Summary: The Search Companion window sometimes disappears or comes up empty, making searching difficult or impossible. There are a couple of possible solutions.
My "Search Companion" window comes up empty and I can't search. How do I fix it?
"Search Companion" is the name of the left hand pane that appears in the Search Window under Windows XP when you select Search, For Files or Folders... The name "companion" comes from the animated puppy - your "companion"- that many people turn off immediately.
Sometimes the search companion pane is blank or gone completely, leaving you without a way to search. A couple of things could be going on.
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The first thing that may have happened is kind of strange. The search companion pane can be closed by clicking the close control (small X) in its upper right hand corner. Once done, I've not been able to find a way to re-open it! Fortunately closing the Search window, and then selecting Start, Search, and then For Files or Folders re-opens the Search window with the companion pane restored.
That one took me by surprise. However I was also surprised by the other possible source of a problem: jscript.dll.
Apparently if this file is missing, corrupt, or not properly registered with the operating system several dialogs are affected including Search Companion, User Accounts, Windows Update, Help and Support, and System Restore.
Microsoft has provided a knowledgebase article on the topic, creatively titled: Several dialog boxes are blank. This details a couple of methods that should restore the proper functionality.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - What is the System File Checker, and how do I run it?
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Microsoft - Several dialog boxes are blank
Article C1938 - May 12, 2004
Excellent, thanks! Yep, I have this exact issue, and running "regsvr32 jscript.dll" via Start > Run, per the MS article, resolved the issue.
I recently had a virus/malware infection, so I suspect this was responsible for the issue.
Again, thanks for posting this information.
Posted by: Baculus at December 15, 2008 1:38 AMI have three users on my computer. All three had this problem, but when I followed the instructions to reregister the dll's it fixed it for the administrator only. I am not sure what to do next.
Posted by: Steve H. at January 18, 2009 10:03 AMwow thank you so much!
doing this solved the problem right away:
START -- > RUN --->
Posted by: Kristin at February 23, 2009 1:15 PMregsvr32 wshom.ocx
regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 urlmon.dll
thank you ,iv done as everybody else and worked perfect,
its [edited].... me of for a while until found this site,
START -- > RUN --->
regsvr32 wshom.ocx
regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 urlmon.dll
thanks again
Posted by: pelivan at March 24, 2009 5:27 AMave.
I have tried the dlls but when i try the
Posted by: Dmils at April 17, 2009 11:51 AMregsvr32 jscript.dll,
i get a message that it failed, return code 0x80004005
For almost a week some of my windows XP functions such as : HELP AND SUPPORT, SEARCH, SYSTEM RESTORE, INTERNET EXPLORER 8, YAHOO MESSENGER don't work properly. Days after googling, finally I find this is very useful and helpful article. I just do this commands :
START -- > RUN --->
regsvr32 wshom.ocx
regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 urlmon.dll
and everything back to normal. How wonderful...!!
Now I'm happy and I have to thank to Leo and whoever give contribution to this article.
Thank you so much..
Regards
Posted by: Ationo TB at June 5, 2009 12:27 AMAtiono
woooow!!! the same problem with my system thaaaanks
Posted by: nikoloz at August 25, 2009 3:31 AMi am using win2k3 server. the dll trick doesn't work for it. any remedy for my OS? :)
Posted by: anil at September 15, 2009 4:21 AMthanks
I'm having the same issue as anil.
Posted by: stu at September 17, 2009 12:33 PMTried reregistering
wshom.ocx
jscript.dll
urlmon.dll
Yeah ,dear it worked.I was so anxicious about this problem and your trick worked wonderly ...Thanks a lot dear
Posted by: sanjeet sharma at October 21, 2009 12:18 AM