Cortana search process / searchui.exe wont start 1903 2019-09 / 2019-10

Question

I cannot start cortana search process / searchui.exe in any of the computers in my organization on build 1903 2019-09 or 2019-10 you cannot click the search bar next to the windows button.  I have tried rebuilding the index. i have tried running "Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}"

I have tried sfc scan now.  I have tried running dism commands. I have tried chaning group policy settings for allowing web searches.  I cannot get this to load and have declined all the CU since 2019-09 on my wsus server until i figure out why it breaks the search feature.  If I uninstall 2019-09 or 2019-10 the issue is resolved. The error code event viewer throws if i try and manually start searchui.exe is 

Faulting application name: SearchUI.exe, version: 10.0.18362.387, time stamp: 0x5d89925e

Faulting module name: SearchUI.exe, version: 10.0.18362.387, time stamp: 0x5d89925e

Exception code: 0xc000027b

Fault offset: 0x0000000000171ac8

Faulting process id: 0xfa4

Faulting application start time: 0x01d57acb9501cce0

Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe

Report Id: 0d3b6dac-f32b-463b-b134-33944b6df692

Faulting package full name: 

Faulting package-relative application ID: 

Any ideas?

Answer 1

Hi Cameronsadler

Greetings! I am Vijay, an Independent Advisor. Cortana search issue was there in Jul-Aug builds but later they were corrected. I am surprised to see this issue in latest builds.

There was a registry fix which worked, try the same for your in one of the computers

1. Create a backup of your registry

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/322756...

2. Windows Key+R > Type regedit and Enter

Now go to following path

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search

Delete BingSearchEnabled from here and restart your computer

Source - https://borncity.com/win/2019/08/31/windows-10-...

Disclaimer - This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

Answer 2

Ok I deleted the BingSearchEnabled entry and restarted i still cannot click the search box. I still cannot manually start the process and it still throws an error when I try.  

Faulting application name: SearchUI.exe, version: 10.0.18362.387, time stamp: 0x5d89925e

Faulting module name: Windows.UI.Xaml.dll, version: 10.0.18362.387, time stamp: 0xd6182d63

Exception code: 0xc0000409

Fault offset: 0x000000000013e760

Faulting process id: 0x2550

Faulting application start time: 0x01d57ad7da8c3303

Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Windows\System32\Windows.UI.Xaml.dll

Report Id: 09ff0f3e-0e69-44bd-b326-876c2d1ba214

Faulting package full name: 

Faulting package-relative application ID: 

Yes I remember those patches the first time i had an issue you could select the box but not search that was the patch where cortana ate like 40% of the CPU. Every update since that was fixed has me unable to start the process on my machines and unable to click the box at all.  Any suggestion for things to try next?

Answer 3

I have exactly the same issue after 1903 update and tried all the fixes author mentioned + register fix above:

Faulting application name: SearchUI.exe, version: 10.0.18362.387, time stamp: 0x5d89925e

Faulting module name: SearchUI.exe, version: 10.0.18362.387, time stamp: 0x5d89925e

Exception code: 0xc000027b

Fault offset: 0x0000000000171ac8

Faulting process id: 0xd80

Faulting application start time: 0x01d57db290452442

Faulting application path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe

Faulting module path: C:\Windows\SystemApps\Microsoft.Windows.Cortana_cw5n1h2txyewy\SearchUI.exe

Report Id: e9348dd8-870e-4ad2-a93f-777ccf2d2e23

Faulting package full name:

Answer 4

@Cameronsadler

It looks like we are now the "small amount of users" that Microsoft decided not to care about at the moment.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-information/status-windows-10-1903?irgwc=1&OCID=AID2000142_aff_7593_1243925&tduid=(ir__ypeli2ftmskfrj9wxbtwxdh9ie2xgkuevtkpx3nf00)(7593)(1243925)(kXQk6.ivFEQ-QHUlre8TLUc6s60OKXKygw)()&irclickid=_ypeli2ftmskfrj9wxbtwxdh9ie2xgkuevtkpx3nf00#331msgdesc

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Some users report issues related to the Start menu and Windows Desktop Search

Microsoft has received reports that a small number of users are having issues related to the Start menu and Windows Desktop Search.

Affected platforms:

• Client: Windows 10, version 1903

Resolution: At this time, Microsoft has not found a Search or Start issue significantly impacting users originating from KB4515384.

Answer 5

Yea I was posting about this issue on the 10 forums and saw that :/ I just wont update any of our machines for the time being and hope the figure it out sooner rather than later.   I have a few test boxes in my domain and they all behave this way so I have just declined all 2019-09 and 2019-10 updates on my wsus server for now. I tried a lot of different things to fix the issue and the only ones i have left might work fora single pc like an in place repair install but there is no way I'm doing that on every pc in my domain on windows 10 so I have not tested that .  Something they did to fix the cortana eating up all your CPU broke something is my guess but it must have some other interaction since its only a small number trying to think what makes my domain computers unique. All i can come up with is a script we use to prep new machines from spice works that takes off things like mine craft adds and them all being from dell.