Windows 8 Metro Search Broken

dude24760

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Location
London
Windows 8 Metro Search Not Working

Recently, my metro search hasn't been working. I usually go to the metro GUI and search for defrag, and click the "Defragment and optimise your drives". But, for some reason, when I click it, nothing happens, this also happens with many other system related programs like device manager, sound etc. I always have to use control panel now to use these programs. Other programs seem to work fine. Any help?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64x
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentinum(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 2.99 GHz
    Memory
    4.00GB (3.25 GB Usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP vs17e
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus 2014
Windows 8 Metro Search Not Working

I have the exact same problem. Recently certain (if not all) control panel items will show on the search but will not launch. Clicking them does nothing (right or left click). Only the Control Panel itself will start, along will regular apps.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
It works for me. When I click it, the screen changes to the non-phone desktop and defrag opens. I have windows 8.1, all updates installed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 consumer 64 bit
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer Aspire M5 481PT-6644
    CPU
    Intel Core I5
    Memory
    6 GB
    Hard Drives
    Spinning/SSD hybrid 500GB/20GB
    Mouse
    ELAN Trackpad
    Internet Speed
    18mbs/5mbs
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
Well it used to work for me when I first installed the OS, but it suddenly stopped working one day. And I'm not sure what could have caused it. I have kept up to date, but it's still not working, maybe windows update was the cause of the problem...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64x
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentinum(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 2.99 GHz
    Memory
    4.00GB (3.25 GB Usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP vs17e
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus 2014

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1 Pro X64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Acer T690
    CPU
    Intel Pentium D Dual Core
    Motherboard
    Acer/Intel E946GZ
    Memory
    2GB (max upgrade)
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3000 - PCI Express x16
    Sound Card
    Integrated RealTek ALC888 high-definition audio with 7.1 channel audio support
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer AL1917W A LCD
    Screen Resolution
    1440 X 900
    Hard Drives
    350 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.10
    Thumb drives
    PSU
    Standard 250 watt
    Case
    Desktop 7.2" (183mm) W x 17.5" (445mm) L x 14.5"
    Cooling
    Dual case fans + CPU fan
    Keyboard
    Acer Windows PS/2
    Mouse
    Wireless Microsoft Arc
    Internet Speed
    54mbp/s
    Browser
    IE11
    Antivirus
    Defender
    Other Info
    Office Pro 2013 / Nokia Lumia 1520 Windows Phone 8.1DP GDR1
Still not working, even after windows update. After all the bad things I have heard about the refresh feature, I would like that only to be a last resort please. Thanks for the posts, hopefully there is a fix for this. Glad i'm not the only one.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64x
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentinum(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 2.99 GHz
    Memory
    4.00GB (3.25 GB Usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP vs17e
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus 2014
That is exactly the case for me, used to work but now does not. The problem may coincide with install 8.1 but I can not be certain. I did search the forums and there are a couple of other cases which point to the tips above which I have tried with no success. Like you I want to refrain from doing a refresh as this is a work machine with a lot of software on it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
Hello dude24760.
Hello jpottaway.
Welcome to 8 Forums.

When you go to the search spyglass, do you select settings?

d2a.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
For myself it is the Windows 8.1 Everywhere search. It is not that the items don't appear, as is the case for many people, it is that clicking or entering on them does nothing. It appears to be limited to setting items, app work fine. Perhaps admin privileged items? Though if you start Control Panel and search they all work fine.

win8_search.png
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
I am currently on 8.1.
Finished indexing... :think: the windows folder (and sub folders of windows folder)
and the device manager and defrag search results do execute properly.

i3.jpg

i1.jpg
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Thanks. Will try that. Though I don't think it is not the fact they are not indexed, as they do appear in the search results. It is just that you cannot execute them, very odd.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
I had a little problem getting into YouTube with IE11 to process a video so I had to switch to server and IE10.
Just wanted to plant evidence that it can work.

