Windows XP Pro SP2 Search Malfunctioning

Whenever I try to keyword search for files on network drives, the search function, instead of spitting out links to the files themselves. It "fixed itself" (read: worked for a little while but I have no idea why or how) but now it's back to the same old.

Anyone know what's going on and how to fix it or, failing that, a decent 3rd-party freeware search tool that doesn't require admin permissions to install? (It's a work comp, and I need to pull up a different file every 15 seconds or so for the next few hours, so you can see my issue lol)

EDIT: Appears to be a network issue, not something on my comp alone. It amazes me that no-one else has ever needed to use windows search in my office lol.

Pic related

 

Not sure if this will work but go to C:\windows\inf, find srchasst.inf, right click and select "install". You may need the XP CD unless there is a local source on the HDD.

 

I don't have a "\inf" folder, but thanks anyway.