I found one solution to search problems when using Google's search engine.
IE 9 has 2 settings that need to be changed for Google to work properly.
1) Go to Tools click Compatibility View Settings. In the next display Check the box - "Display all Websites in Compatibility View". Then Hit Close.
2) On the address bar left of refresh button is a circle with a line thru it. Press this button. It says some content is filtered on this website. Press the bar that says "Turn off ActiveX Filtering". It must be pressed only when you are on Google's - Google.com website. On other websites, the ActiveX Filtering will stay on. That is OK.
Both settings need to be changed before IE 9 will work properly using Google's Search. The new Google instant prediction search box works differently than previous versions of Internet Explorer. You really don't need to use the "Enter" on the keyboard as much. Click your mouse on any group of words in the instant prediction drop down box. Google's second page will then display lots of "results". In some cases you will see at the bottom of the suggestion box "Press Enter to Search". If so press "Enter". Good Surfing!
John