searching from the address bar

[Liz G.]

I'm using XP Home, IE6, with all the updates and service packs.

I used to be able to type a word in the address bar, and IE would go to a
website, or do a search. For example, if I typed Zellers, it would go to
www.zellers.com (or whatever). If I typed digital cameras, it would provide
a list of possibilities.

Now if I type Zellers, it changes the text in the address bar to something
like "http:////? zellers and I get an "unable to locate server" message
page.

I run AdAware regularly, have ZoneAlarm at fairly high security, and have
EZTrust antivirus running. I checked through my internet options to ensure
that the search options are selected properly. I tried to Customize my
search options through the toolbar Search button, but the only option in
there is an MSN search.

Incidentally, typing just a word or two in the address bar in Netscape works
just fine, so obviously I've messed up something in IE.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

TIA
Liz

 

[H Leboeuf]

Parasite alert - Get the removal tool.

CoolWebSearch - CWS http://www.spywareinfo.com/articles/cws/
More: Complete list by variant with up-to-date information.
http://www.merijn.org/cwschronicles.html
Moreirect Download: Removal tool.
http://www.merijn.org/files/cwshredder.zip
Moreirect Download: Removal tool.
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/venc/data/vbs.bootconf.html
--

Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm


Henri Leboeuf
Web page: http://www.generation.net/~hleboeuf/index.htm

 

[Sandi - Microsoft MVP]

Go to IE tools, internet options, advanced and ensure that 'search from the
address bar' is enabled.

 

[Liz G.]

Okay, I've tried those suggestions and still have the same problem --
occasionally I'll get a webaddress if I type just a word or two, but never a
search page.

When I type Zellers, I get http:///? zellers and The page cannot be
displayed.

My search options are set to use the address bar, and display a list of
possibilities.

The customize options on the sidebar search only have MSN as a choice to
locate web pages.

I'm baffled.
___________________________________

 

[Mike Burgess]

Liz,
The extra characters after "http" indicates a broken "URLSearch Hook"

Some program (usually spyware\parasite) may have overridden the URL prefix
setting?
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Includes: Repair the corrupted or altered (spyware) HTTP prefixes
See section: Various Registry Fixes = "RepairDefaultPrefix.reg"
[or - manually]
Open Regedit to the following locations and verify the below default
entries:
Start | Run (type) "regedit" (no quotes)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\DefaultPre
fix]
@="http://"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\Prefixes]
"ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

Note: edit as needed, *always* Export before editing.
____________________________________________________________
Mike Burgess [MVP Windows Shell\User] http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 12-26-03]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid
--

 

[Liz G.]

I ran Spybot S&D and it found no problems on my system. AdAware still finds
no problems.

I've checked the registry for the entries you suggest, and the first two are
correct on my machine.

However, the third --
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks --
does not exist.

My registry has:
....\Internet Explorer\URL Compatibility
default (value not set)
version (5.1)

....\URL Compatibility\~/CONNWIZ.HTM
with a value in the details pain

and

....\URL Compatibility\~/CWIZINTR.HTM
with a value in the details pain.

Could this be the problem? And should I replace it with the URLSearchHooks
value you suggested?

thanks for your patience.

liz

____________________________

Liz,
The extra characters after "http" indicates a broken "URLSearch Hook"

Some program (usually spyware\parasite) may have overridden the URL prefix
setting?
Dealing with Unwanted Spyware, Parasites, Toolbars and Search Engines
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Includes: Repair the corrupted or altered (spyware) HTTP prefixes
See section: Various Registry Fixes = "RepairDefaultPrefix.reg"
[or - manually]
Open Regedit to the following locations and verify the below default
entries:
Start | Run (type) "regedit" (no quotes)

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\DefaultPre

fix]
@="http://"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\URL\Prefixes]
"ftp"="ftp://"
"gopher"="gopher://"
"home"="http://"
"mosaic"="http://"
"www"="http://"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\URLSearchHooks]
"{CFBFAE00-17A6-11D0-99CB-00C04FD64497}"=""

Note: edit as needed, *always* Export before editing.
____________________________________________________________
Mike Burgess [MVP Windows Shell\User] http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/
Blocking Spyware, Adware, Parasites, Hijackers, Trojans, with a HOSTS file
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm [updated 12-26-03]
Please post replies to this Newsgroup, email address is invalid
--

Okay, I've tried those suggestions and still have the same problem --
occasionally I'll get a webaddress if I type just a word or two, but

never

a
search page.

When I type Zellers, I get http:///? zellers and The page cannot be
displayed.

My search options are set to use the address bar, and display a list of
possibilities.

The customize options on the sidebar search only have MSN as a choice to
locate web pages.

I'm baffled.
___________________________________

to

a

 

[Liz G.]

I ran Hijackthis and one of the items it found was "missing URL Search
Hook". I opted to repair that situation (and only that situation) and my
search from the address bar seems to be working again.

Thanks for all the advice -- found several messages in this group with the
same problem I was having.