Windows Search Feature will not load

Hello,
I have been helping my friend who had several viruses and trojan hores on his computer. After running Ad-Aware, SpyBot, AVG Virus Checker, Housecall, I think we finally got rid of them as when we run AVG now it states that the computer is clean.

Now the one problem we have is that when I try to run the windows Search feature I get an error message that states "A file that is required to run Search Companion cannot be found. You may need to run setup. "

We did put the Windows XP Home Edition CD and try to see if we could find the way to re-install this feature but do not see anything about it there. We didn't think it was necessary to completely reload the Windows program.

Please help us to try to get the missing files.

Thank you.

Jean

 

Hello Jean,

Try sfc:

Start > Run > cmd sfc /scannow and have your XP install disc handy. There is a space between sfc and /

sfc - system file checker, retrieves the correct version of the file from %Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file.

If you want to see what was replaced, right click My Computer > manage, expand event viewer > system.

Excerpt from MS KBA 310747:
System File Checker gives an administrator the ability to scan all protected files to verify their versions. If System File Checker discovers that a protected file has been overwritten, it retrieves the correct version of the file from the cache folder (%Systemroot%\System32\Dllcache) or the Windows installation source files, and then replaces the incorrect file. System File Checker also checks and repopulates the cache folder. You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to run System File Checker. If the cache folder becomes damaged or unusable, you can use the sfc /scannow, the sfc /scanonce, or the sfc /scanboot commands to repair its contents.

System File Checker Tool Syntax
Sfc [/Scannow] [/Scanonce] [/Scanboot] [/Revert] [/Purgecache] [/Cachesize=x]

/Scannow: Scans all protected system files immediately and replaces incorrect versions with correct Microsoft versions. This command may require access to the Windows installation source files.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi Charles,

Thanks for the prompt reply. I did exactly as you said, ran "Start > Run > cmd sfc /scannow" and I get a black window (dos) saying:

C:\WINDOWS\System32\cmd.exe
Micorosoft Windows XP (Version 5.1.2600)

C:\Documents and Settings\default>

And then the blinking cursor just sits there.

Is there something else I'm supposed to do. I did close it and try to get the search feature to work but still got the same error message.

Thanks again for your help.

Pete, if I can't get this to work, I'll try to download the program you suggested.

Jean

 

Hi larsonjean...

Found a couple hits...
- http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q319949
- http://www.microsoft.com/Downloads/...FamilyID=9D1F0B73-259A-4A1B-93A4-F02C21BCB15A

Also found this...
Log on as an Administrator
Click Start
Select Run
Enter in the command - %systemroot%\inf
Right-click the Srchasst.inf file
Click Install
Note: Make sure you have your install CD handy...

HTH

 

My apologies - type the sfc command at the blinking cursor.

The instrutions should have said: run command window which is Run > type cmd > ok and that gives you the command window which is where you are now.

Regards - Charles

 

Hi all,

Well I was successful in running the scandisk and it did scan the system with the Windows CD in Drive D. It didn't fix the search problem though.

I then did what dobhar suggested:
Click Start
Select Run
Enter in the command - %systemroot%\inf
Right-click the Srchasst.inf file
Click Install

and it worked like a charm. I now have the Windows Search program working fine after I got rid of the animated character and other changes.

Thank you for the best help. I do think this is the greatest help group I have ever used.

Jean

 

Woohoo! Glad things worked out.

Thanks for posting back.

 

Pete,

Yes, I like AgentRansack a lot. I will keep it on my system along with the regular search engine. It does have many options I like.

Thanks,

Jean