Sharepoint 2013 Search Service Credential Error

I am running SharePoint 2013 Foundation and all search return a basic "Sorry something went wrong" Message with a correlation ID.

I checked the event viewer and found a credentials error: 

SQL database login for 'Sharepoint_Search' on instance 'SERVER01' failed. Additional error information from SQL Server is included below.

Login failed for user 'DOMAIN\USER'.

i check the credentials and they are for sure correct. Also these credential log directly into the DB via SMSS without issues. I was able to recreate the error when I choose SQL credentials instead and then still try to log in with the windows credentials. So I think I have figure out that the service account for Search is trying to using SQL credential format, then sending the intended windows credentials. I have look into the search web_config and found an entry where I can change "Windows Creds" to True rather than false which It currently said, but even after clearing cache and rebooting I am still getting the same credential error.

1) Does anyone know if my assumptions are wrong about the authentication method being the source of the issue? 

1) is there a way to force the service authenticate using  Windows creds rather than SQL creds?