Search Icon Now Missing After Routine Upgrade

[Toltecs]

Windows 10 performed an upgrade. When the system returned, the Taskbar Search Icon I set-up was gone and replaced by Cortana (which I had previously switched off).

The previous settings which allowed for Cortana to be switched off and the Search icon to remain on the task bar have gone: it appears that it's no longer possible to have a search without Cortana, i.e. Windows is now forcing Cortana on users.

I have tried to access the "Taskbar properties" dialog (where the settings for this used to reside) via right-clicking the task bar and through the control panel, but MS have removed the old dialogue window. The old settings are no longer accessible.

This simply happened, and there appears no way around it.

Has anyone else noticed this sudden change?

Is there a way to restore the Search Icon (not Cortana) that I am not seeing? Many thanks,

UPDATE: I see that this is now part of MS's policy - Cortana has been forced on users
http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-disable-cortana-in-windows-10-2016-7

 

[Colif]

set up a local user, cortana doesn't work if you aren't signed into a Microsoft account.

make a local user and give it admin rights, copy the contents of your current users folders onto the new user in the c/users folder and it takes just a few minutes to have PC set up on a local account and never see cortana again. All your installed programs will still work.

 

[Toltecs]

Many thanks for this excellent tip! I also found a solution where a registry change will disable Cortana.

http://www.howtogeek.com/265027/how-to-disable-cortana-in-windows-10/

 

[ExDC]

To update an old thread - I also wanted to get rid of Cortana and use the old search icon in the taskbar. Another regedit solution and other suggestions are also at
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2854-search-icon-box-show-remove-windows-10-taskbar.html