Windows 10: windows 10 taskbar search box tiny image ABOVE the word "search" -- is this malware?

At the same time as the pictures at the right end of the search box in the taskbar appeared, about a week agok an image that looks like an insect, about the height of the lower case text of the prompt "Type here to search," appeared above the "s" in the text. This did NOT GO AWAY when any of the recommended fixes were applied, although they did remove, reinstall, and remove the FULL SIZE pictures on the right end of the box. The "fly" as I call it stayed through all of these "fixes," even restarting the entire computer. Moving the taskbar to either side or the top removed the "fly" from the

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Search box on taskbar missing.

Hi John,

This issue with search box may happen if it's hidden from the taskbar.

To resolve the issue, follow the steps below:

• Right-click on the taskbar and select Search.
• Select Show search box.

Feel free to post back if you have other concerns.

 

No search box on taskbar

Hi Keith,

Thank you for posting your response in Microsoft Community.

I understand your concern about search box in Windows 10.

Please try the below and check if you can see search bar on taskbar:

Steps:

• Right click on Taskbar, move the mouse cursor on to
  Search option.
• Select Show Search icon (You will see Search icon beside Start)
• Select Show search bar (You will see Search bar beside Start)

Check with the above and let us know if it helps, we will be happy to help you.

 

Windows 10 Search box

Which instructions are you suggesting I missed? There is no search icon. Right clicking the taskbar shows no search option. The "small characters" or icons trick did nothing. The regedit thing:
Follow these steps to turn on the hidden search box:

• Open regedit
• Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Search
• Inside the search key, create the new DWORD value named EnableSearchBox and set it to 1
• Restart your computer or simply Explorer Shell

Did not give me a search option that I can find.

So in at least MY version of windows 10 there is no search box I can find that will allow me to search my own computer to find possible misplaced files.

So what are the instructions?