Windows Explorer search function broken -- no files found

I have Windows 2000, SP 4. A couple months back, I had some sort
of registry problem after I put the machine into Hibernate mode
during an automated Windows Update process (did not notice). When
I brought machine back the next day, I had lost internet access
and miscellaneous networking capability, as well as the ability to
do file search (F3 key) in Windows Explorer (it finds no files...
e.g., I say to show me all files with the word "vacation" in the
filename, and it says there are none).

I had a local PC shop fix the registry--not something I want to
deal with--and got everything back except the search capability.
But I really miss it now. So today I shared my personal files
directory over my network and mounted it on a new Windows XP machine,
figuring something was broken in the search capability on my Windows
2000 machine. But doing searches on the mounted directory still
yields the same problem--no files found. So I am wondering if
there is something in the metadata in my Windows 2000 file system
that is broken, and if I can fix it.

Any ideas?