Memory Diagnostic test

Restart the Windows Search process from Task Manager first; Windows automatically starts it again when Search is next opened.^1^

1. Restart Windows Search

These instructions apply to Windows 10 and Windows 11:

1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then select Task Manager.
2. Select Details. If necessary, first select More details.
3. Find the process matching your Windows version:
   • Windows 11: SearchHost.exe
   • Windows 10: SearchUI.exe
4. Right-click it and select End task or End process.
5. Click the Search button again. The process should restart automatically.

If neither process appears, press Windows key + R, enter winver, and note the Windows version and build before using the version-specific steps below.

Also install pending updates through Windows key + I → Windows Update → Check for updates, then restart the laptop.^1^

2. Reset Windows Search

For Windows 11 or Windows 10 version 1903 and later, use Microsoft’s ResetWindowsSearchBox.ps1 script:

1. Download Reset Windows Search PowerShell script from: https://www.microsoft.com/download/details.aspx?id=100295
2. Right-click the downloaded file and select Run with PowerShell.
3. Approve the administrator prompt.
4. Wait until PowerShell displays Done, then test Search.

If Windows reports that scripts are disabled, open an elevated PowerShell window through Task Manager → File → Run new task, enter powershell, and select Create this task with administrative privileges. Run:

Get-ExecutionPolicy
Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted

Record the value returned by the first command. After running the reset script, restore that original policy:

Set-ExecutionPolicy -Scope CurrentUser -ExecutionPolicy <PreviousValue>

Changing execution policy reduces script restrictions temporarily, so restore its previous value immediately afterward. Resetting Search does not affect personal files, although result relevance may be temporarily reduced while Search rebuilds.^1^

3. Repair Windows system files if Search remains unavailable

Open Task Manager → File → Run new task, enter cmd, select Create this task with administrative privileges, and run these commands in order:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Let each command finish, then restart the laptop and test Search again.^2^

If it still fails

• Avoid registry deletion or manual Search-package folder removal unless Search works in a newly created Windows account. Microsoft’s advanced procedure is version-specific and requires a registry backup.^1^
• Submit the failure through Feedback Hub → Desktop Environment → Search, including the Windows version/build and whether SearchHost.exe or SearchUI.exe appeared in Task Manager.^1^
• If the laptop runs Windows 10, note that standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025; moving to a supported Windows version is recommended if the hardware qualifies.^3^

The timing alone does not establish that the completed memory diagnostic caused the Search failure. If the memory test itself reported hardware errors, contact the laptop manufacturer separately because Search repair will not correct defective RAM.

References

1. Fix problems in Windows Search
2. Windows Search not working - Microsoft Q&A
3. [Windows 10](https://support.microsoft.com/windows/hardware/printer/fix-printer-connection-and-printing-problems-in-windows)