Windows Update destroyed Search Menu

Question

Hi, many times my old PC was trying to do Windows Updates, and it always failed, yet I can't disable them. However, last time when my old laptop didn't succeed installing updates, the Search menu broke afterall. It does open, but it's completely frozen, like whatever I type, it does nothing, if I don't do anything, it will close by itself, and if I click on the Search UI, it, well, disappears.

The SearchApp.exe process in Task Manager keeps crashing until it stops running again. WerFault.exe also keeps starting when SearchApp.exe crashes.

I tried to re-enable Windows Search service (WSearch), I tried killing SearchIndexer.exe, I tried restarting explorer.exe, and even tried to run Search Diagnostic: Search Diagnostic said Windows Search wasn't running and fixed it, however, what it couldn't fix was Windows Search Folder Permissions. I tried to open Search Menu again, however, the results were the same. I immediately assumed Windows Update did so, even though it unsucceeded.

I also tried to run CMD as admin and type sfc /scannow. The command finished, although, it said the system was completely stable.

I need help to repair Search Menu. If anyone knows how, please let me know.

Answer 1

Hello Abdulqadir,

Good day! I'm John Dev a Windows user like you and I'll be happy to assist you today. I know this has been difficult for you, Rest assured, I'm going to do my best to help you. When was the last time it worked properly?

Please try the following methods below.

**Restart Windows Explorer

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.

Select the Processes tab.

Scroll down and look for Windows Explorer

Right click then select Restart.

**Repair all Windows apps via PowerShell

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager then click File

Select "Run new task" then type: powershell

Make sure to put a check mark on the "Create this task with administrative privileges" box

Copy and paste the command below one at a time then press Enter. Please ignore the red errors and let the process complete.

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.ShellExperienceHost | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_. InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}

Get-AppXPackage | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_. InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

Restart your computer

Please try creating a new local administrator account then check if the issue persists.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/cre...

Kindly let me know if this helps or if you have any further concerns.

Kind regards,

John DeV

Independent Advisor

Answer 2

Hi,

Thanks. Option 2 (powershell commands) helped me.

Answer 3

Hello Abdulqadir,

I look forward receiving your updates.

Kind regards,

John DeV

Independent Advisor

Answer 4

Hi,

This happened after when the Windows Update has failed (today for sure).

I will let you know the results later, right now I'm busy so I can't do any of your suggestions how to fix Search Menu crashing at the moment.