Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
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?
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"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.
Article C1938 - May 12, 2004
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
Yes! it is working, now i am seeing all elements in the search Bar after register listed dlls & ocx. Thank You so much Sir!
Posted by: balasoupramanien at March 12, 2011 10:45 PMThank you so much! Solved my problem right away and saved me from formatting my PC.
Posted by: xp-prob at August 2, 2011 5:43 AMI am using windows 2003 R2 when i click search button its getting error like "A File that is required to run search companion cannot be found. You may need to run setup"
Please provide me solution. Thanks in advance
29-Nov-2011
@Sen
Posted by: Mark J at November 29, 2011 11:18 AMYou might want to try running the System File Checker sfc/scannow. It restores missing or damaged files in Windows.
What is the System File Checker, and how do I run it?
i have same problem
Posted by: evo at December 2, 2011 6:48 AMits great, my pc is normal again