search only works in safe mode, hangs in normal boot

Have searched the forum, tried many of the fixes listed in the 85 results found but nothing is really close to my problem. Search function is absolutely perfect in safe mode, but in a normal boot it opens fine but the minute one enters a search term and starts searching it hangs (and observing the performance tab in task manager there is no huge increase in CPU or memory usage). Have run sfc /scannow and it was perfect never asked for the CD (which is unusual in itself, I seldom see that on sfc runs), also ran full five stage CHKDSK and again no problems. Tried to do the reinstall of search assistant as suggested in many threads but even though I have XP-SP2 CD it rejects the appropriate files on the CD.
Suspect problem created by previous tech who is now deceased, he apparently knew quite a bit judging by the history I observe in the run window. I already fixed another machine that he had tightened up the security so well it could not send or receive email, so I am looking for some esoteric changes he might have made that are blocking the search function. Given that it works perfectly fine in safe mode I suspect some running process is blocking or conflicting with it, or perhaps a needed service has been disabled. Any and all suggestions apprecieated, alternative search methods not acceptable, client is up in years and change is just too difficult for him.

 

Hello tortoise,

Is the Indexing service running?

Have you looked at what services are disabled?

Have you disabled the running processes one by one to narrow it down?

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Charles, thanks for the reply. I was out this am and just got back in. Yes I do think part of the problem is related to the indexing service, when I tried to change the status of the index service such as stopping it never finishes the action. I also tried changing from the default manual to automatic and reboot but no cigar. Given that the default state of indexing services is manual I assume they are triggered when one tries to follow MS method of disabling indexing which does not respond.
I have another PC side by side to use for reference it seems anything related to indexing is messed up. I did go through and disable all the services with the user name attached, again no cigar. My plan is to next go through all the services one by one as you suggest and try to find the culprit

 

Problem resolved finally

Hi Charles: just following up on this problem that I finally found the solution for. Turns out we were both on the right path and it was definetly related to the indexing service. Turns out the damned index catalog was apparently corrupted. As you remember any time I tried to change the status of the indexing service it would hang, either enabling or disabling. So finally I changed the state to manual and rebooted which allowed me to access it in Computer management > Services & Applications > Indexing Service where I found a catalog C:\System volume information that I promptly deleted and presto everything works again, search works fine and turning on or off the indexing service quickly responds with no more delay or hanging.
Of course this left no existing catalog so I created a new one with the same name and path and after restart everything still seems to be holding together so I guess all is well. Thanks for your interest in my vexing problem.

 

Hi tortoise,

Thanks for the update and resolution - appreciate it

Regards - Charles