Windows explorer search

I am running XP home edition. I noticed today that I cannot search using the "all files and folders" option. All other search options work fine.

This option causes explorer to quit with no error message and reload the desktop.
I have no idea when it actually started behaving this way except it must have been a few days ago. I have uninstalled some programs through control panel.
Where can I find what modules are required for this operation to function?
I know I MUST have unknowingly removed something.

Thanks

Reddog

 

Just to clarify, you go to Start/Search/ and when you click on "all files and folders" it shuts down and takes you back to your desktop?

 

Yes Sir,

Whether I use that route or open explorer thru a short cut, like I usually do, I get the same outcome.

thanks

 

wait, so you uninstalled normal programs right? can you tell me what you've erased? and let me know if when you're uninstalling if it asked u about deleting shared dlls, because that might effect it. im not sure if im correct or not, but nothing bad can happen from asking lol.

 

easy lazy solution is system restore to before you started deleting things. then delete away and test your search function until you mess it up again, re-restore, and delete everything BUT the last thing.

 

I have done a system restore. Maybe I need to go back further. I'll give that a further try. Unfortunately I don't remember all that I removed. They were some system utilities that I was checking out I had downloaded. Sorry I am not being much help here.

I do appreciate all your efforts though.

Steve

P.S.

At no time did I get a request to delete shared dll's.