Start Menu Missing Items
"All of a sudden, the Run and Search options are missing from the Windows XP Start Menu. What caused this, and how can I get them back?"
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What caused it? Probably evil gnomes... or an errant cosmic ray. Here's one way to fix it:
- Right-click on the Start button
- Click on Properties
- Select the Start Menu tab
- Press the Customize button
- Select the Advanced tab
- Scroll down through the Start menu items list
- Check the box next to Search and/or Run
- Press OK twice
If that doesn't work because the item was already checked, then UNcheck it, press OK, go back in and then REcheck it. Some people report this works for them. If you still don't the menu item back, and you're on a Windows 2000 system, try this to get your Run button back:
- Use Windows Explorer to find gpedit.msc (probably c:\winnt\system32\gpedit.msc) then double click on it to launch the Group Policy Editor.
- Go to User configuration -> Administrative Templates -> Start Menu & Toolbar
- Double click on Remove Run from start menu
- Select Disable, then press OK
It might sound backwards, but there's a double negative there... You're disabling the removal of the the Run button.
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Posted by Bob Rankin on September 26, 2006 03:15 AM
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Article information: AskBobRankin -- Start Menu Missing Items (Posted: September 26, 2006 03:15 AM)
Printed from: http://askbobrankin.com/start_menu_missing_items.html
Copyright © 2005 - Bob Rankin - All Rights Reserved
Most recent comments on "Start Menu Missing Items"
(See all 12 comments for this article.)Posted by:
rajeev
22 Nov 2007
thanks this article solved my problem.
it is a virus. run,search and task manager will not be opened you will be stripped of your administrator's account and your system joins a workgroup all without your permission
Posted by:
ritzkiss
31 May 2008
I tried the above solution but when I open the Start menu items list... run and search are not there to check or uncheck. Solutions?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Maybe a System Restore can help. Do you remember when they disappeared?
Posted by:
xiaomek
18 Jun 2008
Wow, it is great. Your steps are short and clear. Thanks a lot. Now I can find my search button from the start menu already!!
Posted by:
Jean
26 Jun 2008
I can't find Search and/or Run on the Start menu items list. What should I do?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Read the article, and follow the instructions. Or did you already try that?
Posted by:
Sue
19 Sep 2008
when i go to start my search is not there. i used to go there to search files now there is a search with a magnifying glass there instead. how can i get the old one back.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Search option is supposed to have a magnifying glass next to it...
Posted by:
abuturab
08 Oct 2008
sir the search options keeps on disappearing from the start menu.. and now it has permanently disappeared from the start menu. and when i go to start menu = properties= customize => advance => (the search button is not present in the start menu item's list ) .. the search option is not present there to check or uncheck ...? what to do ..?
Posted by:
Jack
14 Jan 2009
Thanks. I have never had the "run" option in my start menu, so anytime you had to use it I obviously couldn't. I asked many people and the answer had always been I'd need to re-install XP and loose everything else. Today a friend told me about this web site and I immediately was able to fix it with simply checking s box saved many hours of work.
Posted by:
eben
13 Feb 2009
None of the 2 solutions above work for me, all those options are missing :-( run, search, folder options, system restore says its disabled by the admin, thats me.. PLEASE HELP!!!
EDITOR'S NOTE: Are you logged in as an Admin user?
Posted by:
chetan
30 Apr 2009
search option is missing in start menu.when i go to start menu = properties= customize => advance => (the search button is not present in the start menu item's list ) .. the search option is not present there to check or uncheck ...? what to do ..?
Posted by:
Dan Barnhart
18 Jul 2009
I like a couple of others there went to check the search and run but it is missing. And to top that off my restore does not restore on any of the high lighted dates. I can use a restore with system suite but then my adobe icons don't look right and wants to know what program to open with. Adobe is not on that list. When I tried to reinstall Adobe I got the message "the paging file is to small for this operation to complete. So I keep this setup here so my adobe works. What a mess.