IE8 Address Bar Search

[Wayner]

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-

 

[Brink]

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

 

[Lordbob75]

Hey Shawn, you should make this a tutorial.

~Lordbob

 

[Brink]

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.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/14383-search-internet-explorer-8-address-bar.html

 

[Lordbob75]

Hi David,

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

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

 

[Brink]

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

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

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.

 

[Lordbob75]

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

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

Help is always around whether you know it or not.

I honestly never knew you could remove the search bar.

I didn't either, so good to know.

~Lordbob

 

[Brink]

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

 

[Dark Nova Gamer]

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.

 

[Wayner]

Hey Shawn,

Thanks for the input, really appreciate it. But i just checked that option and it is still checked

I tried taking it off and putting it back on again, but no success. I feel like this is a bug of some sort, i'm pretty sure i should be able to search out of the address bar without IE thinking i am typing in a site address?

Any other ideas would be greatly appreciated. I know it's not a major flaw, but when you are in the habbit of using a function a great deal it becomes tough to get out of

Again, I appreciate any input.

Thanks
-Wayner-

 

[Brink]

Wayner,

You might reset IE8. This way it will reset the settings back to default and should restore the search function for you.

 

[Wayner]

Superb, thank you sir.

Such a simple button with such great effect Still not sure what i did to cause this, but happy to have my search function back.

Thanks for all the input

EDIT: Apparently i must spread the love... but i did try to show my appreciation

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Wayner. I'm happy to hear that search is working again for you.