We have not found any type of file from my Server PC when we will Search

Hello fahim khan,

You must first install this component by opening Server Manager, navigating to Add Roles and Features, and selecting the Windows Search Service under the Features hierarchy. Once installed and the server reboots, execute services.msc to verify the Windows Search service is running and set to Automatic, which allows the system to begin building the initial index catalog located at C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Search\Data.

If you are specifically trying to search these server files from a remote client workstation via a mapped network drive, you must also include that UNC path or mapped drive into a local Windows Library on the client endpoint to force the client shell to read the server's index. Please reply with your exact Windows Server version and indicate if the query originates locally or across the network so I can provide specific Group Policy configurations if the standard index reconstruction does not immediately resolve your visibility issue.

If this architectural adjustment successfully restores your search functionality, please click "Accept Answer" so other administrators encountering this same indexing limitation can quickly locate the verified solution.

Tracy.

On Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2, the Start menu’s Search programs and files box does not search files on network locations (such as a server PC) if those locations are not indexed. This is by design.

To enable searching “slow” (non‑indexed, typically network) libraries from the Start menu on that PC:

1. Open Registry Editor:
   • Click Start, type regedit in the Search programs and files box, and press ENTER.
   • Approve the UAC prompt if shown.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\SearchPlatform\Preferences
3. On the Edit menu, select New → DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name the value: EnableSearchingSlowLibrariesInStartMenu.
5. Right‑click EnableSearchingSlowLibrariesInStartMenu → Modify.
6. Set Value data to 1 and click OK.
7. Close Registry Editor and restart the computer if required.

After this, the Start menu search can include libraries that are not indexed (for example, network locations on the server PC). If this behavior needs to be turned off again, set the same value to 0.

Note: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Only perform these steps if comfortable with registry changes and ideally after taking a backup.

References:

• The "Search programs and files" box on the Start menu does not search files on network locations that are not indexed in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2

Hello fahim khan,

I am following up to see if installing the Windows Search Service resolved your file search issues or if you need any further assistance. If the previous steps helped fix the problem, please remember to click "Accept Answer".

Tracy Le.