In Windows Vista Service Pack 1, the Search option on the right side of the Start menu, and the Search context menu are removed. Someone at Microsoft thought this was a brilliant concept and probably promoted to managent. This type forward thinking, once again, demostrates why Apple continues to dominate technology and Microsoft, again, shoots themself in the foot. Anyway... Although there are other ways to launch Search, many users, such as myself, are accustomed to the Search link in the Start menu.

You can restore the Search option back, but only at the expense of an existing link in the Start menu. For example, by altering certain registry values, you can replace the Help and Support link in the Start menu with the Search option.

Option 1: Replace Help and Support with Search

Download smsearch_vista_sp1.zip and save the file to your Desktop. Unzip the file and extract the .REG file to your Desktop. Right-click on the .REG file and choose Merge. Click Yes when asked for confirmation. Logoff and login back so that the Start menu is updated. The Search link should be visible in the Start menu, which when clicked, should launch the default search application configured in your system.

Note: You can still launch the Help and Support by clicking Start, All Programs, Maintenance, Help and Support. Or click on an empty area on the Desktop and press the F1 key to launch Help.

Undo information: To undo the above tweak, download smhelp_vista_sp1.zip, unzip the file and run the .REG file enclosed. Logoff and login back. Help and Support link in the Start menu should be available.

Option 2: Replace the Run command with Search

Download smsearch2_vista_sp1.zip and save the file to your Desktop. Unzip the file and extract the .REG file to your Desktop. Right-click on the .REG file and choose Merge. Click Yes when asked for confirmation. Logoff and login back so that the Start menu is updated. The Search link should be visible in the Start menu, which when clicked, should launch the default search application configured in your system.

Note: You can still launch the Run command using the WinKey + R key sequence.

Undo information: To undo the above tweak, download smrun_vista_sp1.zip, unzip the file and run the .REG file enclosed. Logoff and login back. Help and Support link in the Start menu should be available.