Windows 7: IE8 Address Bar Search

Hey guys,

Not sure if this is the right place for it, but there seems to be a wealth of information knocking around in this forum so i thought i'd try my luck and see if anyone else has seen this....

Using IE8 (in Win 7 RC 7100) and i just noticed today that my address bar no longer allows me to search directly in it. If i type anything not a web address it throws me an 'Internet Explorer cannot display the webpage' error.

Possibly complete co-incidence, or possibly connected, i also just changed my default search engine to bing. Have tried changing back to google and no effect, so i am guessing maybe this has nothing to do with it, but i figured worthy of mention.

Have i inadvertently changed a setting or something...? i'm sure i am not imagining that i used to be able to search using my address bar!? If anyone could shed some light on this for i would be very grateful

Thank you in advance
-Wayner-

Hello Wayner,

In the IE8 Internet Options, under the Advanced tab, double check to make sure that the item boxed in red below is selected instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hey Shawn, you should make this a tutorial.

~Lordbob

Hi David,

Added to the list to be made tommorow. I'm just about ready to land on the keyboard asleep again. LOL

UPDATE:
Here's that tutorial.

Search from Internet Explorer 8 Address Bar

Yeah, I know the feeling. If you need help adding tutorials, you have a ready and willing bunch here to help you out you know.
Tell any of us to do it, and we would.

~Lordob

Thank you David. It's nice to know that the help is there as needed.

Help is always around whether you know it or not.

I honestly never knew you could remove the search bar.

It's what we do!
So really, let us know how we can help!

I didn't either, so good to know.

~Lordbob

Hi Steve,

Well, that option only disabled searching through the address bar and leaves the search box intact. The tutorial below will show you how to remove the Internet Explorer Search box instead.

Internet Explorer 8: Home page

=O One of few to use my real name. Thanks for that.

Ahh well I've switched to Firefox 3.5 RC2 after a long struggle to stay with IE (<3 MS things) but I gave in and switched.