Windows 7 / Getting Started

Troubleshooting Search and Indexing Using the Built-in Troubleshooter

New in Windows 7 is the Windows Troubleshooting Platform (WTP), which can help organizations reduce Help desk calls by enabling users to fix common issues themselves using built-in troubleshooters. One of these troubleshooters can be used for diagnosing and resolving issues with search and indexing on the computer. The quickest way for a user to start this troubleshooter is to type fix search in the Start Menu Search box.

In the Control Panel group of the Start Menu Search results is Find And Fix Problems With Windows Search. Clicking this item or pressing Enter opens the first page of the Search And Indexing troubleshooter.

Note The troubleshooter can also be invoked using the links at the bottom of the Indexing Options Control Panel dialog box or on the Troubleshooting Control Panel page. It may be necessary to click View All to find the Search And Indexing troubleshooter if it is not displayed on the front page of the Troubleshooting Control Panel.

When the troubleshooter opens, clicking Next displays a page on which the user can choose from a list of common search problems to indicate the symptoms of her problem.

Once the user has selected the types of problems that she is experiencing, clicking Next either identifies and provides information on how to resolve the problem or directs the user to sources where additional help can be found or solicited.

Summary

Search and indexing has been enhanced in Windows 7 in numerous ways, making it much easier for users to manage large amounts of information stored on their computers. Administrators can use Group Policy to manage the functionality of search and indexing, and users who are computer administrators can use Indexing Options and Folder Options in Control Panel to fine-tune the operation of search and indexing on their systems.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Managing Search
  2. Search and Indexing Enhancements
  3. Search in Windows XP
  4. Search in Windows Vista
  5. Search in Windows 7
  6. Understanding the Windows Search Versions
  7. Search Versions Included in Windows 7 and Windows Vista
  8. Search Versions Included in Windows Server 2008
  9. Search Versions Available for Earlier Versions of Windows
  10. How Windows Search Works
  11. Understanding Search Engine Terminology
  12. Windows Search Engine Processes
  13. Enabling the Indexing Service
  14. Windows Search Engine Architecture
  15. Understanding the Catalog
  16. Default System Exclusion Rules
  17. Understanding the FANCI Attribute
  18. Default Indexing Scopes
  19. Initial Configuration
  20. Understanding the Indexing Process
  21. Modifying IFilter Behavior
  22. How Indexing Works
  23. Rebuilding the index
  24. Viewing Indexing Progress
  25. Understanding Remote Search
  26. Managing Indexin
  27. Configuring the Index
  28. Configuring the Index Location Using Group Policy
  29. Configuring Indexing Scopes and Exclusions Using Group Policy
  30. Configuring Offline Files Indexing
  31. Configuring Indexing of Encrypted Files
  32. Configuring Indexing of Encrypted Files Using Control Panel
  33. Configuring Indexing of Similar Words
  34. Configuring Indexing of Text in TIFF Image Documents
  35. Other Index Policy Settings
  36. Using Search
  37. Configuring Search Using Folder Options
  38. Configuring What to Search
  39. Configuring How To Search
  40. Using Start Menu Search
  41. Searching Libraries
  42. Advanced Query Syntax
  43. Using Federated Search
  44. Deploying Search Connectors
  45. Troubleshooting Search and Indexing Using the Built-in Troubleshooter