BS: Google search box prob.

Subject: BS: Google search box prob.
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:04 AM

Can anyone help me get rid of an annoying thing that's only started happening this very morning.
I use a google home page and have done for years, quite happily. However, this morning I've found that if I begin to type in a key word to conduct a searh for something, a drop-down menu appears below the search box, with all sorts of suggestions for searching, as if it's pre-empting what I'm looking for.

Not experienced this before and don't know why it's started happening but I do know that I find it very annoying.
Can anyone tell me how to get shot of this unwanted feature?

Andy

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 04:53 AM

You quite probably have the Google Toolbar.

At the right end of the toolbar there should be a small wrench (spanner if you're Brit).

Click the wrench (an icon for "Tools") or click the "down triangle" beside the wrench and select Options.

At the top of the menu that opens, uncheck the box beside "Suggest Searches as you type."

You should still be able to click the "down triangle" at the right of the search box to see suggestions, but they should stop opening as you type in the box.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: Rain Dog
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 09:20 AM

I don't use a Google Toolbar and have the same problem.

In the UK you can turn this off by clicking on Preferences, to the right of the search box, and then selecting 'Do not provide query suggestion in the search box'

Hopefully it should work for you too

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:07 AM

I have the same problem as Andy, & it also started today! My solution was to swear at it till it went away.

I have the tool bar loaded tho I never use it, so I clicked in preferences & unchecked the Query suggestion which I certainly never selected.

Were we suffering from a new feature? The friend who loaded the toolbar when he was upgrading stuff for last year also told me that "feature" means "something has happened & we don't know why" or is it an "improvement" that they (whoever they are) decided will make our lives better?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:49 AM

Simple to fix. Click "preferences" to the right of the Google search box. Scroll down to "query suggestions". Change from "provide" to "do not provide".

It will stay at that setting unless your cookie id deleted. If that happens it will reset to the default value "provide" and you'll need to change it back.

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 01:29 PM

Some internet businesses use that drop-down list. At amazon.com, type A and suggestions from 'Adidas' to 'Act like a lady' show up.
But one can just ignore the drop-down and enter what one wishes to enter.

Just ignore the drop downs.

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: GUEST,Andy
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 04:02 AM

Thanks for the advice.Have done the thing with 'preferences' and it seems to have worked. Ta very much to all.

Regards

Andy

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: goatfell
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 04:34 AM

I think everyone that uses Google has this thing don't worry, your computer is all right because mine does it as well

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: goatfell
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 04:35 AM

I perfer it this way because I'm not really good at spelling.

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 04:49 AM

Mine has been doing this for the past year but it doesn't bother me. It can be quite amusing watching the hopeless 'suggestions' changing as you add more letters. As long as it doesn't start changing what I'm putting in it's not a problem.
And don't rely on programs that correct your spelling, they can be worse than useless - recently I saw an ebay listing for a picture of a 'pubic phone box'.

Subject: RE: BS: Google search box prob.
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 02 Apr 09 - 09:38 AM

Google has always offered suggestions based on searches I'd done in the past & I had, & still have, no objection to that, it was just that the suggestions the new feature/improvement offered were very annoying to put it mildly.

Many years ago my colleague let spellcheck have it's way when he typed up some minutes. Tho, being a more or less responsible person, he only let it win with the names of attendees so it didn't affect the business of the meeting.

sandra