Windows search in Start Menu no longer working after running script

[Skylanderlad]

Checklist

• I have searched for existing issues/discussions and didn't find any similar ones.
• I haven't used any other scripts, tools or programs that might have caused this issue.

Windows version

Windows 11

Script mode/options

Custom

Describe the issue

Issue as described in description.
Also, after startup, an error appears saying that a program cannot be run due to permission issues - it is not possible to ascertain what the program is due to the complete file path not being displayed on the error message

Steps to reproduce

.

Error output

.

Additional context

No response

[Raphire]

Heya,

You can re-enable bing search to see if this fixes the issue you described. See here for instructions: https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat/wiki/Reverting-Changes#re-enable-bing-web-search

Do you maybe have a screenshot of the error you mentioned?

[Skylanderlad]

Thanks....but [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] - such an address does not exist on my machine. Win11Debloat > Regfiles > Undo - where is this to be found?

…

On Thu, 16 Oct 2025 at 18:34, Jeffrey ***@***.***> wrote: *Raphire* left a comment (Raphire/Win11Debloat#361) <#361 (comment)> Heya, You can re-enable bing search to see if this fixes the issue you described. See here for instructions: https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat/wiki/Reverting-Changes#re-enable-bing-web-search Do you maybe have a screenshot of the error you mentioned? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#361 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BY34XNKZFAZGHWWD3K757ID3X7JMDAVCNFSM6AAAAACJMS4XFSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTIMJSGAYDMNJTGY> . You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Raphire]

Thanks....but
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] - such an
address does not exist on my machine.
Win11Debloat > Regfiles > Undo - where is this to be found?
…

@Skylanderlad That's inside the script folder. You can also download it here: https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat/blob/master/Regfiles/Undo/Enable_Bing_Cortana_In_Search.reg

Look for a small download icon:

[Skylanderlad]

Ok, I've downloaded and installed the registry entry as well as reinstalling Bing search and still no joy. By the way, the error message I previously mentioned that comes on starting windows is attached as a png

…

On Mon, 20 Oct 2025 at 19:39, Jeffrey ***@***.***> wrote: *Raphire* left a comment (Raphire/Win11Debloat#361) <#361 (comment)> Thanks....but [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer] - such an address does not exist on my machine. Win11Debloat > Regfiles > Undo - where is this to be found? … <#m_4828711863998557245_> @Skylanderlad <https://github.com/Skylanderlad> That's inside the script folder. You can also download it here: https://github.com/Raphire/Win11Debloat/blob/master/Regfiles/Undo/Enable_Bing_Cortana_In_Search.reg Look for a small download icon: image.png (view on web) <https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/d0ca8470-bbb1-45ff-8150-f097470660b3> — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#361 (comment)>, or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/BY34XNKPTI62CD4WVS4IP2L3YUT7LAVCNFSM6AAAAACJMS4XFSVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTIMRTGMYDOOBVHE> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Raphire]

@Skylanderlad I unfortunately don't see the image

[Skylanderlad]

@Raphire Sorry, I just replied to the email and added as an attachment - that mustn't have worked - I'll upload it here.

[Skylanderlad]

And there is a second one that appears immediately after...

[HetCreep]

clean your intel by DDU (https://www.wagnardsoft.com/display-driver-uninstaller-ddu)
and load new one from here
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html

[HetCreep]

I guess you remove winapp related to intel

if not work next try this on shell admin
Get-AppXPackage -allusers | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}

[Skylanderlad]

clean your intel by DDU (https://www.wagnardsoft.com/display-driver-uninstaller-ddu) and load new one from here https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html

Thanks, but other than the error message on windows, I don't notice any other issues with this - I'm reluctant to mess with things any further unless I know it will work.
Plus, I am not sure this will help with getting the search on start menu working again? - which is my main issue

[Raphire]

@Skylanderlad Those errors are very strange, from what I can find online it seems to be related to some kind of file corruption/permission issue. It's likely that any time Windows Search is trying to access them, but for whatever reason the permissions are messed up. I'm not sure how this could've been caused by Win11Debloat, as the programs mentioned are not touched by the script. Did you use any other tools or programs, or did you recently update windows by any chance?

In any case, we can try using some of Windows' built-in tools to fix the issue.

Check for corrupt system files

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator. (Important)
2. Copy & paste the command below, and hit Enter.

sfc /scannow

3. Wait for the tool to find/fix any corrupt system files.

Fix Windows image issues

1. Open Command Prompt as administrator. (Important)
2. Copy & paste the command below, and hit Enter.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth

3. Wait for the tool to find any issues. This can take a minute or two.
4. If any issues are detected. Copy & paste the command below, and hit Enter.

Dism /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

5. Wait for the tool to fix the issues.

Please report back if any of these tools find any issues.

If the issue is not resolved after trying these tools. You can try an in-place upgrade. This won't affect your files or apps. You can find a detailed guide here.

[Raphire]

@Skylanderlad Heya, do you have any updates on your issue? Please check out my previous response if you haven't already.

[Skylanderlad]

@Skylanderlad Heya, do you have any updates on your issue? Please check out my previous response if you haven't already.

Hi,
I just saw your last message now - didn't get a notification for it for whatever reason.
I'll try the scans tomorrow and get back to you.
Thanks.

[Skylanderlad]

@Raphire
Sorry, I was ill for the last week.
So, I ran the scan command and got "the component store is repairable", after which I ran the repair command which was successful but that has all made no difference - the errors remain.

I have already done an in-place upgrade (or what I call a repair install - assuming we are talking about the same thing - essentially reinstallling Windows whilst keeping apps and settings). That made no difference either.