Getting the Start Menu back in Windows 8

Finally, a taste of Windows 8. Today I installed the Windows 8 Developer preview. My first impression, once I got to the desktop, was “Where is my search bar?” For those of you who have attended one of my classes, you know how much I like that search bar. Here is how you get it back.

Get to the run command by pressing the Windows key + R. If you are experimenting with Windows 8 in a virtual machine, open the task manager. Under File click New Task (Run…)

Type Regedit.

Browse to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

Change the value of RPEnabled from 1 to 0.

Close the Registry Editor and you should have you Windows 7 Start menu back. Perform a reboot when you get a chance.

(Note: This was tested on the Developer Preview)

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Jason Yoder, MCT

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