Solved Windows 8.1 Search

burtie

New Member
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Windows 8.1 Search slow and buggy (NOW FIXED)

EDIT: I've found a solution to the slow and buggy search in Windows 8.1, just go to my last post on this thread :)

Just wondering how is everyone getting on with the search in Windows 8.1?
I was looking forward to having it search "everywhere" but in reality I am finding it a bit of hindrance!
I forgot to mention that the search was also slow and buggy as hell!

For example if I search for "system" it auto completes the rest of the search box giving me results like this:

Screenshot (40).png

I am finding it really frustrating. The search in Windows 8 was perfect, apart from the fact it only searched apps. Did Windows 8 have auto complete like this? I don't remember it...but more importantly is there a way to turn it off??
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
annoying isn't it ,it seems to only auto-complete ,when when you search everywhere . i looked around a bit but cant see anywhere to disable the auto complete search
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    win8.1.1 enterprise
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Hinze57
    CPU
    AMD FX 6100 6core 3.30gHz
    Motherboard
    gigibyte ga-78lmy-s2p
    Memory
    4gig ddr3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Radon hd5000 Series
    Sound Card
    onboard realtek hd
    Monitor(s) Displays
    19" viewsonic/ 22"Samsung
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    128gig ssd Kingston
    80gig WD 10000 rpm spinner
    Case
    micro
    Keyboard
    microsoft curve 200
    Mouse
    Logitech wireless M215
    Internet Speed
    high speed 20
    Browser
    ie 11
    Antivirus
    windows defender
    Other Info
    updated enterprise apr 2/14
I know I am tearing my hair out with it! I am so used to just typing a few letters and then hitting enter to get what I want, but because of this I end up with something else! Agghhhhh! :mad: lol
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
Hi burtie,

First off, I am sure that auto complete can be disabled; however, I have not researched how to do it. The reason I did not search is because Classic Shell has already found the way to do it and even offers more tailored search options as well. Check out the available options in this screenshot and consider trying it if all else fails:

Classic Shell: Downloads

Screenshot (11).png

Good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Ah thanks...I've gone back to using Start8. At least the search with that is instant and smooth. I actually liked the start screen but this new search is buggy as hell. Oh well never mind!

Thanks for your help :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
Ah thanks...I've gone back to using Start8. At least the search with that is instant and smooth. I actually liked the start screen but this new search is buggy as hell. Oh well never mind!

Thanks for your help :)

Yes it is buggy and you are welcome. Good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Hate it, want it back to how it was. In metro IE is there a way when you search to automatically search IE first instead of everywhere? At the moment I type something in the search and have to then click search IE.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8.1 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel 3770K i7 Ivy Bridge oc 4.5 GHz
    Motherboard
    Asus P8Z77 Premium
    Memory
    32GB Corsair Platinum
    Graphics Card(s)
    Nvidia GTX 780
    Hard Drives
    Crucial 512GB SSD
    2x 3TB Seagate
    PSU
    Corsair HX850
    Case
    Corsair White Graphite 600T
    Cooling
    Corsair H80i
    Keyboard
    Roccat Isku
    Mouse
    Roccat Kone XTD
Agree they Fd something up here in 8.1. You used to be able to hit control-v in the start screen and it would just start searching for the phrase that you had copied, now its not working either.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba L305-s5919
    CPU
    Core2Duo T8100
    Memory
    4G
    Graphics Card(s)
    Weaksauce
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 and Mechanical mod in cd bay
    Antivirus
    Defender
Okay this problem has been niggling me, and I think I found the solution to the slow and buggy search in 8.1.

All you have to do is included the "AppData" directory into the "indexing options". It worked for me and now my search on the start screen is lightning fast just like it used to be on Windows 8.

Open Index options (from start screen) click "modify" and in the "change selected locations" navigate to C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData and put a little tick in the box. Press "OK" then "close"

(USERNAME is what ever your user/account name is)

You may have to un-hide hidden items in explorer options first

I cant take the credit, it was posted over in the Microsoft forums:
Windows 8.1: Slow search and quirky Networking - Microsoft Community

I still cant find a way to turn off auto complete but at least the search function is now fast and usable once again :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
Worked for me, thanks. Do you think this had anything to do with disabling indexing for those of us who did so with SSD drives? I noticed my other PC which has a regular hard disk does not have this quirk, maybe because I never F-d around with its indexing?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 Pro x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba L305-s5919
    CPU
    Core2Duo T8100
    Memory
    4G
    Graphics Card(s)
    Weaksauce
    Hard Drives
    Crucial M4 and Mechanical mod in cd bay
    Antivirus
    Defender
Worked for me, thanks. Do you think this had anything to do with disabling indexing for those of us who did so with SSD drives? I noticed my other PC which has a regular hard disk does not have this quirk, maybe because I never F-d around with its indexing?

In honest truth I have no idea lol!

I just have good old standard hard drives, no SSD.

Thing was I tried playing around with the indexing, I removed the entire index, chose different folders and rebuilt it but I still had the problem. The solution I came across was the only thing that worked... I have no idea why, I am just glad it did :D
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 7
Necroposting and repeat posting but I think it's worth it ...

I too had unreasonably slow Windows Search in Windows 8.1. For me the solution was to delete

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows\edb.chk

I noticed that this file's description said it contained recovered file fragments so I just nuked it as an experiment. It worked! I guess if the search index gets corrupted then it goes and finds the corruptions and recovers them to this file. And then doesn't use them very intelligently, evidently. Humph. When I deleted mine it was only 8 Kb (yes, Kb, not Mb!) but once it was gone, indexing was free to run at its old accustomed normal speed. Rebuilding the entire index also generally solves the problem, but that can take hours and you lose indexing capacity in the meantime.

Might work for you, give it a try. Moving the file to the Recycle Bin was sufficient, so you can always restore it to its original location if the trick doesn't work.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Win 8.1 x64
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