Windows 7: Firefox 3.5.7 issue w/ Google Search

Running FF 3.5.7, Windows 7 64-bit. Today I noticed that when I go to Google's basic home page using Firefox (Google), the usual "advanced search" and "language tools" links are not there. Usually these links are just to the right of the search box.

The links for "advanced search" and "language options" are present and working when I load Google's page with IE8. However, it's clear that Google is serving me a different page in IE8 vs. Firefox, as the header "Google" graphic is noticeably different. The IE8 Google graphic has shading on the letters and shading undeath the letters, and has a "TM" in the graphic. These features are not present in the plainer Google logo that loads with Firefox.



Can anyone duplicate this problem (no advanced search) with Google and the latest Firefox?

I found this article about a virus that redirects to a phony Google site. The intent is to have you click on a listed site that will bring you to places that you should not visit. This is probably not your problem, but just wanted you to know about it. Just in case.

In the likely event that this is not the cause of your problem, might be good to be aware for your future surfing.


Oh, that nasty Google Redirecting Virus | Ask MetaFilter

I tried going to the Google home page. The result is the same regardless of the browser. First I get the screen with only the logo, search box, and Google search and I'm feeling lucky buttons. All the other good stuff - at the top of the screen and left and below the search box showed up with a visible delay. Moreover, in Firefox with a dark theme the resulting page looked rather ugly, but with the usual white background it was the usual.

I have no way to confirm that this delay is an intended behavior, but what I see is the delay, not the absence of the advanced search and so on. I do see it on all of my browsers though.

Huh. I also notice the delayed display of the top and side links in IE8. They fade in after the main logo and search box are displayed. In FF 3.5.7, I have no delay at all, but the advanced search and language tools links are never displayed. I do have Adblock Plus in FF, but the page loads the same (no advanced search) even when I disable it.

Edit: Even when looking at the page source, in IE8, the page source shows the advanced search link. In FF, there is no such link in the source. It's literally not in the HTML code for the page.

Edit2: Google (if this is indeed google) is sending me differerent images for the logo. In IE8, they are sending me this logo:


In FF, they are sending me:


Why is Google sending me different "stuff" for the same page, using different browsers? Note the image URLs are different, but both appear to be from a Google source.