Select the product you need help with

Fix download prompt for Windows Search when you type in Address bar of Internet Explorer 8

Article ID: 968513 - View products that this article applies to.

Symptoms

When you type an address inside the Address bar in Windows Internet Explorer 8, a window may open and display the following message:

Download Windows Search to improve history and favorites results

Back to the top | Give Feedback

Cause

This behavior occurs if either of the following conditions is true:

Windows Search is not installed on the computer.
Windows Search is not turned on.

Back to the top | Give Feedback

The Windows search is not working and search is slow or shuts down troubleshooter may automatically fix the problem described in this article.
This troubleshooter fixes many problems.Learn moreRun now

Let me fix it myself

To stop receiving this message, you can use the following methods. Select the method that is appropriate for your situation.

Method 1: Download Windows Search

If you use Windows XP, Windows Vista, or a version of Windows Server that is earlier than Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2), download and install the latest version of Windows Search.

To do this, click the Download Windows Search to improve history and favorites results link in the message window in Internet Explorer.

For more information about Windows Search, visit the following Microsoft websites:

Windows Search 4.0 for Windows XP (KB940157)

(http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=23)

Windows Search 4.0 for Windows Vista x64 Edition (KB940157)

(http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=2276)

Windows Search 4.0 for Windows Vista SP1 (KB940157)

(http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=14850)

Method 2: Enable Windows Search

If you use Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 (SP2), or Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Search is already installed on your computer. However, you may have to turn on this feature. To do this, follow the steps for your operating system.

Windows 7

Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Click Programs.
Click Turn Windows features on or off.
Scroll down, click to select the Windows Search check box, and then click OK.

Video: How to turn on Windows features in Windows 7

Windows Server 2008 SP2 or Windows Server 2008 R2

Open Server Manager, and then expand Roles.

If the File Services role is not listed in the Roles Summary section, follow these steps:

Click Add Roles.
Select File Services, and then click Next.
Click Next as many times as required to reach the Select Server Roles screen.
In the list of available Role Services, select Windows Search Service.
Click Install.

If the File Services role is already listed in the Roles Summary section, follow these steps:

Under File Services, expand Role Services.
Click Add Role Services.
On the Select Role Services screen, select Windows Search Service, and then click Next.
If you want to index drives, select the drives that you want to index, and then click Next.
Click Install.