First off Im not very computer savvy, hence my problem. I have an older laptop with Windows 8, and I recently bought a new laptop that has Windows 10. I first downloaded CCleaner on my Windows 8 laptop and in the order I executed the following from top to bottom: I first performed (1)"Health Check", I next then selected (2)"Custom Clean" and didnt change any of the selected check marks and then clicked "Run Cleaner" for both Windows and Applications. Next under (3)"Registry" I clicked "Scan for Issues" then "Fix Selected Issues" and it then asked me if I wanted to make a backup and I selected "No" and continued. Last under (4)"Tools" I selected "Driver Wipe" and I check marked both the drives C and D, and performed a "Simple Overwrite (1 pass)"
I then started to check out all my saved favorites and passwords and I was happy with how much faster my old laptop with Windows 8 was working, so I decided to download CCleaner on my new laptop with Windows 10, and then performed the same steps I just mentioned above, with the only exception was the last step of "Driver Wipe" because it only gave the single option of the C drive, so I selected that one, and again I did exactly the same steps as mentioned above.
So after that I started checking out my Windows 10 favorites, email, etc...when later I noticed in the very bottom left corner, in the Start Search box, it will not search for anything I enter. Im not really sure if something else is wrong in addition, or at least that Ive not noticed yet, but Im not very familiar with navigating Windows 10.
Can someone please tell me what I did wrong, how I might can fix it, or what else to look for ?
Thanks.
That sounds like a common Windows 10 problem, not anything that CCleaner has done.
The search in Win10 has had numerous problems in the past year, though they seem to be fixed (for now).
Let's see if we can work out what's gone wrong.
So the first question is what version of Windows 10 is it?
On the start menu go to Settings>System>About and scroll down a little to see the Windows version and OS build.
The latest fully released Home version is 1909 with 18363.720 as the build.
(Don't worry if yours is white, that's just my preference settings).
![image.png]()
If your Windows 10 is not showing that then go to Settings>Update and Security>Windows Update and click on 'Check for Updates'.
That should find and then Download/Install the latest version that is compatible with your laptop. It will take a while to complete.
If you already have that version and build then there are further suggestions on how to fix a broken search here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4520146/fix-problems-in-windows-search
You could also simply try ignoring the searchbox and just opening the start menu a starting to type.
I've always done that with Win10 and don't even have the searchbox showing anymore.
Just to add that some of what you are doing is unnecessary, and possibly could be harmful to your computers.
You shouldn't run the registry Cleaner on Windows 10, it could 'break' your computer.
Win10 updates/changes the registry entries at least monthly and so any registry cleaner is unable to keep up with the changes and may remove something that is needed.
Then even with your Win 8 it's surpfluous.
Registry cleaning is no longer needed for modern computers, it won't make your computer run any faster and will only free a miniscule amount of space.
The Registry Cleaner is still in CCleaner as a tool for fixing broken computers, if yours isn't broken then you don't need it.
Similarly Drive Wipe, (and Wipe Free space in Custom Clean) are not meant to be used regularly.
They are used to securely clean your drive(s) if you are going to sell them or otherwise pass them on, so that no one can use a recovery tool to recover your old files.
They won't free up any space or otherwise improve the performance of your computer.
The latest "big" Windows 10 Update was supposed to have fixed Cortana/Search not working correctly - so it's worth making sure Windows 10 is up-to-date with all the most current patches.
Sometimes simply rebooting the PC/laptop can fix some issues with Windows Cortana/Search. However other times you have to do some manual intervention to rebuilt the index.
To manually rebuild the search index on Windows 10:
1. Go into <strong>Settings</strong>, and copy+paste in: <strong>Indexing Options</strong>
2. Click the Indexing Options text.
3. When Indexing Options opens in a program window click: <strong>Advanced</strong> > <strong>Rebuild</strong>, and allow it to rebuild when it displays a "long time" warning dialog.
41 minutes ago, nukecad said:
<div class="ipsQuote_contents">
<p>
That sounds like a common Windows 10 problem, not anything that CCleaner has done.
The search in Win10 has had numerous problems in the past year, though they seem to be fixed (for now).
</p>
<p>
Let's see if we can work out what's gone wrong.
</p>
<p>
So the first question is what version of Windows 10 is it?
On the start menu go to Settings>System>About and scroll down a little to see the Windows version and OS build.
</p>
<p>
The latest fully released Home version is 1909 with 18363.720 as the build.
(Don't worry if yours is white, that's just my preference settings).
![image.png]()
<p>
If your Windows 10 is not showing that then go to Settings>Update and Security>Windows Update and click on 'Check for Updates'.
That should find and then Download/Install the latest version that is compatible with your laptop. It will take a while to complete.
</p>
<p>
If you already have that version and build then there are further suggestions on how to fix a broken search here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4520146/fix-problems-in-windows-search
<p>
You could also simply try ignoring the searchbox and just opening the start menu a starting to type.
I've always done that with Win10 and don't even have the searchbox showing anymore.
</p>
</div>
Thank you very much ! I cant believe how helpful and easy you made this for me so far. My wife and I do remember that the search box did work prior to me performing actions that it sounds like I shouldnt have done. However, you mentioned about clicking the Start icon, then I clicked Settings, then start typing, and this seems to accomplish the same results, and to be a perfect alternative to my dilemma, if things dont return to the way it was...thank goodness. Also thank you for explaining what tools I should NOT be performing in the future and why.
My version is 1809
Im going to assume you would prefer that I continue to update my Windows 10 now before trying anything else...right ?
4 minutes ago, Andavari said:
<div class="ipsQuote_contents">
<p>
The latest "big" Windows 10 Update was supposed to have fixed Cortana/Search not working correctly - so it's worth making sure Windows 10 is up-to-date with all the most current patches.
</p>
<p>
Sometimes simply rebooting the PC/laptop can fix some issues with Windows Cortana/Search. However other times you have to do some manual intervention to rebuilt the index.
</p>
<p>
To manually rebuild the search index on Windows 10:
1. Go into <strong>Settings</strong>, and copy+paste in: <strong>Indexing Options</strong>
2. Click the Indexing Options text.
3. When Indexing Options opens in a program window click: <strong>Advanced</strong> > <strong>Rebuild</strong>, and allow it to rebuild when it displays a "long time" warning dialog.
</p>
</div>
Thank you much for the reply and instructions. I guess it sounds like Im in bad need of an update. Thanks again and Im going to try that and see what happens.
1809 is now very old in Windows 10 terms, in fact it will be at 'end-of-life' on May 12th. (and It was always buggy anyway, in fact it was withdrawn as an update shortly after release).
https://www.windowscentral.com/microsoft-end-support-windows-10-version-1809-may-12-2020
So yes I would definitely update that machine.
Windows may/should have done it automatically anyway, but best to make sure and do it yourself.
PS. Windows 10 version 2004 is just around the corner, but I'd get that machine up to 1909 for now.
https://pureinfotech.com/windows-10-2004-20h1-release-date/
Edited:
After upgrading remember you don't have to install the "newest greatest build" you can just wait until it forces you to upgrade, that way you aren't being used a test subject beta testing their new OS version. Often the newest builds are buggy like the Cortana/Search issue had been for awhile until the fixed it.