Using windows search kills my taskbar!

[WanderingElf]

Hello.

My PC has recently developed a problem (Recent as in the last couple of
months or so). When I use the windows searc (for all files and folders), my
taskbar freezes.

Usually I have my bar on autohide, but when I select to search it freezes in
'up' position. Nothing on it is clickable. The search window also never
opens. Alt/Tab no longer works. I can still work in whatever window is on
top (if it's full size), or click between smaller windows (like instant
message programs), but nothing involving the task bar.

The only way I can shut down or make the bar work again is to use
ctrl-alt-del and restart through the task manager.

There's obviously something going wrong here but I can't work out what. Can
anyone help me? Thanks

 

[Elmo]

Hello.

My PC has recently developed a problem (Recent as in the last couple of
months or so). When I use the windows search (for all files and folders), my
taskbar freezes.

Usually I have my bar on autohide, but when I select to search it freezes in
'up' position. Nothing on it is clickable. The search window also never
opens. Alt/Tab no longer works. I can still work in whatever window is on
top (if it's full size), or click between smaller windows (like instant
message programs), but nothing involving the task bar.

The only way I can shut down or make the bar work again is to use
Ctrl/Alt-Del and restart through the task manager.

There's obviously something going wrong here but I can't work out what. Can
anyone help me? Thanks

Maybe something here..

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

 

[WanderingElf]

Thanks, but that was no help. I downloaded the 'fix' tool and it said it
fixed something but then the taskbar just froze up again.

I really don't know what's caused this. It's the standard 'comes with
windows' version of search and it's always been fine before.

Hello.

My PC has recently developed a problem (Recent as in the last couple of
months or so). When I use the windows search (for all files and folders), my
taskbar freezes.

Usually I have my bar on autohide, but when I select to search it freezes in
'up' position. Nothing on it is clickable. The search window also never
opens. Alt/Tab no longer works. I can still work in whatever window is on
top (if it's full size), or click between smaller windows (like instant
message programs), but nothing involving the task bar.

The only way I can shut down or make the bar work again is to use
Ctrl/Alt-Del and restart through the task manager.

There's obviously something going wrong here but I can't work out what. Can
anyone help me? Thanks

Maybe something here..

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

 

[Elmo]

Thanks, but that was no help. I downloaded the 'fix' tool and it said it
fixed something but then the taskbar just froze up again.

I really don't know what's caused this. It's the standard 'comes with
windows' version of search and it's always been fine before.

Try one of these free online virus scans:

This one has a choice of a Quick or a Complete check
http://www.pcpitstop.com/

Symantec
http://security.symantec.com/default.asp?productid=ssr&langid=ie&venid=sym

<url:http://security2.norton.com/us/home.asp?j=1&venid=sym&langid=us&plfid=20&pkj=IHBEXIBVEMBQAUWZKTK>
then click the Security check link.

http://housecall.antivirus.com/ free online virus scan

http://www.ewido.net/en/

http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

 

[WanderingElf]

Thanks again. I've already run Housecall. I can't run Panda because my own
AV programs won't allow it. The PC pit stop page wouldn't work at all (when
I clicked to scan stuff it said I needed a plug in but then couldn't find it
to download). Housecall is coming up clean though. As are AVG, Antivir,
Ad-Aware, Spybot and Spysweeper. Thinking back I think this problem may have
started when I installed SP3 for XP - is there a known bug or something out
there?

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

Try disabling indexing. Good luck and keep us posted.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

Thanks, but that was no help. I downloaded the 'fix' tool and it said it
fixed something but then the taskbar just froze up again.

I really don't know what's caused this. It's the standard 'comes with
windows' version of search and it's always been fine before.

Hello.

My PC has recently developed a problem (Recent as in the last couple of
months or so). When I use the windows search (for all files and
folders), my
taskbar freezes.

Usually I have my bar on autohide, but when I select to search it
freezes in
'up' position. Nothing on it is clickable. The search window also
never
opens. Alt/Tab no longer works. I can still work in whatever window
is on
top (if it's full size), or click between smaller windows (like instant
message programs), but nothing involving the task bar.

The only way I can shut down or make the bar work again is to use
Ctrl/Alt-Del and restart through the task manager.

There's obviously something going wrong here but I can't work out what.
Can
anyone help me? Thanks

Maybe something here..

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

 

[Elmo]

Thanks again. I've already run Housecall. I can't run Panda because my own
AV programs won't allow it. The PC pit stop page wouldn't work at all (when
I clicked to scan stuff it said I needed a plug in but then couldn't find it
to download). Housecall is coming up clean though. As are AVG, Antivir,
Ad-Aware, Spybot and Spysweeper. Thinking back I think this problem may have
started when I installed SP3 for XP - is there a known bug or something out
there?

Yes, and you can get support on the install here:

FREE support for SP3 installation issues
http://support.microsoft.com/oas/default.aspx?ln=en-us&prid=11273&gprid=522131

 

[WanderingElf]

Hi. Um... how do I do that?

Hi,

Try disabling indexing. Good luck and keep us posted.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

Thanks, but that was no help. I downloaded the 'fix' tool and it said it
fixed something but then the taskbar just froze up again.

I really don't know what's caused this. It's the standard 'comes with
windows' version of search and it's always been fine before.

WanderingElf wrote:
Hello.

My PC has recently developed a problem (Recent as in the last couple of
months or so). When I use the windows search (for all files and
folders), my
taskbar freezes.

Usually I have my bar on autohide, but when I select to search it
freezes in
'up' position. Nothing on it is clickable. The search window also
never
opens. Alt/Tab no longer works. I can still work in whatever window
is on
top (if it's full size), or click between smaller windows (like instant
message programs), but nothing involving the task bar.

The only way I can shut down or make the bar work again is to use
Ctrl/Alt-Del and restart through the task manager.

There's obviously something going wrong here but I can't work out what.
Can
anyone help me? Thanks

Maybe something here..

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]

 

[Kelly]

My bad.....

You can either right click C:\ - Properties and uncheck the box that reads:
Allow indexing service to....

Or go to Start/Run: services.msc
Scroll down to Indexing and change it to disabled.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

Hi. Um... how do I do that?

Hi,

Try disabling indexing. Good luck and keep us posted.

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

SupportSpace
www.supportspace.com/pages?aiu=kellyskorner

Thanks, but that was no help. I downloaded the 'fix' tool and it said
it
fixed something but then the taskbar just froze up again.

I really don't know what's caused this. It's the standard 'comes with
windows' version of search and it's always been fine before.

:

WanderingElf wrote:
Hello.

My PC has recently developed a problem (Recent as in the last couple
of
months or so). When I use the windows search (for all files and
folders), my
taskbar freezes.

Usually I have my bar on autohide, but when I select to search it
freezes in
'up' position. Nothing on it is clickable. The search window also
never
opens. Alt/Tab no longer works. I can still work in whatever
window
is on
top (if it's full size), or click between smaller windows (like
instant
message programs), but nothing involving the task bar.

The only way I can shut down or make the bar work again is to use
Ctrl/Alt-Del and restart through the task manager.

There's obviously something going wrong here but I can't work out
what.
Can
anyone help me? Thanks

Maybe something here..

Windows XP Search Problems
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_search_probs.htm

[Courtesy of MS-MVP Doug Knox]