Why Does Microsoft Windows Search Protocol Host Stop Working in Windows 7?

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the recurring error message "Microsoft Windows Search Protocol Host has stopped working" encountered by a user after switching to Windows 7 from Windows XP. Participants explore potential causes, solutions, and the implications of the issue, particularly in relation to the file indexing service and the antivirus software Avast.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the error is likely related to the file indexing service and suggests disabling it through the control panel, mentioning that it may slow down searches.
  • Another participant agrees that the issue is related to indexing and recommends using an alternative indexing tool, everything.exe, which they believe performs better than the Windows indexer.
  • A user reports that performing a system restore temporarily resolves the issue, but it reoccurs after updating and restarting Avast antivirus software.
  • Some participants express unfamiliarity with everything.exe and question its necessity, while others highlight a pattern of problems associated with Avast updates.
  • One participant mentions that they did not experience similar issues while using Windows XP, indicating a potential difference in how Windows 7 handles the indexing service or interacts with Avast.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the root cause of the issue or the effectiveness of the proposed solutions. There are multiple competing views regarding the role of the file indexing service and the impact of Avast on the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the exact relationship between the error message, the file indexing service, and the Avast antivirus updates. There are unresolved questions about the functionality and necessity of alternative indexing tools.

mathman
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Messages
8,130
Reaction score
575
"Microsoft Windows Search Protocol Host has stopped working"

I keep getting the above error message (dozens of times a day). I just recently switched to Windows 7. Before that I was on Windows XP.

I did a little search and discovered that this is a chronic problem on Windows Vista. Does anyone know of a solution? What causes it and should I worry about it?

As far as I can tell it is essentially a nuisance - it doesn't appear to interfere with anything I am doing.
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
If memory serves, it is to do with the file indexing service.

You can disable it without consequence through the services menu in the control panel (switch to classic view).

(It supposedly slows down searches but I never noticed.)

Recommend you look up how to disable the indexing service for 7.
 
JaredJames said:
If memory serves, it is to do with the file indexing service.

You can disable it without consequence through the services menu in the control panel (switch to classic view).

(It supposedly slows down searches but I never noticed.)

Recommend you look up how to disable the indexing service for 7.

Yea, I believe it has to do with indexing also, and the reason you never noticed a difference is because the Windows indexer sucks something fierce. I recommend using this: everything.exe. It indexes everything in your computer perfectly and it searches unbelievably fast. I've been thinking it uses a binary tree algorithm as a search algorithm, but I'm not sure if even one of those is fast enough.
 
Current status: By doing a system restore to a few days ago the problem went away. However, I needed to update Avast, that was OK, but it asked for a restart. After restart the problem returns. I even tried a fresh copy of Avast, but the problem still returns after restart.

Is everything.exe a Windows system program or do I need to get it?
 
Never heard of it.

Why is it every time people have problems I hear / read Avast?
 
JaredJames said:
Never heard of it.

Why is it every time people have problems I hear / read Avast?
I can't answer for the general public. However, my problem, as best as I can determine, appears to be a result of Avast update followed by restart. Each time I do this, the problem recurs and I need to do a system restore.

This is a problem that occurs on Windows 7. Previously I have worked with Windows XP and I never encountered this.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
11K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
5K
Replies
2
Views
6K
Replies
23
Views
51K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
2K
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
5K
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
9K
Replies
23
Views
6K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
5K