Where is the Win7 style Start Menu's Search box?

ksdixon

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I hate going to the Start Screen, typing whatever it is that I'm looking for, and not having the search results immediately displayed for me like they were in windows 7. In Windows 8 I now have to use my mouse to go to the right side of the screen and toggle the search result between apps, settings, or files. Very, Very Frustrating.

In Windows 7 I could type in utorrent and press enter on my keybord, if that's what i was looking for, instead of having to type utorrent.exe. And because it was the first search result it would then open the program (or file etc.) that I was looking for automatically.

I thought perhaps the run command was the input box I needed, but it wasn't.
 

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System One

  • OS
    windows 8
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    PC/Desktop
You can type right on the new Start screen and it shows whatever.

The reason you can't find "utorrent" is because that's not actually a "u" - it's the symbol for "micro" as in >>> µTorrent

Other than that, you can use Explorer to search in the top right field. Just make sure whatever you are looking for is at a lower directory than where you are.

For example, it will not find something on C:\Windows when you are on drive D:
 

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It has gone.

Much mourned.

Closest I have found is the search box in Start Menu 7

startmenu7 also includes a search icon - you don't want that because it sends you back to the ghastly window full of squares.

You can remove the search icon from start menu 7 - just click the minus button and remove it from the list.
 

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
It's not such a bad thing quite honestly. It's a different way to search. The Start Screen will show ALL of your installed apps and programs if you right click and select All apps. Even then, I think the search on the Start Screen is somewhat better than 7's because you can filter out your search results through apps, files, or settings. But things can be improved.
 

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utorrent was a bad example. I know sometimes it can be difficult to find because the first character isn't a real 'u'. Can't think of a app, file or setting right now that would illustrate the problem. All I know is that on Windows 7's Start Menu Search Bar I could type in the name of something and weather it was a setting page from control panel, a file on my hardrive or software program, it would turn up in the results, and I could just click enter on my keyboard. Made for real fast productivity. Contrast this with Windows 8's Start Screen and at best I type in the name of something, and I have to use my mouse to select ap/file/setting, which is a bit ridiculous.

Thanks to those whom suggested Start Menu 7, but it's not really my thing. I wasn't able to pin items to it or drag/drop items onto it like I used-to with the Win7 Start Menu.

I am intrigued, Coke Robot (awesome name by the way), with what you said about right-clicking the start screen and having it display all results? I can't seem to get that to work. Can you elaborate?
 

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Win + X has a Search and Run as well as many other System Maintenance Tools.
 

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Thanks to those whom suggested Start Menu 7, but it's not really my thing. I wasn't able to pin items to it

The plus and minus buttons are for adding and removing items to start menu 7 - anything you like.

Addtostartmenu7.jpg
 

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  • OS
    7/8/ubuntu/Linux Deepin
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Source: Designing search for the Start screen - Building Windows 8 - Site Home - MSDN Blogs

2677.Windows_5F00_65A3BA49.png
and type
Apps search​
7875.Windows_5F00_73760044.png
+W
Settings search​
2260.Windows_5F00_6C56C3CC.png
+F
Files search​
Figure 11: Windows 8 Start search keyboard shortcuts

You've got to be kidding me!

There is no way to search through apps, settings and files at the same time from the Start Screen and have the results displayed together?

Right now I need to either use my mouse or the up/down arrow keys and then enter key to select which category of results I require. Or remember the above keyboard shortcuts instead. That's completely un-needed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Lilsting,

You would do this from the Search charm instead now for this. When you type what you want to search for, you will see your search results for it under the Apps, Settings, and Files categories. All you have to do is click on each one to see the search results. It's practically together, but just broken down into the different Apps, Settings, and Files sections instead. See step 7 in OPTION ONE of the tutorial below for more on this if you like.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4595-search-windows-8-a.html
 

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    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
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I can think of an example where the win 8 search fails compared to the win 7 search, "Windows Remote Assistance". Providing that you know the filename is msra.exe a charm search will find this in the Apps section of the search results. In Windows 7 you just typed Windows Remote Assistance and there is was in the results. This is going to be a real pain in the ass if you know what the full name for a program is but don't know the executable filename :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8
Lilsting,

You would do this from the Search charm instead now for this. When you type what you want to search for, you will see your search results for it under the Apps, Settings, and Files categories. All you have to do is click on each one to see the search results. It's practically together, but just broken down into the different Apps, Settings, and Files sections instead. See step 7 in OPTION ONE of the tutorial below for more on this if you like.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4595-search-windows-8-a.html

Yeah, I understand this. I don't really want to remember a specific keyboard shortcut when launching the start screen (Win+F to search files, for example), nor do I want to launch the start screen normally, search for the item I require, and then press up/down and enter to select my item type (ap/setting/file).

Compared to Windows 7 which was one press of the Win key, and begin typing the item (usually a file name). This would bring it up straight away, so once I had typed enough letters to have the file/program/setting I wanted become the top search result returned, I would immediately tap enter on the keyboard and be on my way. I know it probably seems like such a small thing to quibble over, but it really does irk me about Windows 8...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Yeah,

Yeah, I understand this. I don't really want to remember a specific keyboard shortcut when launching the start screen (Win+F to search files, for example), nor do I want to launch the start screen normally, search for the item I require, and then press up/down and enter to select my item type (ap/setting/file).

Compared to Windows 7 which was one press of the Win key, and begin typing the item (usually a file name). This would bring it up straight away, so once I had typed enough letters to have the file/program/setting I wanted become the top search result returned, I would immediately tap enter on the keyboard and be on my way. I know it probably seems like such a small thing to quibble over, but it really does irk me about Windows 8...

You're not "wrong" for feeling like this, but any decent pc setup doesn't require searching or typing for anything.

i.e.: Start menu, Rocketdock, Quick Launch, folder on desktop with shortcuts to all apps, superbar pinned items etc....
 

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Stardock Start8 has a search box as well.
 

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    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
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