Can`t manage Windows Search Index

Mountain Pond 1,431

Hi,

can you please help me to understand what is going on? I can`t add custom directory to index and search. I need to add network path or other any path, because users are not able to find any file with Windows Search.

Any article shows that I can add, but this is not a true. https://devblogs.microsoft.com/windows-search-platform/configuration-and-settings/ https://www.online-tech-tips.com/windows-10/add-network-folder-to-windows-search-index/

Here screens from server I can`t do anything, add/remove/modify (using domain admin account)

Windows Search service installed and running

Also added GPO to be sure that nothing is disabled.

Thank you.

1 answer

MotoX80 33,066 Reputation points

2023-01-10T13:48:52.423+00:00

The 2 key sentences in the second link that you provided:

As I mentioned earlier, these files aren’t being indexed in the local search index, though. If you click on Start and type in indexing options, you’ll see that the mapped network drive location is not listed nor can it be added. Note: Technically speaking, the Windows client will not add a network location to the local search index. Instead, it will pass that search on to the server and the server will perform a search using its index.

So on the server, you need to add that folder to the local index, because it won't be included by default. Like C:\Data\Whatever.

On the client:

Now right-click on the network drive and click on Properties. At the bottom, make sure to check the Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties.
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Mountain Pond 1,431 Reputation points

2023-01-10T14:59:08.333+00:00

Those. when trying to search on a network drive, will the search request be passed to the file server?

I did, added the search directories on the file server. For some reason, I can set up an index there. But on the server where the clients work, I still cannot change anything in the index settings (as in the screenshot). After I indexed the directories on the file server and checked the checkbox, allow indexing on a network drive (on the client side), the search still doesn't return any results. It doesn't seem to work.

MotoX80 33,066 Reputation points

2023-01-10T16:03:20.043+00:00

> Those. when trying to search on a network drive, will the search request be passed to the file server?

According to what I have read, yes, that is how it works.

> I did, added the search directories on the file server. For some reason, I can set up an index there.

That's because it's a local disk drive, and not a mapped network drive.

> But on the server where the clients work, I still cannot change anything in the index settings (as in the screenshot).

Correct, you can't add a network drive to the index. And by "server where the clients work", does that mean that your users are RDP'ing from their desktop to Server1, and then mapping a drive to Server2? Are they searching the mapped drive for just file names, or do they want to search for content?

If content, then on Server2 (the file server) be sure that the file system is set to index content.

Mountain Pond 1,431 Reputation points

2023-01-10T16:48:22.743+00:00

I'm pretty sure the index is down. Look at a screen from the server on which users work.

This is on RDP server

This is on fileserver

I found this topic: https://superuser.com/questions/1429042/drive-not-listed-under-windows-10-indexing-options-and-so-not-selectable-for-in

MotoX80 33,066 Reputation points

2023-01-10T17:52:28.037+00:00

> This is on fileserver

What drive do you want to index? Is it a local drive? Are you trying to index a DFS share?

Is the Windows Search service running? Did you try to recycle it?

https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/4qffnv/using_windows_indexing_on_a_dfs_share_can_it_be/

Mountain Pond 1,431 Reputation points

2023-01-10T18:34:54.08+00:00

It is necessary for me that users could find documents on the redirected directory (a network folder as a matter of fact).

It confuses me that the index does not show the local disk at all.

Yes, in fact it is a DFS directory. But I want the index to work for both the local directory and the redirected directory.

Yes, Windows Search is running (first screenshots) and feature is installed.

Yes I tried recycle

MotoX80 33,066 Reputation points

2023-01-10T20:27:12.28+00:00

I'm sorry, I don't know. I use a Win10 VM to test with. It has 2 drives and they both show up.

Do your drives show up in disk management? What about clicking on "Show all locations"?

Try clicking on "Troubleshoot search and indexing" at the bottom and trying some of those options.

Mountain Pond 1,431 Reputation points

2023-01-10T20:41:25.407+00:00

Troubleshoot - do nothing :) "Show all locations" - not show. I hope this is the same issue

Mountain Pond 1,431 Reputation points

2023-01-11T11:54:40.7433333+00:00

This helps me to fix displaying C drive in Index options.

[https://www.ajni.it/2021/04/fix-search-indexing-on-rds-server-2019-and-probably-2016/

The next step add UNC path for indexing.
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Can`t manage Windows Search Index

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