Microsoft found a new way to get consumers to use Windows Live Search: it struck a distribution deal with Hewlett-Packard to bring the Live Search toolbar on all HP consumer PCs shipped across Canada and the U.S. as of January 2009.

This is one big multi-purpose strategy on behalf of Microsoft, as it tries to put Windows Live Search and Silverlight, its cross-browser and cross-platform plug-in, on the map. Microsoft said that, as part of the deal, Microsoft Live Search will be the default search engine in the browser on HP consumer PCs.

In addition to all that, as Silverlight powers the Live Search toolbar, there’s no doubt about it that Microsoft is trying to push it to consumers across Canada and the U.S., considering that HP is the largest PC manufacturer in the world.

According to Kevin Johnson, president of the Platforms and Services Division at Microsoft, the deal is an indicator of their continuous focus to distribute Live Search on a large scale. Live Search HP consumer PCs are expected to reach millions of consumers in the two distribution markets.

Microsoft has already shown its commitment to making Live Search an equal competitor for Google and Yahoo when it unveiled its plan to offer ad-funded cash rebates to whoever searches and purchases something through Microsoft Live Search cashback.

According to Bill Gates, this will offer more value to customers and advertisers, and the goal for the future is to make Live Search cashback “the most rewarding commercial search destination on the Web.”

As part of its strategy to promote Silverlight as well, Microsoft made some of its Web pages viewable only by downloading and using the browser plug-in. Starting with January 2009, HP consumer PCs will come with a built-in Silverlight, which is included in the Live Search toolbar.