[video=youtube_share;wWoloch8gg0]http://youtu.be/wWoloch8gg0[/video]
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Well it used to work for me, but now it just won't work at all... Anyone found a fix yet?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64x
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentinum(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 2.99 GHz
    Memory
    4.00GB (3.25 GB Usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP vs17e
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus 2014
Well it used to work for me, but now it just won't work at all... Anyone found a fix yet?

Not sure why it would not work for you :think:

It did not work for me either in 8.1 until I completed the indexing of the Windows folder and sub folders.
Now it works all the time. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
This is confusing, why won't it work? Indexing didn't work, as I thought, but is there really no soloution?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64x
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentinum(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 2.99 GHz
    Memory
    4.00GB (3.25 GB Usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP vs17e
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus 2014
Hello. Could you post a screenshot of your indexed locations?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Yeah sure. Indexing Screenshot.png
 

Attachments

  • Indexing Screenshot.png
    Indexing Screenshot.png
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64x
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentinum(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 2.99 GHz
    Memory
    4.00GB (3.25 GB Usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP vs17e
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus 2014
Hello. This image shows that indexing is not complete. It should say indexing complete.

1qa.jpg

You stated that it used to work and now it does not.
Can you find and execute what you need on the desktop?
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4503-power-user-tasks-menu-open-windows-8-a.html Win + X
Do you have elements of WinRT disabled? (a.k.a. metro / modern UI)?
Did you install a desktop start menu that can disable edge UI functions?
Have you installed any cleaning tools that could have made changes to the registry?
Can you pin to start / taskbar (shortcut to desktop) what you like to use?

Do you have Administrative Privileges?
Are you a user in the Administrators Group? (Control Panel > User Accounts)

If you add a new user, does the new user get the same result?
Can you do a refresh, reset, scannow, dism, or test install a fresh clean OS?

http://www.eightforums.com/performance-maintenance/26532-sfc-scannow-corrupted-files.html

Inbox Corruption Repair > Deployment Imaging and Servicing Management >
DISM / Cleanup-Image Tool
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/26512-dism-fixing-component-store-corruption-windows-8-a.html

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2302-reset-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2293-refresh-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/3047-sfc-scannow-command-run-windows-8-a.html
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/2299-clean-install-windows-8-a.html

Can you image your system using a 3rd party tool and then go for a clean install (for testing purposes)?
You might be interested in trying to backstep the development of the issue and try to figure out when it first occurred.

This one is free > no product key required.
Download Windows 8.1 Enterprise Evaluation

Hope this helps. Best of Luck.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Server 2012 / 8.0
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
    CPU
    Intel i7 QuadCore 3770k
    Motherboard
    Asrock Extreme 4
    Memory
    16GB Crucial Ballistix
    Graphics Card(s)
    intel embedded gpu
    Sound Card
    Sound Blaster Z
    Monitor(s) Displays
    AOC / Westinghouse
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Plextor pcie msata
    PSU
    Rosewill Silent Night 500W Fanless / PicoPSU
    Case
    open bench - no case enclosure
    Cooling
    Silverstone HEO2 Passive Silent
    Keyboard
    logitech washable K310
    Mouse
    logitech wired
    Browser
    ie / maxthon
    Other Info
    Totally silent. No fans at all.
Ok, just checked again, indexing has finished, still not working. I can launch device manager from Win + X, I have installed a registry cleaning tool, but I know that isn't the cause. No, I didn't install any windows start menu program.Yes I have admin privileges, this is the only account, and has been the only account on this system. I have done a scan (3 times), no errors, and as for refreshing my pc... that's something I really don't want to do. Would a system restore help? I can only go back 6 days... and I have installed a lot of programs since this error.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 64x
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Pentinum(R) D CPU 3.00GHz 2.99 GHz
    Memory
    4.00GB (3.25 GB Usable)
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7300 LE
    Monitor(s) Displays
    HP vs17e
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 1024
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Avast Antivirus 2014
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