Browse internet from the search field of the start menu(Windows Vista, 7)

              The search field of the start menu makes it easy to operate Windows. However, a couple of useful commands and functions have now gone missing, for example an integrated web search.

              With help of the Start++ freeware, you can now augment the start menu with new configurable commands, which can now be executed from the prompt window. This way, you can search for queries easier or easily execute programs with administrator rights. The tool, which was initially developed for Vista, also functions perfectly well in Windows 7. To install this freeware, simply double-click on the MSI file and follow the subsequent instructions. The tool integrates itself in the system and remains active in the background by default. The program window is grouped in tabs. In ‘Command startlets’ you will find the predefi ned commands to execute certain programs or specific web search services. ‘Sudo’, the popular command in Unix, is very handy to quickly start a favourite program with high admin rights. Furthermore, it is also possible to define distinct codes, which can be later used to launch programs like Thunderbird. To enable it, enter ‘tb’ in the ‘Shortcut’ field and enter the program fetch with the path in the ‘Command’ field. Subsequently, defi ne a term for the command in ‘Name’ field; ‘Thunderbird’ in this case. Even prompts can be executed with with administrative rights. For example, a ‘cmdx’ code. In addition to executing ‘cmd.exe’, you must also activate the ‘Run elevated’ option. The next tab, ‘Search startlets’ defi nes complex commands for localized search tasks, which can be executed with help of script. Finally, in the ‘Start gadgets’ tab, you will find special commands that can perform simple web queries directly in the start menu. By simply entering ‘W ’ in the start menu, Windows shows Wikipedia results for the desired term directly in the start menu. Subsequently, pressing [Enter] opens the respective Wikipedia pages in the default browser. In addition, you can download predefined startlets/plugins and gadgets. A selection of these is available on ‘brandontools.com/files/5/default.aspx’. Note: There is a beta version of the program is optimized for Windows 7. You can download it from ‘brandontools.com/content/StartPlusPlus.aspx’.