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Microsoft Internet Explorer IE6 can't search from address bar?

Here's a weird one for you, Dave: I no longer am able to search from the Address Bar within IE. For example, if I try to search for 'free beer' (without quotes) a new page is displayed with 'http:///?%20free%20beer' in the Address Bar and 'Invalid syntax error' shown at the top. Do you know what has changed within IE to cause this?

Dave's Answer:

Ah, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I think the most likely explanation is that you have gained some spyware in your Internet travels that are mucking up your computer.

Do you run antispyware utilities like Ad-Aware? I certainly would.

You can also reset your autosearch capability (as it's called) by mucking about in the Registry itself, if you're sufficiently brave or foolhardy. Remember to save a copy before you make any changes, just in case, but if you dig around and find the hive "HKEY CURRENT USER" and the key "Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL" you should be able to double-click the default entry in the right pane of the registry editor then enter

http://home.microsoft.com/access/autosearch.asp?p=%s

Restart and, with any luck, you'll be good to go. Until your spyware attacks again, that is. :-(

Oh! It's also possible that you've set up your copy of Internet Explorer to disallow searching from the toolbar, believe it or not. Go to Properties, then the Advanced tab, and make sure you haven't selected Do not search from the tool bar.

Good luck.

Thanks to Sahil Tandon and Mark Trimble for their assistance.

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Categorized: Windows Help (Article 3986)
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Comments

Regarding Category Windows Basics (Article #1308) Microsoft internet Explorer IE6 Can't search from address bar? I did both of your suggestions...ran spyware and :mucked" around with registry key as indicated...but still get the same invalid syntax error. Any other suggestions as there are really no good computer "fixers" in this little city. Please help me.

Posted by: Tracy at December 1, 2005 4:17 AM

for some reason my address bar on i.e. dissappeared, can anyone tell me how to make it appear again?

Posted by: matt at February 27, 2006 8:28 PM

I've been having the same IE address bar search error. I have changed the registry and checked IE's search options. Additionally, I have run several different spyware programs. Unfortunately, it hasn't fixed the problem.

Posted by: Mark at July 18, 2006 6:09 PM

I want to download Incredimail. I do not like Outlook Express. Each time i try to download Incred. a box pops up saying "your security settings do not allow this file to be downloaded" i have tired every setting and it does not go away. Please tell me I can use it . Outlook is no fun.

Posted by: mj Cook at April 7, 2008 7:30 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!