Windows 11 Search Won't Find .odt Files in Certain Folders

At this point, with more than one issue, I would do an In-Place Upgrade (repair install).


Takes 30 to 40 minutes usually, and allows you to keep your apps and data.

I'd agree that's worth a go.

I've never seen indexing use that much as viewed in the task manager.. about the only time I've known of it using significant resources is when there's something amiss with the file system, or corrupt files.

Given that, there's no guarantee that an in-place upgrade repair will solve the problem, as the data files you're indexing won't be affected.

I would suggest that you then try indexing only a small and specific part of your target files to see if that completes, and then extend it. That way you can then identify if there are particular files or folders that are problematic - i.e. possibly damaged or corrupt.

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It sounds as if you are unfamiliar with booting to Safe Mode, assuming your Recovery environment is intact.
There are several ways to to this.

Safe Mode: from the Tutorials section (did you check there?)


Note: a good starting point is to SHIFT left click a restart option.

(Hint: blue text is clickable and may open another tutorial e.g.
Boot to Advanced Startup)

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See if indexing completes,
If not:

Reset and search indexing:
Again from Tutorials:

- note the range of tutorials linked below the main text.


Limiting and setting what is indexed:
Start with
and choose Classic.

Then use
Indexing Options
(e.g. Taskbar search, Index ....)

Click C:, Modify, look for highlighted items in Indexed Locations dialogue, expand Users and deselect to limit what's indexed, noting what you've deselected.

When you have a limited number selected, note the number of items indexed shown in the first dialogue (Indexing Options)


Note what your task manager shows, then close it and leave it a few minutes and then check the number of items indexed and compare with previous.

If indexing completes, reselect another folder or 2 and repeat.

See if it gets stuck anywhere.

dalchina said:

Given that, there's no guarantee that an in-place upgrade repair will solve the problem, as the data files you're indexing won't be affected.

Click to expand...

However, if there is corruption in the Windows Search service components, it can fix that.

A bloated windows.edb file can cause issues as well.

The fix for that is to turn off the Windows Search service, manually delete windows.edb, and then turn the Window Search service back on.

That will cause a fresh windows.edb file to be created.

The OP may want to take a look at what is being indexed...large files and directories may be included that really aren't necessary.

18.9 GB is large.

The fix for that is to turn off the Windows Search service, manually delete windows.edb, and then turn the Window Search service back on.

Click to expand...

I've given the tutorial for that.

The OP may want to take a look at what is being indexed...large files and directories may be included that really aren't necessary.

Click to expand...

I've detailed how to do that.

I've been trying to repair-install for the last 5 hours. It's been stuck at Installing - 99% for the past half-hour.

From what I've read, I need to remove the usb drive to complete repairing-installing. And I need the search indexer to finish and not immediately restart again to do that. I tried pausing the indexer, but that wasn't enough.

P.S. It finally installed. I need to get some sleep before trying anything more.

Sometimes you just have to wait...

And one way that can make it easier is to arrange NOT to receive updates as part of the procedure... I've found that can then succeed.

Pausing the indexing should have nothing to do with the upgrade. You can reset indexing (I gave you the tutorial) if you wish beforehand should you end up retrying - but right now you need to wait... and hope.

1:


2:

In addition to not getting Windows Updates during the install, these steps have worked for us...

Disconnect the ethernet cable.

Disconnect any removable drives, and other external devices.

Turn off Secure Boot in the BIOS.

It did update last night, it just spent a worryingly long time at installing - 99%. I think some of the indexing time may be because I have a slower computer by W11 standards, and larger disks. But that doesn't explain the not indexing certain folders in certain disks.

I mostly use the computer for (1) writing and tabletop game design, (2) email and web browsing, and (3) handling ebooks, especially including historical sources for the writing and game design.

A lot of these ebooks are bulky scanned pdfs. I have some of them in library management tools like Calibre, some in Adobe and Kindle libraries, some in loose folders organized by topic and source. I try to pre-process them using either ghostscript, k2pdfopt, or lately pdf24, depending on the type, so that they will load faster, won't crash, and will be compatible with older devices. I have to ocr some of them, lately using pdf24. I also have to type up the appropriate info for each imported file.

So I've got a lot of files, and I can't rearrange them by topic, so I *have* to rely on library management tools, their internal search, and Windows' own search.

A number of apps keep their own files in the "Documents" folder. So to keep it easier to find my files, and if necessary debug those apps, and avoid OneDrive, I keep my own documents in "Documents 2," "Ebook Libraries," and "Ongoing Work." I should probably create multiple "Ongoing [Project]" folders in "Documents 2," and gradually move files out of "Ongoing Work." I shoud probaby also try to find and remove some of the less helpful books and articles each day.

Now in Windows 11 Advanced Search Preferences --

I'm not sure whether Classic or Enhanced search is the appropriate setting.

I've included the "Documents 2," "Ebook Libraries," and "Ongoing Work" folders in the search list. I've excluded some of the app-created subfolders in "Documents." I've included most of the external disk, too, but not all of it.

I need reliable content indexing for .odt, .pdf, .epub, etc. files. I've sometimes had trouble with index filters. I reinstalled LibreOffice early in this process in case something had corrupted its filters for .odt, .ods, .odg, etc. I installed the Zabkat-Sumatra filters for .pdf, .epub, .mobi, etc.

I've disabled content indexing for .gif, .ico, .jpeg, .jpg, and .tif files. I might disable content indexing for .zip files.