The Windows Search components used to do searches within Outlook seem to have been damaged. As 8.1 was provided only via download, it is unclear how the Windows installation (code plus registry) can be repaired. Moreover my 8.0 installation itself was a Microsoft download I do not have media on hand from that previous installation. I believe that a trouble shooter tool could be developed to download and replace the damaged files but until then it appears that a useful everyday feature of Outlook has been permanently disabled.

Which part is damaged?

Are you able to type? When you want to search what will happen?

Windows 8.1 is still under development and is preview and beta version.

You might try open Control Panel and click Programs and Microsoft Office and then click Change to repair install.

Hi jafisitt,

You can try the following methods to solve this issue:

Method 1: Check for pst/ost-file corruptiaons (Use Scanpst.exe tool).

For your information, please refer the article How to use Inbox Repair tool to repair pst file in Outlook and Repair Outlook Data Files (.pst and .ost)  to learn more about this tool:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/272227/en-us

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook-help/repair-outlook-data-files-pst-and-ost-HA010075831.aspx

Method 2: Turn the Windows Search feature off and turn it on once again.

1. Press Windows + R on the keyboard, and type control panel in the search box and press Enter.
2. Click Programs, and then click Turn Windows features on or off in the below of Programs and Features.
3. Expand window search and uncheck windows search.
4. Click Yes to continue, and click OK to quit.
5. Open Turn Windows features on or off again, and check Windows Search.
6. Click Yes to continue, and click OK to quit.

Method 3: Do a repair to reconfigure the registry keys.

1. Press Windows + R on the keyboard, and type control panel in the search box and press Enter.
2. Click Programs, and then click Programs and features.     
3. Click Microsoft Office (Microsoft office program)> Change > Quick Repair.
4. Restart your computer.
5. Give some time to make sure indexing has time to work, and then test search.

Whats more, you can also try to disable and then re-enable the file for indexing and rebuild the index.

Note: This is the forum for Windows 7, please ask questions about Office in the right place next time to get more help:

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/office/en-us/home

Regards,

Lany Zhang