Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

a.translator · Apr 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 · Apr 20, 2008

Hi A.Translator,

Welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

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 · Apr 20, 2008

Brink said:
[...]
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 · Apr 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 · Apr 20, 2008

Brink said:
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 · Jun 1, 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 · Jun 1, 2008

Hi Dave,

Welcome to Vista Forums. :party:

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 · Jun 1, 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 · Jun 1, 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

SPRINGSTEEL · Jun 1, 2008

From an unbiosed perspective and not to elaborate on the pros and cons of the Right Hand Search Button I could tell anyone who uses it freaquently that my method to restore it is unsurpassed although technically there is a chance that explorer.exe v.6001 may be improved even though it lacks the seach button.

DAVE

Dwarf · Jun 1, 2008

Hi Dave,

I'm sorry, but I cannot recommend your method for restoring the button. Your method involves replacing the version of the file installed with SP1 with its predecessor. This is not recommended, as other files which were updated at the same time rely on this file being the correct version as they might not work correctly otherwise. In addition, future updates may require that ALL system files such as these are the SP1 versions (and will probably offer the SP1 update if they aren't), but if some are and some aren't - as will be the case with your method - you might throw up a validation check issue or even a genuine windows issue. It just isn't worth the risk.
Dwarf

Brink · Jun 1, 2008

SPRINGSTEEL said:
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

I agree Dave. Shame on Microsoft for backing down on something so trivial.

It is a better option to do what you suggested as long as Microsoft doesn't do any more updates to the explore.exe file, and if the user has not used the SP1 Disk Cleanup Tool already.

Other options are always welcomed to help give folks a choice.

Shawn

SPRINGSTEEL · Jun 1, 2008

Dwaf, both files are genuine versions of explorer.exe. As for the legality of using one instead of another: I payed for both. The downloading and installation of updates and activation will not be affeccted by replacing one payed-for genuine file with another.

a.translator · Jun 2, 2008

SPRINGSTEEL said:
To restore the search button wthout losing the run or help and support button you simply open the start menu and type "explorer.exe" without the quotes in the search box. If the seach says no results [...]
DAVE

Thanks, Dave. I typed in explorer.exe in the search box and it did find it and opened up the Search window, but no button has appeared on the right hand side of the start menu.

Brink · Jun 2, 2008

Hi Adriana,

Did you also check the Search box in the Start menu's Customize window?
See the second example in this tutorial above for where to do this at.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

a.translator · Jun 2, 2008

Brink said:
Hi Adriana,

Did you also check the Search box in the Start menu's Customize window?
See the second example in this tutorial above for where to do this at.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks for your very quick reply, Shawn. I don't see a Search box in the Customize window.

Brink · Jun 2, 2008

Well Adriana, the explorer.exe option was worth a try. You can still use one of the options in the tutorial to replace either the Help and Support or Run button with Search instead in the Start menu.

Shawn

a.translator · Jun 2, 2008

Brink said:
Well Adriana, the explorer.exe option was worth a try. You can still use one of the options in the tutorial to replace either the Help and Support or Run button with Search instead in the Start menu.
Shawn

I have done that. See the very first reply in this thread ;-)

Brink · Jun 2, 2008

Doh!

LOL

Search Start Menu Button - Restore after SP1

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