Search Assistant is missing file

[Guest]

When I try to use the search feature in Windows XP, I get an error message
that reads "Search Assistant is missing a file. You may need to run Setup."
The problem is that I can't reinstall it because Windows XP came
preinstalled on my PC, and I was not given a CD.
There is a hotfix that corrects this problem on the Windows Update site, but
it is pre-SP2, so I guess the question is: Is the only way to fix this
problem to uninstall SP2, install the hotfix, and reinstall SP2?
Thanks for any help!

Niece

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

No, please do NOT de-install SP2.
Q: Did you get and apply SP2 after you bought the pc?
Use Windows Explorer and see if this pc has this folder
C:\WINDOWS\ServicePackFiles
or
C:\WINNT\ServicePackFiles

If found, we may be able to have you run System File Checker.

 

[Maurice N ~ MVP]

See Kelly's website at following link, and scroll down to Search Doesn't
Work
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_s.htm

HTH

 

[Guest]

OK, the website link was pretty much what I had previously found on the
WindowsXP site. I can't use any of those options because the hotfix is
pre-SP2 and I don't have the installation CD.
But it did tell me what files could be corrupted or damaged and that did
help. After looking I realized that the files are missing. The
folder(Windows\srchasst\mui\0409) that is supposed to contain these files is
empty, obviously causing the problem.
As I had mentioned earlier, I can't reinstall the .inf file for Search
because I don't have the CD, so do I still have any options?
Thank you for your help.