Windows 8 type to search not working
Windows 8 is tolerable as you can still type to search the start screen. Alas, mine stopped working.
And so did my ability to search by pressing Win+F.
It was the second point that made me realise what I did. As I like things to run lean, I removed Windows Search (I don't need it on a laptop, and figured I'd save the over-head).
Restoring the Windows Search feature brought back the ability to search through the Start Screen.
So, word of warning - you cannot live without Windows Search in Windows 8 (and I assume 2012).