lost search function on my pc

hi,

would any one know how i can restore the SEARCH function on my pc? i think my problem started when i uninstalled software, even though the uninstall went smoothly and without any obvious problems.

whenever i click on START/SEARCH i get a message stating: "a file required to run SEARCH COMPANION cannot be found. you may need to run setup". i get the same error message when trying to search inside a folder.

i'm running XP, and only have a recovery cd for WINDOWS, so if part of the remedy requires the full WINDOWS OS software, i'm out of luck.

any and all help would be most appreciated. i'm really lost without this function.

thank you very much.

 

Try this..
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/319949
scroll down and try the hotfix...

 

hi bill,

thank you very much for your response.

i just downloaded and installed the hotfix you recommended, only to get another error message saying: "installation information data unavailable". i have no idea what that means.

any other ideas?

i appreciate your time.

googie

 

you can try method three but you may be asked for a Windows cd to find the needed files... you might also try system restore to a date before this happened.

 

looks like i'm going to wind up with a system restore--but i will look into the third option first.

thank again

 

I hope method three works.. using system restore to fix corrupt windows files doesn't work most of the time, but it's worth a try..it may take an actual windows repair.. but most pc's that have this problem either the hotfix or method three does the trick.. good luck!

 

i hear you about the system restore. i'm definitely going to try everything i can first before even thinking about a restore. even then i may just wait until a tech-savvy friend of mine can get here to help me out.

again, i appreciate the time you took to help.

thanks very much.