Taskbar/Cortana search window...

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  1. Cr00zng
    Posts : 750
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bits
       New #1

    Taskbar/Cortana search window...


    With the 1809 update, the taskbar search window changed:

    Taskbar/Cortana search window...-initial-search.jpg

    The width of the initial search window is doubled in size. Is there a way to reduce the width to what it used to be in 1803? Or at the very least, is there a way to change the background color for this window? It's a jarring change, when the background switches to white once the search term entered...

    The other issue is disabling web search. I have two systems, both with 1809 version. One includes web search:

    Taskbar/Cortana search window...-1809-web-search.jpg

    The other does not:

    Taskbar/Cortana search window...-1809-search-no-web.jpg

    Admittedly, I probably changed search settings awhile ego, but cannot remember what I did. The tutorial below did not help:

    Turn On or Off Search online and include web results in Windows 10 | Tutorials

    Any idea how to disable Cortana web search? Blocking both Cortana and Edge access to the the web would probably cause more issues than it's worth for...

    TIA...
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 42,985
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Hi, you might try this (not compared it with the tutorial- I'll leave that to you)
    Taskbar/Cortana search window...-1.jpg

    and here's the link shown:
    How to disable web search in Windows 10 taskbar

    MS changed the display format of Cortana- they experimented with that with some users, then that disappeared; presumably it's back again now.

    Note that if you were to choose to use Open Shell start menu (free) as many do here, that has a much more configurable search box. You can still use (or not) Cortana and the Win 10 start menu.
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  4. Cr00zng
    Posts : 750
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bits
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    Thanks dalchina...

    Winaero didn't disable web search either.

    The system where Cortana cannot be disabled has Windows 10 Pro "N" version, while the other has Windows 10 Pro. In the "N" version Cortana does not work in the taskbar, until the multimedia pack is installed. Could that be the limiting factor in disabling Cortana? I don't recall, if this had been the source of the issue in the previous version.

    Blocking both Cortana and Edge outbound access does work, of course:

    Taskbar/Cortana search window...-cortana-fw.jpg

    The search results still display the suggested web link(s) and opens Edge, if clicked on. Edge displays the "Hmmm...can’t reach this page" error message. Using the firewall for this purpose is way over the board and may cause issues down the road. It's certainly not the preferred way doing this....
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  6. dalchina
    Posts : 42,985
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #4

    Sorry, I know nothing special about the N edition for Europe in this respect. I gather it wasn't especially popular, which might make it harder to find relevant posts.

    Cortana was excluded as you know:

    https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4039813/media-feature-pack-for-windows-10-n-october-2017
    https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/...0-n-april-2018
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  7. essenbe
    Posts : 12,801
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #5

    This should explain it as well as how to install the missing features. The N edition is the European version and missing some media features. Download and Install Media Feature Pack for N Editions of Windows 10 | Tutorials
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  8. dalchina
    Posts : 42,985
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #6

    @essenbe - the OP has done that- the problem is subsequent to that- being unable to then disable web search from Cortana
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  9. essenbe
    Posts : 12,801
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #7

    dalchina said:
    @essenbe - the OP has done that- the problem is subsequent to that- being unable to then disable web search from Cortana
    OK, thanks. I guess I should read it closer.
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  10. roy111
    Posts : 668
    Win 10 pro
       New #8

    Cr00zng said:
    The other issue is disabling web search.
    O&O Shutup10 does the job.
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  12. Cr00zng
    Posts : 750
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bits
    Thread Starter
       New #9

    Changed SSID to SID...


    roy111 said:
    O&O Shutup10 does the job.
    No, it does not, at least not for the W10 "N" version.

    Neither does the widely quoted registry tweak of:

    Code:
    [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
„BingSearchEnabled“=dword:00000000„
AllowSearchToUseLocation“=dword:00000000
„CortanaConsent“=dword:00000000

    I started to wonder, if there are other registry locations where Cortana is being controlled. One of the location I've looked is the "Computer\HKEY_USERS", where I found my SID. And sure enough, there's settings for the "Search" as well. Quickly modified the settings there to, no admin access required:

    Code:
    Computer\HKEY_USERS\"My SID*"\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search]
„BingSearchEnabled“=dword:00000000„
AllowSearchToUseLocation“=dword:00000000
„CortanaConsent“=dword:00000000
"My SID" = to the actual logged on SID

    After rebooting the system, entering the the search term in taskbar shows this:

    Taskbar/Cortana search window...-cortanan.jpg

    No more web results, even with the firewall not blocking Cortana and Edge.

    Cortana can be disabled with registry key for the W10 Pro "N" version, just use "    Computer\HKEY_USERS\Your SID" registry hive...
    Last edited by Cr00zng; 19 Nov 2018 at 10:31.
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  13. roy111
    Posts : 668
    Win 10 pro
       New #10

    Maybe I don't have the N version, how do I check?
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