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Outlook 2003/Exchange 2003 Search problem
I have an Exchange 2003 server running on Server 2003. At times some of our users "suddenly" can't search emails - all using Outlook 2003. Tried removing profiles, etc. (local PC fixes), no joy. I did find that on the server if I stop the "Microsoft Search" service, they can then search relatively fine. But the stopping of the service doesn't completely stop - it errors out and just displays "Stopping". In Event Viewer is shows it successfully received the stop command though. It is set to manually start, yet if I reboot it's started again. So my questions:
1. Is stopping the Microsoft Search the correct fix?
2. If so, how can I correctly stop this service? Uninstall (it's not in Add/Remove Programs that I can see)?
3. Other ideas?
Thanks!
1. Is stopping the Microsoft Search the correct fix?
2. If so, how can I correctly stop this service? Uninstall (it's not in Add/Remove Programs that I can see)?
3. Other ideas?
Thanks!
ExchangeOutlookMicrosoft Applications
Last Comment
Mestha
If you are using Microsoft Search 4.0 (It's called Instant search in Outlook), then you will have to wait until the Search Indexing is completed and by default the Indexing will occur only when the computer is idle, so to force indexing, you will have to click on the Magnifying glass icon located on the System tray and choose "Index now" and then wait for the Index to complete.
Also if you want, you can get rid of Microsoft Search 4.0 by uninstalling the Microsoft update (KB 940157) from Add/remove programs.
Also if you want, you can get rid of Microsoft Search 4.0 by uninstalling the Microsoft update (KB 940157) from Add/remove programs.
ASKER
None are in cached mode, and as far as I know no one has Search 4.0 installed on the PC or server.
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Sorry, been CRAZY here and just now getting back to this. I did find an error in my indexes (pub and pri), both show "last updated" on 9-5-2008 - just a little old!!! ;-) So, to delete the Exchange indexes (to let them rebuild), I noticed if I right-clicked on each main Stores' folder (where I can dismount the store) there is also the option to "Delete Full-Text Index". Would this be the correct way to do delete the index? And how to stop the indexing properly? Thanks...
That would be one way of doing it. If that fails then files have to be manually deleted.
Simon.
Simon.
ASKER
It's not liking this way. It seems it cannot stop the MS Search service either - nor can I. It tries to stop, but errors out and you can't start nor stop it (all buttons grayed out). It's not listed in Add/Remove Programs - with "Show Updates" checked too. So, I guess it's time to try manually removing them. Can you offer instructions or a link to the manual steps?
Disable the service and then reboot. It will not start. Then you should be able to what is required.
While the services are running you cannot do anything with the full text index files.
Simon.
While the services are running you cannot do anything with the full text index files.
Simon.
ASKER
Unfortunately, that doesn't (fully) work. The server restarted with the search not started - so far OK. But then when I right-clicked on each main Stores' folder (where I can dismount the store) the option to "Delete Full-Text Index" is grayed out - looks like I must manually delete the indexes. I found the files/folders on the HDD, but don't know the "proper" way and what all (files only or folders too) to delete (Gather Logs, Projects, etc.). Thanks for working with me on this!!
Is full text indexing enabled? It isn't enabled by default.
Simon.
Simon.
ASKER
When I go to (in ESM) the server>Properties>Full-Tex
Indexing is disabled by default on systems, so that is fine.
You may have to enable Microsoft Search so that you can get at the settings in ESM.
Simon.
You may have to enable Microsoft Search so that you can get at the settings in ESM.
Simon.
ASKER
I did have to enable MSSearch to get to the menu - but when I clicked to delete the index, it hung again. Had to use Task Mgr to stop it after a while. Looks like the (re)stopping of MSSearch hung again (which the "stopping" was initiated by the attempted deletion of the index).
It's like an endless loop - can't get the MSSearch to stop to delete the index, yet can't get to the menu to delete the index unless MSSearch is started. Ughhh...
I did find this site which has a manual way to delete the index, does this sound feasible to you?
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2005/02/23/379032.aspx
It's like an endless loop - can't get the MSSearch to stop to delete the index, yet can't get to the menu to delete the index unless MSSearch is started. Ughhh...
I did find this site which has a manual way to delete the index, does this sound feasible to you?
http://msexchangeteam.com/archive/2005/02/23/379032.aspx
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-M