One of the cool things about Windows Vista and Windows 7 is the ability to search for files or programs by typing a few characters in the start menu which springs up when one clicks the shiny Windows orb on the bottom left hand corner of the screen.

This is the default view you get when you search for something

No internet search option

While this is brilliant way to get to the needed file and programs, what is missing is the ability to be able to search the whole internet by typing into the same box. Fortunately we can change this fairly easily. This post will show you how to!

Adding Internet Search to Windows 7

Step 1

Begin by clicking the Windows orb and type gpedit.msc as shown in below picture

Step 2

Clicking the Group Policy Editor (or gpedit.msc) from Step 2 will open up the following Window. When this loads, navigate to the folder

User Configuration/Administrative Templates/Start Menu and Taskbar

Load up the Group Policy Editor

Double-click the Add Search Internet Link to Start Menu entry to get to the proper configuration screen. This will bring up the picture in the following step.

Step 3

This is the screen you should be seeing after following steps 1 and 2.

click Enabled

Click the option marked “Enable” and then click the OK button.

All Done!

Now if you click the Windows orb again and type something, you should see the option to conduct internet search. It is so amazingly simple to bring the power of Internet Search right from within your Windows 7 Laptop’s start menu!

Internet Search Available!

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