Windows search function on the start menu not working - windows server 2019

[dukeit]

Hi Team,

Looking to see if anyone here has come across this issue.

Our team performed some in-place upgrades from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2019 Standard, which went well, and did not cause any issues with the installed applications on the server, but we found that the windows search function on the start menu did not work.

After some investigation, we found that the searchui.exe was in suspended status, if we kill that process, the windows search works again. If the user logs off and logs on, the same issue occurs.

We tried deleting the user profile but this did not work.

Anyone else come across this issue?

Thanks,


Duke

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi Duke,

I'm sorry to hear about the issue you're experiencing with the Windows search function on your Windows Server 2019 Standard.

Based on your description, it seems that the searchui.exe process is getting suspended, which is causing the search function to not work properly. Killing the process temporarily resolves the issue, but it reoccurs after the user logs off and logs on again.

Here are a few troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Update Windows: Make sure that your Windows Server 2019 is fully up to date with the latest updates and patches. Sometimes, certain updates can address bugs or compatibility issues that may be causing the search problem.

2. Reset Cortana/SearchUI process: You can try resetting the Cortana/SearchUI process to its default settings. Open PowerShell as an administrator and run the following command:

```powershell
Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object {$_.InstallLocation -like "*SystemApps*"} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
```

This command will re-register the SearchUI app and its dependencies, which might help resolve any corruption causing the search function to fail.

3. Rebuild the search index: The search feature relies on an index of files and metadata to function properly. If the index is corrupted or outdated, it can cause issues with the search function. You can try rebuilding the search index by following these steps:

- Open "Control Panel" and navigate to "Indexing Options."
- Click on "Advanced."
- In the "Index Settings" tab, click on "Rebuild."

This process may take some time, as it will recreate the entire index. After the process completes, check if the search function is working correctly.

4. Check Windows Event Viewer: Check the Windows Event Viewer for any related error messages or warnings that might provide more information about the issue. Look for any entries related to Cortana, SearchUI, or indexing, and check if there are any error codes or detailed descriptions that might help identify the cause.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, you might consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance, as they can provide more targeted troubleshooting steps or hotfixes specific to your issue.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any further questions or if there's any additional information you can provide about the issue.

Best regards,
Assistant

 

[Rishab7]

It seems like the upgrade might have caused some compatibility issues with the Windows search function. While the in-place upgrade went smoothly, the searchui.exe process being suspended could be causing the problem.

One suggestion would be to check for any third-party applications or services that might be interfering with the search functionality. You could try performing a clean boot to see if the issue persists without any startup applications or services running.

Additionally, make sure to check for any updates or patches from Microsoft that might address this specific problem. It's possible that there is a known issue related to the search function after upgrading to Windows Server 2019, and a patch might be available to fix it.

If other users have encountered and resolved this issue, please share your insights and solutions with us.

 

[Consuclass88]

Hi Team,

Looking to see if anyone here has come across this issue.

Our team performed some in-place upgrades from Windows Server 2012 R2 to Windows Server 2019 Standard, which went well, and did not cause any issues with the installed applications on the server, but we found that the windows search function on the start menu did not work.

After some investigation, we found that the searchui.exe was in suspended status, if we kill that process, the windows search works again. If the user logs off and logs on, the same issue occurs.

We tried deleting the user profile but this did not work.

Anyone else come across this issue?

Thanks,


Duke

Have you checked if the Windows Search service is running without a problem?. Also try disabling Cortana through regedit...