Windows Search: Class not registered.

[kaputafj]

Windows Search stopped working. The event log shows the entry:

The Windows Search service terminated with the following service-specific error:
Class not registered

If I attempt to start the service manually, a MessageBox pops up and tells me to check the Event Viewer (see above entry), and references a service-specific code error -2147221164.

I cannot search for docs from the taskbar, and cannot search within Outlook through messages, etc.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Colif]

are you running Windows Anniversary edition? (can check by right clicking start, choose run..., type "winver" and press enter) It is version 1607.

Try this:
right click start button
choose command prompt (admin)
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Now if you running version 1607 of windows 10 and DISM throws an error asking for source, do the following:
Download a copy of the win 10 iso from Here - create ISO by telling it you want to make DVD - and then mount that ISO in file explorer (see Here) and then copy paste the below command into command prompt (admin)

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:\Sources\Install.wim:1 /LimitAccess
Where "X" is the drive letter where the ISO is located. Simply change the "X" to the correct drive letter

If you aren't running version 1607 on Windows , then go here and press upgrade now and it will download the upgrade assistant. Run this and it will upgrade you to latest version and probably fix this.

 

[kaputafj]

I am running 1607. I am current on updates. The DISM command competed successfully, but made no difference - I get the same results when trying to start the Windows Search service.

are you running Windows Anniversary edition? (can check by right clicking start, choose run..., type "winver" and press enter) It is version 1607.

Try this:
right click start button
choose command prompt (admin)
DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Now if you running version 1607 of windows 10 and DISM throws an error asking for source, do the following:
Download a copy of the win 10 iso from Here - create ISO by telling it you want to make DVD - and then mount that ISO in file explorer (see Here) and then copy paste the below command into command prompt (admin)

DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth /source:WIM:X:\Sources\Install.wim:1 /LimitAccess
Where "X" is the drive letter where the ISO is located. Simply change the "X" to the correct drive letter

If you aren't running version 1607 on Windows , then go here and press upgrade now and it will download the upgrade assistant. Run this and it will upgrade you to latest version and probably fix this.

 

[Colif]

All I have had to do (following advice) is to reset Edge as my default browser instead of Chrome.

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/t/591645/i-keep-getting-the-class-not-registered-error/

 

[kaputafj]

no help there either...

 

[Colif]

Try making a local account and see if same errors occur: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/instantanswers/5de907f1-f8ba-4fd9-a89d-efd23fee918c/create-a-local-user-account-in-windows-10

that will let us know if its your user or the PC at fault

 

[kaputafj]

no difference. Search service still won't start. thx

 

[Colif]

Try this one

To be honest, Windows search is one of the first service I disable after every Windows Install and use a third party search engine instead.
Having said that, since you upgraded from 7 -> 10 - > 10 AU. The Windows Search database might be corrupted. Look under: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data\Applications\Windows. The database file is Windows.edb. With Windows Search service disabled, delete this file, re-enable Windows Search service and let Windows rebuild the database.

https://www.tenforums.com/performance-maintenance/60859-windows-search-service-terminated.html

If that doesn't help, we are running out of easy answers... is this an upgrade from win 7 or 8? Did you ever fresh install win 10?

I had similar problems to this when I first upgraded and it was only after a fresh install that things actually worked. It revealed all the troubleshooters that hadn't worked until then either.

You might need to reset the PC or reinstall win 10 to fix it. At least you have access to everything else on PC, search just doesn't work

 

[kaputafj]

nothing was under C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data (I'm sure). This is not an upgrade - fairly new PC that came with 10. I wanted to avoid the hassle of reinstalling Windows, but may have to. Thanks again.

 

[Colif]

i had to show hidden files just to find folder and then got to data stage and it told me I didn't have permission and me being wary of taking permissions on files, I didn't go any further to see if it was there.

At least DISM showed your image should be okay so a reset would work. They only effect C drive so if you have multiple drives you can copy everything over before hand and not loose anything other than programs. Steam libraries can be moved and used later, saves downloading the games again.

 

[kaputafj]

nope, no hidden files - no files at all.