Solved Windows 11 search bar not working

nedi said:

I performed the In-Place Upgrade twice, following all the steps, but nothing happened.

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What do you mean nothing happened? Could you give more info?

andrew129260 said:

What do you mean nothing happened? Could you give more info?

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I mean that the issue remains...

Did you ever try creating a new user profile to see if it works in the new account?

If windows updates are functioning correctly, you can wait for the next windows feature update 24H2 and see if this update resolves the issue.

Or

I would suggest a clean install since the in place repair did not work.

andrew129260 said:

Did you ever try creating a new user profile to see if it works in the new account?

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Good advice, Andrew

andrew129260 said:

Did you ever try creating a new user profile to see if it works in the new account?

If windows updates are functioning correctly, you can wait for the next windows feature update 24H2 and see if this update resolves the issue.

Or

I would suggest a clean install since the in place repair did not work.

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I'm going to try this...thank you!

andrew129260 said:

Did you ever try creating a new user profile to see if it works in the new account?

If windows updates are functioning correctly, you can wait for the next windows feature update 24H2 and see if this update resolves the issue.

Or

I would suggest a clean install since the in place repair did not work.

Click to expand...

I create a new user without Microsoft Account and I change it to Administrator.
When I try to use this new account I see the window below instead of Windows Desktop

nedi said:

I create a new user without Microsoft Account and I change it to Administrator.
When I try to use this new account I see the window below instead of Windows Desktop

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Do you have any idea what that Window is? You have posted that image a couple of times. Is it a post BIOS error/repair screen?

It actually looks like an OEM (ASUS) login screen for your Laptop, I would assume click the Padlock Icon, probably wants your Windows Login?

antspants said:

antspants said:

Do you have any idea what that Window is? You have posted that image a couple of times. Is it a post BIOS error/repair screen?

It actually looks like an OEM (ASUS) login screen for your Laptop, I would assume click the Padlock Icon, probably wants your Windows Login?

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I've never seen such a window, and I don't know neither why nor when it comes from...
In that window you can't do anything (click on something, use any function key...nothing)

nedi said:

I've never seen such a window, and I don't know neither why nor when it comes from...
In that window you can't do anything (click on something, use any function key...nothing)

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It’s werid that your ASUS and this persons ACER have this same screen. I also, have never seen this screen before, ever.

Might be worth reading that whole thread. To get to the point of how the user avoided seing it anymore

antspants said:

White screen with green "icons" after login ???

Has anyone ever had this screen appear after logging onto Windows 11? Working fine night before and today nothing. I'm so ticked off right now. I can restart into safe mode but don't know how to get normal windows back. Stupid system displays some text for a nanosecond, then this. Is my only...

www.elevenforum.com

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Yeah! Following the advise on that thread I succeed closing that strange window and I have the Windows Desktop!!
And with the new account the search bar works!

This user, @IROC_Chick posted in a few places around the internet

nedi said:

Yeah! Following the advise on that thread I succeed closing that strange window and I have the Windows Desktop!!
And with the new account the search bar works!

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Brilliant!

Not sure where to go from here. I have never had more than an admin account so someone will have to teach you how to make that new account your main account. I have never played with accounts, ever.

I am really glad you got it (thanks to @andrew129260)

Might pay you to make a new thread related to the swapping off accounts, briefly explaining what you did/had to do. I think there might be tutorials also.
Unless @andrew129260 can guid you from here, @nedi.

Or you could fresh install (a bit boring)

antspants said:

Might pay you to make a new thread related to the swapping off accounts, briefly explaining what you did/had to do. I think there might be tutorials also.
Unless @andrew129260 can guid you from here, @nedi.

Or you could fresh install (a bit boring)

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I prefer not to install Windows from scratch (I have lot of software to reinstall and configure...)

@nedi Other two users, including me, had a similar issue in the last 7 days: Reddit - Dive into anything

We're experiencing the following symptoms:
- Can't type anything into windows 11 search bar after a startup.
- It happens only occasionally. If windows 11 is restarted, it takes a longer than usual time to do it so, but it eventually restarts and search bar is back to normal.
- It occurs at version 23H2 22631.3447

Some alternative solutions were suggested on the reddit post. I believe someone should report this to Microsoft, but I'm not aware how to do so.
I'll do some research and report the bug to Microsoft.

I have never done this myself, but freebooter has a tutorial here:


I cannot say for certain if the backup of the old profile and the restore will work, but it's perhaps worth a try.

OR

You can also just go into c:\users and access your old profile, and then copy and replace the contents into your new profile that you created. Some applications will need to have some of their settings set back up but it beats reinstalling everything.

For example, go into c\users\yourusername\documents and copy the contents from there into your new username documents folder. I wouldn't recommend copying the folder itself, but the contents inside it. Ensure you have enabled the show hidden items under the view tab when doing so.

antspants said:

I am really glad you got it (thanks to @andrew129260)

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Thanks, but I wasn't the only one to suggest it. In post 35 @Bug locker suggested it as well.

Good job to Bug as well