Can't search from Start menu

Hello!

I recently had to reinstall (complete/clean install) W-10, and ever since then I cannot search from Start. I open the Start menu as normal, either by clicking the icon or by pressing the Windows key on my keyboard, but when I press any key as I normally would to search the Start menu just goes away. This is INCREDIBLY annoying and I really need the search functionality back. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thank you!

Oh man, I completely forgot about that! Argh. I re-enabled that, tried searching, it worked, then I disabled it again and I can again search from the Start menu. Thank you so much!

Dang, I was wrong! Search worked that one time after I disabled the search button again, but it doesn't work now (again).

Possibly related(?): Even though my settings are set to have the Start menu display the most-used programs, nothing displays in that section--it's just always been blank. Is there perhaps a way to reset my Start menu altogether?