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Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

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Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1
How to Restore the Start Menu Search Button after Installing the Vista SP1
Published by Brink
04-09-2008

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

INFO: 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:
1. How to Open and Change Search Options in Vista

2. How to Enable or Disable Search Index in Vista

3. How to Use the Indexing Options in Vista

4. How to Use the Find Window to Find Text on a Page

5. How to Change the Internet Explorer 7 Search Box Settings in Vista

6. How to Use Advanced Search Options in Vista

7. How to Restore the Search Context Menu Item after Installing the Vista SP1

8. How to Create a Search Desktop Shortcut on Vista

9. How to Enable or Disable the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window in Vista

10. How to Restore Missing Default Start Menu Shortcuts in Vista


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

Before_SP1.jpgAfter_SP1.jpg

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

Customize_Start_Menu_afterSP1.jpgReplaced_Run_Customize_Start_Menu.jpg


OPTION ONE:
Replace Help and Support with Search:

1. To Replace Help and Support with Search -
A) Replace_Help_with_Search.reg < Click To Download

2. To Restore Help and Support -
A) Restore_Help.reg < Click To Download

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 for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. Logoff and logon, 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)

Replaced_Help.jpg


OPTION TWO:
Replace Run with Search:

1. To Replace Run with Search -
A) Replace_Run_with_Search.reg < Click To Download

2. To Restore Run -
A) Restore_Run.reg < Click To Download

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 for Security Warning pop-up.
6. Click on Continue (UAC), Yes, and then OK when prompted.
7. Logoff and logon, 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)

Replaced_Run.jpg


That's it,
Shawn
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Old 04-20-2008  
a.translator
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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 03:34 AM.
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Old 04-20-2008  
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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

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Old 04-20-2008  
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Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

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[...]
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 05:33 AM.
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Old 04-20-2008  
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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.

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Old 04-20-2008  
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Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

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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.
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Old 06-01-2008  
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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 01:51 AM.
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Old 06-01-2008  
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Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

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

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Old 06-01-2008  
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Re: Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

Brink, if you are concerned about the loss of updates to the explore.exe,I could assure you that the explorer file is a basic file that was 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. 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 installing a service pack by losing the most important service components to a complete O.S. I have bean able to preform many advanced seaches quickly and conveniantly while retaing the help and support as well as the run box both of wich I cherish. It would be a shame if the custumer had to sacrifice one option for another in what would result in a rollback or even a downgrade. One more thing to add, the procedure I outlined requiers no modifications to the registry. This a definate advantage in order to maintane stability without a needless registry hack that would only reduce explorer's performance.

DAVE

Last edited by SPRINGSTEEL; 06-01-2008 at 03:56 PM.
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Old 06-01-2008  
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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.
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