This is unintuitive, but you don't need a box to type into (or you don't need to see it). Just hit the Windows/menu button, typically to left of left Alt key and start typing. The menu will then show you options that relate to what you have typed.
This is how Cortana, the digital agent, works. If you right click on your task bar on your desk top, there are options for how to display it (technically her...). Though you don't need to see it, if you don't want to.