XP Pro: Search companion file missing

[Tommy Boomfiger]

whenever i try to do a file search in xp i get an error saying that a file needed for search compaion is missing and may need to be reinstalled. i havent seen anything which will install only the search compaion files. ive installed an update from ms which applies to the search tool but that hasnt fixed anything. any ideas on whats going on?

[Tommy Boomfiger]

im using tweakui for xp and i havent even run that application since i installed it a few months ago and this problem started about a week ago. also all the icons are checked in the desktop options in tweakui. thanks though

[seqiro]

Is this (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;q319949) what you tried already?

I also found this with a google usenet search:


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

The file that is missing, or corrupt, is one of two. BAR.XSL or
BALLOON.XSL (and/or other files in the same folder), depending on your
search preferences. These files are both normally located in the
Windows\srchasst\mui\0409 folder on your hard drive. These files may be
locally cached in the Temporary Internet Files, so this may explain why
some users have this problem "intermittently".

Fix: Open Explorer and go to the Windows\Inf folder. Locate the
srchasst.inf file. Right click it and select Install. You'll ned your XP
CD or the files from the I386 folder. (This fix will require you to have
your Win XP CD). Again, the Windows\Inf folder is a hidden folder.
You may need to adjust your Windows Explorer options to show hidden
files and folders. You can also click Start, Run and enter
%SystemRoot%\Inf to open directly to the Inf folder.

Hope this helps.