If you cannot create a SharePoint Search Application in Central Admin and see this message.

Clear the cache as explained here!

1. Open the Services.msc panel, and then look for the SharePoint Timer Service.
2. Stop this service.
3. Open Windows Explorer, and then navigate to the cache folder at: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\SharePoint\Config.
4. Look for the most recent cache folder, and then open it.
5. Delete all files in this folder EXCEPT cache.ini.
6. Open the cache.ini file in a text editor, and then randomly modify the number, but keep it at the same number of digits.
7. Save the cache.ini file.
8. Start the SharePoint Timer Service.
9. Open a command prompt as Administrator.
10. Run the following command: Psconfig.exe -cmd upgrade -inplace b2b -wait -force
11. Check the Upgrade Status.