Device Manager + Search NOT WORKING!!!

I have no clue why this is happening but Device Manager was working perfectly fine untill i have no clue when but now when I try to access Device Manager I get this error message:

"MMC cannot open the file C:\WINDOWS\system32\devmgmt.msc.
This may be because the file does not exist, is not an MMC console, or was created by a later version of MMC. This may also be because you do not have sufficient access rights to the file."

I also cannot use the Search feature in Windows Explorer. When I try to do so i get an error message saying:

"A file that is required to run Search Companion cannot be found. You may need to run setup"

Can somebody please help me with this problem because now i cant search for anythin AND access Device Manager at all ...

 

For one of the errors:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q319949

You didn't mention your OS, or service pack level. If you have Sp2, then use Sp2 for this article.

 

ill try it on SAFEMODE to see if it works...if not should i return to that link...i have windows XP SP2...wat other type of information do u need???

 

Method 3 on that link looks good.

Also, can you open a cmd prompt and go to the c:\windows\system32 directory and do a search for *.msc?

As in:

start, run, cmd (enter)
cd\windows\system32 (enter)
dir devmgmt.msc (enter)

Does it exist?

 

yes it shows it exists this is the information i see ....

33,079 devmgmt.msc
1 File<s> 33,079 bytes
0 Dir<s> 55,769,944,064 bytes free

i also tried accessing device manager on SAFEMODE and it still didnt work...

 

The file size looks correct.

Two or three things to try now:

While you are within c:\windows\system32

Try the following:

devmgmt.msc (enter)

Same error?

What about a different program, such as:

diskmgmt.msc (enter)

Does that work? If not, then try:

mmc (enter)

Does the MMC show up? Or do you get an error?

 

the search in windows explorer works but now when i go to Start>Search .... i get this message:

A file that is required to run Search Companion cannot be found. You may need to run setup.

and device manager is still shot

 

i tried opening devmgmt.msc and i got an error and i also tried diskmgmt.msc and i got another error...also if u are talking about tryin mmc.exe i did and it opened to a program called "Console 1" ????

 

You can probably solve your search problem with this simple step,
ok, not so simple, have you got the TweakUI tool from microsoft? if so the Desktop tab in that control panel extension has a tick box for "search results" and should be ticked, this will enable search to work, im still looking at this problem for you so will have to get back to you on this one

 

i installed it now what should i do???

 

Ok iv been looking into your problem with MMC, can you access windows update at all? if so, check for updates, if not heres the link
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

This sounds a little bit like your console snap ins have been damaged, either by a virus or some other means. if the console is working but the snap ins arnt then its unlikely the .dll for console is damaged , that would have been easy to replace from your "driver cache" folder in windows, where all your drivers are stored from install (not in use, just stored there for backup)
You could also try system restore to the last point before the console stopped working, or you could try "last known good configuration" from F8`ing at boot up, or you could try using the windows repair function(last resort)

Ok TweakUI is a controll panel extension, so go to control panel, double click TweakUI and goto the Desktop Tab and half way down will be a box that says "Search Results" it needs to be ticked, if it is already then try the above solutions, at best you have a powerful tool that is basically a shortcut to all the functions of windows in one simple tool and will become invaluable over time let me know how you get on, as at least 3 other forums on google have had your problem and solved it with windows update

 

about the dlls and console....is there anyway u can tell me how to do something like this???? as breif as possible...

 

When i go to the link u provided it says this:
Files required to use Windows Update are no longer registered or installed on your computer. To continue:
then the box is checked next to Register or reinstall the files for me now (Recommended)

then when i click CONTINUE i get a windows explorer error and either "send report" or "end now" and internet explorer closes totally...wats up with this?

 

This probably won't work, but it is worth a shot...

Open mmc.exe

Next, click File, then Add/Remove snap-in.

Click the Add button.

Scroll down till you see device manager, click it, then click add, then finish.

Click close.

Click OK.

Click on Device manager on local computer....

 

...device manager opened in CONSOLE 1...but when i try to access it the normal way i get the same error....

 

OK im in my windows\drivercach folder and there is a ZIP folder called SP2.CAB im guessing thats all of service pack2 drivers....where should i extract all these files to if i was gonna do so????

 

So, through the method I gave you, device manager worked? But, through the "normal" way, it still doesn't?

Hmmm.....

 

yea but when i try to save the changes i get this error:
MMC cannot save the console.

 

another thing to try (trying to narrow it down....with my old and slow methods )

Normally, extensions are associated to certain programs. .msc is associated with mmc.exe

So, try this at the command prompt.

as in the c:\windows\system32 directory

mmc /a devmgmt.msc (enter)

If this works, perhaps your association is messed up, which may be an easy fix.

----

Quick question, does your account have administrator privledges?

 

yea it has administrator privledges....i tried doing wat u said and it said...
"The selected file cannot be found."

 

Did you do this at the "Run" Prompt or the cmd prompt?

To make this easier paste the following into your Start, Run prompt....

mmc /a c:\windows\system32\devmgmt.msc

If this works, then your association is messed up in the registry. "Easy" fix. If this doesn't...then...

 

!!!! NOPE same error !!!!!

 

and if you run this at the cmd prompt? i.e.

within the c:\windows\system32\> directory.

mmc /a devmgmt.msc

....well if this also does not work, you may want to use a command that I don't like, but others here suggest it, since you also have other problems....

sfc /scannow (enter)

It may ask for your xp cd.

 

i only have the windows XP SP1 CD i dnt have the SP2 CD....but i have all the .dll and .sys files for SP2 in C:\WINDOWS\Driver Cache\i386 ... where could i unzip all these files to...???

 

Oh My God Fixed!!!!!

WOW I HAVE NO CLUE HOW BUT EVERYTHING IS FIXED FINALLY!!!!
my windows update wasnt working so i was tryin to fix that...i through all this stuff and got it to work and i updated my computer and now it workz!!!
DEVICE MANAGER, SEARCH, UPDATE EVERYTHING...thank you everyone who tried to help and i really appreciate it