Can't modify indexing options

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StuartR
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Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

How exciting, the very first topic in the forum.

There is a control panel applet called Indexing Options, this has a button with the text "Modify". According to all the sites I can find this button should allow me to modify which locations are included in the indexing, but it doesn't work for me.

Sometimes it simply hangs the window for a few minutes, without doing anything. On other occassions it eventually displays a window with en error message about a jscript error (I can't get that error at the moment to check the details).

Any ideas what could be wrong?
StuartR


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Charlotte
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by Charlotte »

What version of Vista, Stuart? I had Home Premium and found there were various things I couldn't do in that version that were possible in others. I don't recall my indexing settings though.
Charlotte

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StuartR
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

Charlotte wrote:What version of Vista, Stuart?...
This is Vista Enterprise, joined to a domain.
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JoeP
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by JoeP »

In a domain search indexing can be controlled by GP. If it is not, make sure you are logged in as a local admin.
Joe

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StuartR
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

JoeP wrote:In a domain search indexing can be controlled by GP. If it is not, make sure you are logged in as a local admin.
I am logged in as a local admin, but I have no idea how to check if indexing is controlled by a GP. It seems unlikely but if you know how to check then please tell me.
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by JoeP »

Joe

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StuartR
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

Thanks for the helpful link, there are no Windows Search policies in force.
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by JoeP »

Are you indexing a network location that is not always available?

Joe
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StuartR
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

JoeP wrote:Are you indexing a network location that is not always available?

Joe
I have lots of offline files, and they appear in the Indexing options under two different usernames (one is a domain login and the other is a local login). I also have a Truecrypt volume, which I want to exclude from Indexing but I would need to get a response from the Modify button to achieve that.

Here is an edited screenshot.
IndexingOptions.png
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by JoeP »

I was just guessing that unavailable network resources might cause a hang if the applet was waiting for a response. BTW, have you tried to modify the settings in safe mode?

Joe
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StuartR
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

JoeP wrote:...have you tried to modify the settings in safe mode?
Not yet, but it's a good idea and I shall certainly try.

Does the Windows Search service start in Safe Mode?
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by JoeP »

I don't know if it starts in safe mode.

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StuartR
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

JoeP wrote:I don't know if it starts in safe mode...
I do. It doesn't.

I started Windows Vista in safe mode and Indexing Options was not available as a control panel option. I tried to start the Windows Search service and it gave an error saying it wasn't going to start in safe mode.

I started windows in normal mode, with the network disconnected and without mounting my TrueCrypt disk and I was able to modify the Indexing Options, removing the index for drive X (my TrueCrypt disk) even though it wasn't mounted.

I then mounted the TrueCrypt disk and it still allowed me to make changes.

I then connected the network and it hung again.

I disconnected the network drive that is automatically connected to let me get to the card sockets on my HP All-in-one printer and it started working again.

SO it looks like the problem was a network drive that had no connected disk at the other end. I suspect it would also have worked if I had put an SD card or similar into the printer. I may do some further testing one day, when I have less to do.
StuartR


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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by JoeP »

Way to go. :grin:

Systematic debugging sure is time consuming and can be very frustrating.

Seems as though networked objects are problematic for more & more functions these days. :shrug:

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StuartR
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by StuartR »

JoeP wrote:...Systematic debugging sure is time consuming and can be very frustrating...
Thanks for the advice and encouragement, it kept me going.
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Re: Can't modify indexing options

Post by JoeP »

Always glad to encourage someone else to work. :rofl:

Joe
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