SupaRookie

Somehow my outlook cannot search for emails. I been having this problem for a long time at work now. It's getting to be very annoying. When I try to search for my inbox, I get this error:

Search results may be incomplete because items are still being indexed. Click here for more details.

Nothing shows up in my search. It's been days and months and the indexing is still not done. I have outlook at home and I can search through my emails. What gives? If anyone know a solution to this problem, I would really appreciate the help.

#1 STUNNA

I had this same problem before. I don't think I ever solved it. Well it works for me now but that's cause I rebuilt my computer and reinstalled the OS and Office in the process. Try uninsalling Outlook 2007. I remember I tried checking the .ost and .pst file formats in the Vista indexing options and then rebuilt it's index and that didn't work.

The work around I came up with was to install Windows Live Mail and set it up with your email and I was able to search my emails from the Vista start menu after that. I'd still use Outlook to send and receive emails but use Live Mail for searching.

stogie1020

Outlook or Outlook Express? Are you on an Exchange server? Is your PST/OST stored locally or only on the server?

Can you actually see all the emails in your INBOX, and just can't search through them? If you are at work, check with Nick, your company computer guy.

"MOVE"!!!


Just saw Stunna's post. Must be a Vista thing. Glad I didn't upgrade....

<------- Puts anti-VistaLover flame suit on.......

SupaRookie

Outlook 2007. Using Exchange server. I dont know what pst/ost are, but I believe they are store on the server. Our Exchange server is done by someone outside the company. I can see almost all of my emails, even the sent one. However, I cannot search through them. I have Vista at home and it works. Unfortunately, I cannot format the computer and start fresh. The company uses a sysprep build. Let me look into the Live Mail.

timmahh

exchange doesn't use a PST; are you using cached exchange mode?

<--- Vista / Office 2k7 w/o Outlook problems..

stogie1020

Well, it uses an EDB/STM, but if it is locally cached then he has a PST, which is what I was trying to determine from him.

SupaRookie

I'm not sure what kind of mode you are talking about....Everytime I open up Outlook, it display my username and I enter in my password. Afterward, mails comes in. Stupid part is I have emails from 8+ months ago, but I cant search for them. Imagine trying to look an email that is a 1 month old; I dont even search for them.

stogie1020

Can you post screen captures of your Outlook? Thanks.

SupaRookie

I will do it tomorrow when I get to work.

Whiskers

The EDB / STM files are on the server, nothing to do with outlook. The Outlook cache uses a OST file, not PST.

On Outlook, go to Tools, Instant Search, Search Options. Make sure the things on the top ar checked....

SupaRookie

Here's the picture:

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ie/Outlook.jpg

I know that name exist, but I cant search for it...I will try your suggestion Whiskers.

Whiskers

Can you search other files on your PC?

timmahh

From Vista Community Forums:

Had the same problem after upgrading to Outlook 2007 from Outlook 2003 (Vista OS).

Here's how I fixed it:

1) go to Vista control panel
2) double click 'Indexing Options'
3) click on the 'Modify' button
NOTE: in my case I saw outlook as a included location.
4) uncheck outlook in the selected locations
5) click OK

That should fix it... I know, it's strange... At least in my case MS Outlook was re added as a included location and started to index correctly.

I was going to re add it in manually but it seems the fix to the outlook search issue discovered yet another bug, this time with Vista.

Let me know if that works for you.


also try this:
http://www.msoutlook.info/question/47

SupaRookie

I look and the options are check. When I click on Indexing Status, it tells me "Outlook is currently indexing your items. Search results may be incomplete because items are still being indexed. 23618 items remaining in Mailbox - XXXX. 47248 items remaining across all open mailboxes. " I dont think I have that many items; I think those are junk mail or something...

timmahh

Did you try unchecking outlook as an included location?

SupaRookie

I can search for some files. Every time I try to search for a file, it is searching only in the indexed locations. I think my whole search functionality is screwy....

Timmah, I try turning outlook off as index location. Now the search result just say no match found.

Whiskers

You need to rebuild the index (in Vista, its built in and in XP, its with the Desktop Search installed).

SupaRookie

How long does it take to rebuild the index?

#1 STUNNA

depends. If you start it and walk away from your computer and DON'T touch anything which means not moving the mouse or hitting a key on the keyboard then it might take 15-20 minutes. If you are doing things while the index is rebuilding than it goes at a much slower speed in order to not slow down your system while you're using it. It also really depends on how many files you have that are being indexed. So for you I can't say how long exactly. But your best bet is to chose to rebuild the index and then just walk away for a while.

dallison

:search: