Using Windows XP Home, I cannot execute a Search for files/folders. Anytime I
try, the serch "hangs" with a Not Responding message in Windows Task Manager.
In the Windows Task Manager pane, when I highlight Search Results to end the
task, a second Search Results entry appears with Not Responding status. When
I select End Task, both disappear and the search task terminates as expected.

What may be causing Search not to work, and how can I fix it?

Thanks.

ted

On Mon, 17 Mar 2008 10:38:03 -0700, Ted <Ted@discussions.microsoft.com>
wrote:

>Using Windows XP Home, I cannot execute a Search for files/folders. Anytime I
>try, the serch "hangs" with a Not Responding message in Windows Task Manager.
>In the Windows Task Manager pane, when I highlight Search Results to end the
>task, a second Search Results entry appears with Not Responding status. When
>I select End Task, both disappear and the search task terminates as expected.
>
>What may be causing Search not to work, and how can I fix it?
>
>Thanks.
>
>ted

I found XP's system Search was slow as molasses so I now use free
Agent Ransack. Here's some info on it to help you decide if you would
like to do this.

Agent Ransack

Welcome to Agent Ransack the free professional file searching utility.

Agent Ransack is a tool for finding files and information on your hard
drive fast and efficiently.

Agent Ransack provides compelling advantages over similar search tools:
- Regular expressions that allow complex rule based searches.
- Immediate contents results view.
- Various wizards to walk the user through the searching process.

Agent Ransack can be used as a replacement or a companion to the
standard Windows Find. Agent Ransack provides both a basic interface,
similar to Windows Find, and a more advanced interface (the default) for
the 'Expert user'. Both interfaces provide Wizards to walk the user
through the searching process.

Users familiar with the UNIX GREP command will appreciate the ability to
search the contents of files using regular expressions and be able to
view found contents without having to open the files.

Agent Ransack is provided FREE of charge for personal or corporate use.

** Installing Agent Ransack **

- Unzip the installation files into a temporary directory.
- Run setup.exe from that temporary directory
- Follow setup installation instructions
- You may delete the temporary directory following a successful
installation

Files installed in Agent Ransack directory:
AgentRansack.EXE Agent Ransack executable
AgentRansack.HLP Agent Ransack help file
AgentRansack.CHM Agent Ransack help file in HTMLHelp format
AgentRansack.CNT Agent Ransack help contents
arshellext.dll Agent Ransack shell extensions
(self-registering)
License.TXT Agent Ransack license agreement
ReadMe.TXT General information about Agent Ransack (this
file)
Uninst.ISU InstallShield uninstallation file

Other files installed include:
InstallShield uninstallation executables

** Requirements **

Agent Ransack has been tested on Windows 95/98/NT/2000 and will need
approximately 1MB of disk space to install.

** The Help File **

The help file was created using an excellent product from EC Software
called Help & Manual 2.5. For further information, and to download an
evaluation copy,
please visit their web site at: http://www.ec-software.com.

HTH,

BoB