Search option in start menu defective

[BoyBigBrain]

Guys when ever i click on the search button in the start menu, the computer freezes for about a minute, then nothing happens. No search screen pops up, no errors. But when i do click on the search button in the menu, the start button itself looks like it is being clicked, you know when you click on it it engraves itself. Another problem i have is that when i click on a link inside the help area of the start menu, the screen goes white then nothing happens, same thing. Could it be that my windows explorer is defective?, since both of those programs, the search and help windows are based on windows internet explorer? I tried to reinstall the internet explorer, but i can't seem to find out how to do that. In windows ME i could just click on repair and it repaired itself, now its saying that i would have to reinstall windows to repair the defect. I really dont want to reinstall windows, i've done it twice this month already and it has done nothing but create more and more problems. Can anyone help me?

 

[linney]

Is this a XP system that has been created via a 9x system and the upgrade path? That route can often lead to a poorly performed XP, whereas a clean install is more likely to be trouble free.

Internet Explorer Fix

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/IEFIX.htm

Search - Doesn't Work

Open Explorer and go to the Windows\Inf folder. Locate the srchasst.inf file. Right click it and select Install. You'll need your XP CD or the files from the I386 folder. (This fix will require you to have your Win XP CD).

The Windows\Inf folder is a hidden folder. You can adjust your Explorer Folder Options (View tab) to Show hidden files and folders. You can also click Start, Run and enter %SystemRoot%\Inf to open directly to the Inf folder.

See the following KB article for more information:
Error Message: "A File That Is Required to Run Search Companion Cannot Be Found"
319949 - Error Message: "A File That Is Required to Run Search Companion Cannot Be Found"

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;319949&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

A reason why Help and Support is not working may be because of corrupt or missing Windows Updates.

822989 - Links in HTML Help Topics Are Unavailable or No Longer Work

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;822989&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

811630 - HTML Help Update to Limit Functionality When It Is Invoked with the window.showHelp( ) Method

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811630&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

http://www.dougknox.com/

Look under WinXP Fixes for the following link.
"Fix Windows® XP Help"

And last but not least is the fact that this behavior may be a result of malware.

Removing adware & spyware
faq608-4650

Microsoft (GIANT Antispyware) Beta available
Thread779-979113

 

[linney]

How to Reinstall or Repair Internet Explorer and Outlook Express in Windows XP (Q318378)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q318/3/78.asp

You can reinstall IE in Windows XP by clicking Start, Run and entering the following command:

rundll32.exe setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 c:\windows\inf\ie.inf

(where c: is your Windows drive).

You will need to have your XP CD available. If you re-install remember to update it.

Using SFC /Scannow at the command prompt will help in repairing IE.

 

[stuuked]

2 questions, does everything else in the start menu work except search? Can you perform a windows update without problems?

could be missing files or registry files. answer questions to simplify problem. Also you cannot uninstall explorer, as it is built in to the os.

 

[micker377]

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/fixwinxphelp.htm

 

[BoyBigBrain]

Whenever I click on the srchasst.inf and click install, i get a bunch of popups saying that it will need my windows service pack 2 cd. I don't have a cd so i can't do this, and it won't accept the files in the I386 folder that is already created, it won't allow me to. Now the problem i am having has expanded. Whenever i try to go onto a secure connection, the internet explorer screen goes completely white and my system freezes for a bit. This was what was happening with the help screen. I still cannot get into the search screen, i am having the same problems as listed above. But for some reason, when i create a new folder on my desktop, open it up and on the taskbar hit search, the companion comes up and everything is fine. So why can't i click on the search button in the start menu? Also, when i click on my documents, the folder takes a very long time to come up. This is the same when i try to open zip folders and such, explorer windows in general. I really think this has to do with the internet explorer, but i have no way of repairing internet explorer like in windows me, what should i do?

P.s. i have been using mozilla firefox for a while now, and internet explorer was working before, and after i installed this application. It seems as if internet explorer just went woncky one day for no reason.

 

[linney]

Did you try checking for malware as per -

Removing adware & spyware
FAQ608-4650

Microsoft (GIANT Antispyware) Beta available
Thread779-979113

SP2 has been available for free on CD for some time, you may be able to borrow a copy somewhere or get one from any Computer Store or free on one of those Computer Magazines. Microsoft will even send you one.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/updates/sp2/cdorder/en_us/default810.mspx

Slipstream Service Packs
thread779-900263

Make sure your options in IE/ Tools/ Internet Options/ Advanced are correct.

Uncheck the boxes for "Install on Demand" for IE and Other programs (two boxes).

Try running temporarily with the third box "Enable Third Party Browser Extensions" unchecked and see how this goes.

"This specifies that you want to disable features you installed for use with Internet Explorer that may have been created by companies other than Microsoft.
If you encounter problems with Internet Explorer that you cannot resolve, you can use this option to help determine if third-party features are causing the problems without uninstalling the feature. You must restart Internet Explorer after turning this option on or off."


If that stops your errors, you will know where the trouble is.