Windows 10: Missing "search" icon from taskbar & other issues after last update

Hi All,
After the recent 'Anniversary Update', I noticed that several things have either gone missing, or need to be re-set.
The first thing I noticed was that the icon for "Search", (the little magnifying glass icon), is missing from my taskbar.
How do I get it back?
The next issues are regarding 'Default' programs that I chose when I set everything up after the upgrade from 8.1 to 10.
One example is Microsoft decided to use Groove Music, thereby replacing MY default selection of Windows Media Player!
When I noticed that change, I knew that I should make sure my other settings were OK, but they also changed my choice for 'Maps' from my choice of Bing & replaced it with 'Maps.Windows'.
There are also several other additions to the Start Menu that weren't there before, so I decided that I should do the setup we all had to do before using 10 for the 1st time, but when I clicked on "Let's get Started", it's all about the Anniversary Upgrade!
How do I get to the original preference settings so I can make sure Microsoft didn't change anything else, especially the Privacy/Security settings?
I know for a fact that I disabled 'Error Reporting', but if I open something that doesn't work correctly, I get that message box with the green status bar stating that "Windows is searching for a solution"!
I've tried using the "Settings" thing, but it doesn't get me to the settings I'm concerned about, & when I went to "Control Panel", I wasn't able to change the 'Maps' default, or get rid of the 'Groove Music' choice & change it to WMP. so I just decided to ask the experts...YOU!
I appreciate any suggestions so I can get things back to the way I set it up, but please use LOTS of details!
Thanks for taking the time to read & respond to my problems. I really hope they don't make a habit of undoing my choices every time they do an upgrade...they're getting awfully pushy in their old age!
Oh, if anyone knows how to permanently & completely remove Cortana, X-Box, Skype, Phone & other additions I don't want, nor will I ever use, please include that info, too! If it's a registry thing, use even more details than might be necessary...I'm kinda nervous, but I'm not afraid of my PC...yet. LOL *Wink
Thanks in advance for your help!
All the Best,





:)

 

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1. the icon for "Search", (the little magnifying glass icon), is missing from my taskbar.
I'm not familiar with that on the taskbar, sorry. What did it do?
Do you mean rt click taskbar, click Show Cortana icon? (That's a circle).

2. Default programs.
I didn't find any changes in default programs when I did the upgrade.
However, you can always reset them. You can search the Tutorial section for 'default'. I've done it for you.
Default Apps - Choose in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
and for future ease of restoration:
Default App Associations - Export and Import for New Users in Windows - Windows 10 Forums

3. Start menu and privacy -

4. Problem Reporting
Disable/Enable Problem Reporting - Windows 10 Forums

5. Uninstalling apps - For those where this is supported in the start menu (e.g. Skype), right click the start menu entry, click Uninstall.

Note: a search engine could really be your best friend... and do feel free to use the Tutorial section. Have a look- lots of very clear sets of instructions with screenshots.
Windows 10 Tutorials

 

1607 will revert to 1511's looking glass icon if Cortana is disabled (eg. by following Brink's tutorial).
It could just be that it's set to 'hidden'. A right-click on an empty part of taskbar shows three options under Search/Cortana - hidden, show icon, and show search box.

 

Thanks Bree- never had cause to disable Cortana- I just don't use it!
(Try 'Hey Cortana, play some music' .... when you have no music configured in Groove..
'Sure, queueing up your music' she says cheerfully).

 

My favourite is to ask "Where is Siri?"

 

LOL!!!

Cheers

 

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