed

Troubleshooting was unable to automatically fix all of the issues found. You can find more details below.

Problems found

Windows Search service not running     Not fixed   Red X

Windows Search service failed              Detected    yellow !

I clicked on "View detailed information". This is what I got:

(All additional items were diagnosed as “issue not present”)

oops. I expected that screenshot to come through.

2nd try:

Since you have already tried everything, we suggest that you try to refresh your PC. Refreshing your PC reinstalls Windows and keeps your personal files and settings. It also keeps the apps that came with your PC and the apps you installed from the Windows Store. Resetting your PC reinstalls Windows but deletes your files, settings, and apps—except for the apps that came with your PC. Restoring your PC is a way to undo recent system changes you've made.

For you to refresh, reset, or restore your PC, click this link.

Let us know how it goes.

Well, I was hoping for an easier solution. I have already tried something like that, and it failed.

A couple months ago I bought a Samsung 850 Pro SSD to replace the HDD that was my boot drive. I used the Samsung migrate tool and everything worked fine. I then began moving things around to make better use of the SSD. As part of that I built a new index from scratch. It all worked fine.

I own the Abobe CC suite, so I uninstalled it and reinstalled on drive C (the new SSD). I continually was checking things to make sure the SSD was ok, and then noticed the index was not working. It was then that I saw the current and new locations were blank. I tried many things to fix the index, but couldn't.

I was not happy with the way I had configured the SSD, and since it was so early in the reorganizing of my stuff I decided to restart from the original HDD. I did the Samsung migration again, checked everything, and the index was working fine. I then uninstalled and reinstalled software, and then attempted to rebuild the index. It was then that the current and new fields went blank. Again.

I was tired of opening the laptop, replacing drives, and reinstalling software, so I asked the question here. I was hoping for an easy answer, because I'm not going to start over again. It may be coincidental, but both times it happened after uninstalling and reinstalling the Adobe CC suite. Is there ANY chance the problem lies there?

If it's possible to refresh without having to reinstall things again, I'd try that, but wow: I'd much rather just leave the index broken than start all over again.

For better assistance, we suggest that you post your issue here. You can find an answer to a technical issue, look up a KB article or search by error code. You may also search the forums for an answer to your question, or ask a question if you can't find the answer.

Regards.