Just cannot get search_index to populate

I really need help from someone that understands how the search_index is built.

I imported a very large IP.Board site (~13,000 users, ~24,000 topics, ~380,000 posts) and the import went well.

Users are able to log in, read and post topics, read and post replies, etc and I'm so happy to be using Drupal.

However, I noticed my cron was stuck.

I researched that and found that most people say if you disable the search index cron will run so I tried it and sure enough cron runs great without search enabled.

I decreased the number of items to be added to the search index in cron to 10, and cron still will not run with search enabled.

I downloaded and installed the re-index module in hopes it would help build my search_index table but it gives the following error:
An HTTP error 0 occurred. /batch?id=23&op=do

I also attempted to index my site using drush, however it never moved to the next item and the output was:

Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]
Remaining items to be indexed: 23379 [ok]

How can I get my search index populated?

How can I even begin to troubleshoot this?

I really appreciate any help with this.