I spent much time trying to solve this issue. Like @Edward Brey I had search functions working for some things, but not for others and especially not for any settings.
I had broken this because I mucked about in the cortana and indexing settings to try and make my computer run a bit quicker. Reindexing, modifying registry keys, exporting a working search registry key and reimporting, reinstalling cortana, rebuilding index, erasing all index entries... None of these worked for me by themselves. So I tried a shotgun approach and did everything - and it worked.
Before going through my process, I would suggest attempting only the last step and seeing what happens. I suspect it may work alone.
Here was my process:
1-Turn of windows search service. First, run services.msc and find Windows Search and set to disabled. End the windows search process.
2-Uninstall cortana.
Get-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online | Where-Object {$_.PackageName -like "*cortana*"} | Remove-AppxProvisionedPackage -Online
You may have to turn off the "get to know me" setting in privacy settings before this step will work.
3-Deleted all index entries by control panel -> indexing -> modify and then uncheck all the boxes.
4-Turn off indexing for all file content in your main hard drive. This is done by right clicking on the drive in my computer, then unchecking the "allow files on this drive to...". Let it run for all subfiles and folders. Ignore all errors when the option is presented When completed, recheck the box and follow the same steps.
5-Set the DWORD for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Search\SetupCompletedSuccessfully to 0.
6-Restart the machine.
7-Reinstall Cortana:
Get-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.Windows.Cortana | foreach {Add-AppxPackage -register "$($_.InstallLocation)\appxmanifest.xml" -DisableDevelopmentMode}
8-Finally, add the index locations you want back in using the control panel index options. Be sure to add
%LocalAppData%\Packages\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState
if you want your settings to show up.
This fixed my cortana/search woes, and saved me a refresh install. I'd love to know if using only step 8 fixes the issue.
Also, I must cite http://www.askvg.com/fix-we-are-getting-search-ready-problem-in-windows-10/ for some of the tips. I tried a few other things too, but this was the final method that worked. Hopefully none of the other tweaks were part of the final solution.
Do any of the suggestions from this thread help? https://www.reddit.com/r/Windows10/comments/317gce/windows_10_search_bar_not_working/ It was posted during the preview but people have been reporting that it's the same for release. Have you restarted the PC itself?
– MC10 – 2015-08-17T01:17:42.580@MC10 Nothing there worked, not did restarting, including after the re-index completed. – Edward Brey – 2015-08-17T01:52:03.497
possible duplicate of Windows 10 : Cortana Search Is Not Finding Apps
– DavidPostill – 2015-08-17T09:26:51.0531
@DavidPostill Unlike the "Not Finding Apps" problem, in my case, all apps and indexed and display properly, as well as documents and even old-school Control Panel items. Only the Settings items are missing. Additionally, the leading answer to that problem - running
– Edward Brey – 2015-08-17T11:35:07.177Get-AppXPackage
- had no effect.