Windows 10: The screen-gobbling huge black box that opens when I put my cursor in the search box.

How do I get rid of this monstrosity that showed up with the last update? It covers a quarter of my screen and is totally useless. What idiot designed something to tell me things I already know like the last few apps I used? Dumb. DUMB.

:)

 

Cortana search box is now huge

I have noticed that whilst my search box is OK the actual size of Cortana black box is twice the size... mine used to be the same as the search box as shown by the arrow, now twice the size.. seems to have happened last night... was this part of the latest update?

 

search box

Hi,

Thank you for posting your query on Microsoft Community.

I appreciate your interest in Windows 10.We sincerely regret for the inconvenience caused.

I suggest you to follow the below steps and check if are able to find search box.

• 
  Right click on the task bar.
  
• 
  Go to Cortana.
  
• 
  Click on show search box.
  

Now check if you are able to find search box.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

Thank you.

 

Cortana search box is now huge

I have the same problem. The problem is not the search box but the search area in start menu. I recently had to create myself a new user with all new settings and well it came with this. Funny enough, same day I install Win10 to my laptop and it does not have this problem...

In addition if I open the start menu and type name of a program, it shows me some options on the right side and even recently opened files by that program etc. I want it gone. But how? How can I shrink it back?

I already have BingSearchEnabled set to 0 so I don't see web suggestions and what not.