How to fix Microsoft Windows Search Indexer stopped working and was closed

Posted on February 17, 2008 at 6:18 am

Make sure to read other posts from the Fix Windows Errors series!

How to fix Internet Explorer has encountered a problem and needs to close
How to fix runonce.msn.com runonce2.aspx error in IE7
How to fix Microsoft Windows Search Indexer stopped working and was closed
How to fix access is denied, file may be in use, or sharing violation errors in Windows
How to fix "there no active mixer devices available" error message in Windows
How to fix svchost.exe errors and problems with high CPU usage

Since I perform technical support for my entire family being the computer guy, I sometimes run into strange issues that I decide to write about on my blog. Of course with Windows, it seems you never really run out of strange issues to deal with! There’s always some crazy and cryptic error popping up that makes you scratch your head.

One such issue is with Windows Vista and it relates to the

“Microsoft Windows Search Indexer stopped working and was closed”

“Windows could not start the windows search service on the local computer error 1067″

error. This is quite an unusual problem, but if it happens to you, it’s a pain in the ass! Anything that you try to open, or move, or copy will start giving you this error. It’s usually also associated with slow computer performance and crashing of the entire computer.

There are a couple of things you can try out to fix this annoying as heck problem in Vista:

Rebuild Windows Vista’s Search Index

This method is quick and easy, but may not work if you are having serious issues. Still it’s worth a shot before going to the other steps where you have to delete stuff.

First, type Indexing Options in the Start Menu’s search box in Vista. Click on the Advanced tab and then click Rebuild.

You can also try clicking on Restore Defaults if Rebuild does not work. If for some strange reason you are not able to select anything on this page, you can rebuild the searcher index manually by editing the following registry key:

HKLM/Software/Microsoft/Windows Search/SetupCompletedSuccessfully

to zero and then restarting the machine. However, if you can avoid registry key modifications that’s best! Also, make sure to create a restore point before making any registry edits.

Delete the Windows Search Index Program Folder

If the above method did not work, you can try to delete all of the files associated with search indexing in Vista by deleting everything inside these folders:

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Temp

If you do not see these folders, you need to turn on viewing for hidden folders by going to Windows Explorer or My Computer and then choosing Tools, Folder Options. Go to the View tab and scroll down till you see “Show hidden files and folders“. You should now be able to see the ProgramData folder.

Again, make a backup of the files in the directories before deleting them just in case, but they really are not that important. If you get an Access is Denied message when trying to delete the files, you will first need to stop the Window Search Index service by going to Control Panel, then Administrative Tools, and then clicking on Services.

The service should be called Windows Search or Windows Searcher. Double click on the service and click Stop.

After you delete the files, restart the computer and the index will be rebuilt and hopefully your error will be gone!

Hope that helps someone with a very annoying error! Remember the search index service is not critical, so you’re not going to mess up your computer by disabling the service or deleting it’s files.

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» Filed Under Computer Tips

8 Responses to “How to fix Microsoft Windows Search Indexer stopped working and was closed”

Maya said on : February 23rd, 2008 at 11:26 pm

Hi there,

first let me conpliment you, your site, it is easy read and easy understood. unlike other techsites.

a small problem:
my machine keeps haunting me with “Microsoft Windows Search Indexer stopped working and was closed”.

your first suggested solution didn’t work as i see nothing on the indexing setting screen.
i have to go to the second option - dealing with the registry key, but…. where is it? how do i go there?

thank you,
Maya

lara said on : February 29th, 2008 at 11:12 am

hello,i have checked like u said 1st step but there is nothing in serch indexer.so i tried to second step but i m not able to find that files for serch indexer program…
If i delete all tht files, it may not cause problems to system? please give me suggestion how to deal with this trouble

thanks…
lara..

Ace said on : March 4th, 2008 at 5:17 am

Thank u sooooooo much for all the help, Bill Gates’s got a point in regretting the releas of Vista too soooooon!

I’m sure it will work nice and smooth in like…..
5 years!!!

Anyway thx again!!!

Ace said on : March 4th, 2008 at 5:19 am

Show hidden files!!! Thats the secret! The trouble files/folders are hidden!!!

Richard Fugiel said on : May 6th, 2008 at 8:33 pm

If I am using XP and I have Microsoft Windows Search Indexer issues, what would I delete (seems different than folder for Vista).

Thanks.

Rick Fugiel

Peter said on : May 9th, 2008 at 12:43 pm

Thank you so much for your help! I tried the second solution and it worked like a charm!

James said on : May 13th, 2008 at 6:28 pm

Hi. I’ve been searching a number of forums for a solution to this “search indexer” problem and have tried all of your solutions above with no success.

Do you have any other suggestions?

Jason said on : June 9th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

The correct folders are
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows

and

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Search\Data\Temp