Replace start menu search performance feedback (spoiler: unreliable)

[DavidBevi]

Replace start menu search is what I was looking for. I just downloaded Everything Toolbar for this feature alone, knowing it's an experimental feature. Therefore I don't want to complain, but to give my feedback to hopefully improve Everything Toolbar.

• I have fully read the README, the FAQ, the ISSUES, and found nothing relevant. I have provided detailed, clear information in all required fields above and put genuine effort into this bug report.
• EverythingToolbar v2.1.1.0 - Search icon / Launcher
• Everything v1.4.1
• Windows 11 Pro 25H2

Windows 11 Pro (25H2)

Text input

Pressing win and typing is 90% reliable, but sometimes the first few characters are not typed in ET's search window, and sometimes ET's search window begins opening but suddenly disappears (it seems to me that the animation doesn't complete, but it's too fast to judge).

Also sometimes the start menu grabs the typed text even though ET's search window should intercept it; when this happens I press win again to open the start menu again, expecting the failed-interception to be solved, but it doesn't; the start menu has to be fully closed, otherwise ET's search window will never receive the typed text.

Window drawing

Normally, with the start menu open and nothing typed, pressing win closes the start menu: with TE this only works sometimes, most of the times the start menu immediately reopens with ET's search window underneath. This ET's search window sometimes closes immediately and sometimes stays.

When it stays typing is also inconsistent, sometimes start menu closes and ET's search window receives the text only after the start menu closing animation finishes, sometimes the text is taken immediately and fully but the start menu doesn't disappear, hiding ET's search window.

There are also times where the second win press correctly closes the start menu but also wrongly summons ET's search window.

Same + Explorer Patcher  ^{start menu = W10   -   taskbar = W10 (EP)}

All of the above, especially the last one where I press win to close the start menu and ET's search window appears after start menu finishes closing.

Additionally, sometimes I see my text input scrambled, for example "winfluke" rapidly typed can produce "uflke" in ET's search window (I am very sure I did not mistype).

Additionally, sometimes typing correctly summons ET's search window, but this is not focused and I cannot type in it / close it with esc / interact with it until I click it.

Log output

2025-11-06 14:19:10.8723|INFO|Launcher|EverythingToolbar 2.1.1.0 started. OS: Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.26200.0|
2025-11-06 14:21:28.0535|INFO|EverythingToolbar.Search.SearchResultProvider|Everything version: 1.4.1|

[srwi]

Hi, thank you for the feedback. Could you please add it as a comment in #471?

I have to say it's unlikely for me to work on this though since it's been way too much effort already for a half working and inconsistent solution. It's sounds easier to implement than it really is.

[DavidBevi]

Do you want me to link it or hard copy it (maybe more compact) in #471?

I feel you when you say «It's sounds easier to implement than it really is», and I have no problem with you pausing/stopping dev.

Also I changed my mind and mapped ET to Win+S 😝, but I remain available for testings, if you'll need it.