Vista Tutorial - Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

**Brink** · **OPTION ONE:**

How to Restore the Start Menu Search Button after Installing the Vista SP1

Information

When you install the Vista SP1 it will remove the Search button option from the Start menu. This will show you how to restore the Search button on the right dark side of the Start menu after you installed the Vista SP1.

NOTE

You will be adding Search button back to the right dark side of the Start menu by replacing either the Help and Support button or Run button with Search. If you prefer to not replace either one of these, then you can create a Search shortcut and Pin it to the left side of the Start menu instead. See: How to Create a Search Desktop Shortcut on Vista

RELATED LINKS:

EXAMPLE: Search button in the Start Menu Before and After Installing the Vista SP1

EXAMPLE: Search option in the Customize Start Menu window after Vista SP1
NOTE: The left screenshot is after installing the Vista SP1. The right screenshot is after you replaced either Run command or Help and Support with Search. This will show you how to enter the Customize Start Menu window: How to Customize the Start Menu in Vista

OPTION ONE:
Replace Help and Support with Search

1. To Replace Help and Support with Search -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Replace_Help_with_Search.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Restore Help and Support -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Restore_Help.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.

5. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

9. Your Start menu will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

OPTION TWO:
Replace Run with Search

1. To Replace Run with Search -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Replace_Run_with_Search.reg file.

B) Go to step 3.

2. To Restore Run -
A) Click on the download button below to download the Restore_Run.reg file.

3. Click on Save, and save the .reg file to the Desktop.

4. Right click the .reg (On Desktop) file and click Merge.

5. Click on the Run button in the Security Warning pop-up.

6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.

7. Log off and log on, or restart the computer to apply the changes.

8. When done, you can delete the .reg file (On Desktop).

9. Your Start menu will now look like this. (See screenshot below)

That's it,
Shawn

**a.translator** · 04-20-2008

I replaced Run with Search using your reg file on my Dutch OS. That worked fine, I got Search back (in Dutch). Then I changed my mind and decided to put Run back, using your restore file. This failed: I now have neither Search nor Run in the right dark side.
General question: Is it safe to use the register edits on a non-English OS? Specific question: Is there another way for me to get Run back?
Thanks, by the way, for your very clear and useful tutorials.

**Brink** · 04-20-2008

Hi A.Translator,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

Nice catch you made with the reg file. It was a switch setting in the restore reg file that was set to turn off Run instead of turn on Run automatically. It changed the button back to Run, but left it turned off instead of on. I updated the download to correct this.

You can either check Run again in the Start menu Customize menu, or download the updated Restore_Run.reg file to correct this error.

Sorry about this,
Shawn

**a.translator** · 04-20-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

[...]
You can either check Run again in the Start menu Customize menu

Thanks for your very quick and helpful reply! I should have thought of customizing the Start Menu myself.

In this case it was obviously ok to use your script on a non-English OS. Do you know if this is true of all reg edit scripts?

**Brink** · 04-20-2008

Usually they will be ok, but I'm sure that there will be one that just does not translate well somewhere.

**a.translator** · 04-20-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Brink

Usually they will be ok, but I'm sure that there will be one that just does not translate well somewhere.

Ok, I'll be careful then.

**SPRINGSTEEL** · 06-01-2008

Just replace the sp1 version of "explorer.exe" with the previous vesion you had before installing sp1 and the search button will be restored without losing any other buttons or modifying the registry.
Log off and back on for the change to take effect.

**Brink** · 06-01-2008

Hi Dave,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

That is a great tip, but you will also lose any other updates to the explorer.exe file from the SP1 with that method.

I suppose it depends on what is more important to the user.

Thank you again for the tip,
Shawn

**SPRINGSTEEL** · 06-01-2008

EDIT: Very true, explore.exe v.6001 is newer then v.6000 and may have improved seceurity and preformance which should be considered before swaping the new with the old although I haven't noticed any loss of preformance since I replaced it.
On the other hand my guess it's the same file version but modified due to Googles anti-trust legal push to incorperate their search engine into the Micrsoft UI thus making their search a more obvious choice, so shame on Microsoft for backing down to Google in this manner by allowing third party companies to trespass on thier interface. This does a diservice to the end user who should expect more from an operating system. It is my opinion that the user should not be punished for for installing a service pack by losing important service components in what would result in a rollback or even a downgrade.

**Dwarf** · 06-01-2008

Hi everyone,

Personally, I don't miss this feature as I have always used the 'Start Search' area on the left hand side of the default start menu. There are options to 'Search Everywhere' and 'Search the Internet' if required.
Dwarf

04-20-2008
a.translator Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Vista Home Premium SP1 32bit (non-English version) 16 posts	Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1 I replaced Run with Search using your reg file on my Dutch OS. That worked fine, I got Search back (in Dutch). Then I changed my mind and decided to put Run back, using your restore file. This failed: I now have neither Search nor Run in the right dark side. General question: Is it safe to use the register edits on a non-English OS? Specific question: Is there another way for me to get Run back? Thanks, by the way, for your very clear and useful tutorials. Last edited by a.translator; 04-20-2008 at 04:34 AM..
My System Specs

04-20-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,805 posts	Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1 Hi A.Translator, Welcome to Vista Forums. Nice catch you made with the reg file. It was a switch setting in the restore reg file that was set to turn off Run instead of turn on Run automatically. It changed the button back to Run, but left it turned off instead of on. I updated the download to correct this. You can either check Run again in the Start menu Customize menu, or download the updated Restore_Run.reg file to correct this error. Sorry about this, Shawn
My System Specs

04-20-2008
a.translator Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Vista Home Premium SP1 32bit (non-English version) 16 posts	Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1 Quote: Originally Posted by Brink [...] You can either check Run again in the Start menu Customize menu Thanks for your very quick and helpful reply! I should have thought of customizing the Start Menu myself. In this case it was obviously ok to use your script on a non-English OS. Do you know if this is true of all reg edit scripts? Last edited by a.translator; 04-20-2008 at 06:33 AM..
My System Specs

04-20-2008
Brink Administrator Join Date: Apr 2007 Vista x64 Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 (7600) x64 25,805 posts	Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1 Usually they will be ok, but I'm sure that there will be one that just does not translate well somewhere.
My System Specs

04-20-2008
a.translator Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Vista Home Premium SP1 32bit (non-English version) 16 posts	Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1 Quote: Originally Posted by Brink Usually they will be ok, but I'm sure that there will be one that just does not translate well somewhere. Ok, I'll be careful then.
My System Specs

06-01-2008
SPRINGSTEEL Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Vista Ultimate 32 5 posts	Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1 Just replace the sp1 version of "explorer.exe" with the previous vesion you had before installing sp1 and the search button will be restored without losing any other buttons or modifying the registry. Log off and back on for the change to take effect. Last edited by SPRINGSTEEL; 06-04-2008 at 02:51 AM..
My System Specs

06-01-2008
Dwarf The Contemplator Join Date: Mar 2008 Vista Home Premium 32-bit & Vista Ultimate 64-bit both Service Pack 2 W7 Pro RTM 7600 32 & 64 2,125 posts	Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1 Hi everyone, Personally, I don't miss this feature as I have always used the 'Start Search' area on the left hand side of the default start menu. There are options to 'Search Everywhere' and 'Search the Internet' if required. Dwarf
My System Specs

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