Search Assistant Not Working Right

[Steve Horrillo]

I notice the Search Assistant isn't working right anymore. "Next" is now
greyed out and will only let me use one chosen search engine. This has
happened on my XP as well as my Win 2000 machine. What's wrong?

 

[PA Bear]

See these recent threads: http://snipurl.com/f05w

Yes, Search Assistant has changed. No, we don't know how or why. (This may
have something to do with it:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260821_msftads25.html.) No, there
doesn't seem to be a way of getting the old Search Assistant back.

 

[PA Bear]

Check again today and see if things have changed at all. They have here. Why? I have no idea.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

 

[Fran]

Has anyone tried to find out from Microsoft if this is permanent or if they
are working on the issue. I see alot of posts on google saying it is caused
by many things with many suggestions as to why it is happening . everything
from spyware to system changes . My computer was turned off for 17 days
when I was on vacation and when I turned it on I saw the search had changed
.. . I would like to have the old search back or at least find out why it
changed so I can forget about trying to find a solution

--
Fran


See these recent threads: http://snipurl.com/f05w

Yes, Search Assistant has changed. No, we don't know how or why. (This may
have something to do with it:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260821_msftads25.html.) No, there
doesn't seem to be a way of getting the old Search Assistant back.

 

[Anna]

Fran,
If you can find out more about this, please post back to this board. I have
looked for an answer also, but don't know how or who to contact at
Microsoft.
Thanks,
Anna

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

Check again today and see if things have changed at all. They have here. Why? I have no idea.

What do you see? On which OS?


I wonder how Copernic is doing?
Maybe they'll give me a commission? <eg>
(Just noticed an earlier typo for it as coperinc. ; o
Fortunately MSN Search corrects it.)


---

 

[LAH]

Haven't changed here at least not this morning. I'm using Windows 98SE.

 

[LAH]

Should have been more clear. Nothing has changed, still not working as
before.

 

[Jan Il]

What do you see? On which OS?


I wonder how Copernic is doing?
Maybe they'll give me a commission? <eg>
(Just noticed an earlier typo for it as coperinc. ; o
Fortunately MSN Search corrects it.)

The MS search has changed on my end as well. However, I never used it, so
it does not impact me personally.

Copernic Agent Basic seems to be doing very well. I use it exclusively as
my search preference, and have for several years. I like being able to
select the search engines and categories I want, and add others if needed.
I have been recommending it some time for those who want more control over
their search methods. Now that MS seems to have changed their previous
search window, I have been recommending it as a very good alternative. The
Copernic Agent Basic is free and a great, versatile search program. It uses
a number of the well known search engines such as Yahoo, Google, AltaVista,
Lycros, CompuServ, AOL, MSN and several others. You can also customize the
search preferences as you like by creating a combination of search engines
that you prefer to use. And there's a Favorites list of categories you can
use or customize to your liking as well, and many other very useful tools.
The UI is also very User friendly. Friendly always works for me. <vbg>

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Jan Il]

They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to Anna's
post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections, Search
Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I tried to
select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked OK, it just
brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was the search
window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as it
was before.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Jan Il]

As of this time mine is back to the two selections in the Customize I had
earlier, neither of which will work. It just continually says it is
loading the selections, but, it never completes. I have to the search panel
to stop it.

However, I don't have a problem as I prefer to use another search program.


Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

 

[Jan Il]

As of this time, the Search has changed back to it was earlier this morning.
None of the Customize settings will work, and everything just hangs up
again.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to
Anna's post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections, Search
Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I tried to
select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked OK, it
just brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was the
search window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as
it was before.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Anna]

Same here Jan, it seems to bounce back and forth. If I choose one search
service it seems to work. But can no customize search assistant.
Anna

As of this time, the Search has changed back to it was earlier this
morning. None of the Customize settings will work, and everything just
hangs up again.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to
Anna's post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections,
Search Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I
tried to select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked
OK, it just brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was
the search window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as
it was before.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Check again today and see if things have changed at all. They have
here. Why? I have no idea.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

PA Bear wrote:
See these recent threads: http://snipurl.com/f05w

Yes, Search Assistant has changed. No, we don't know how or why.
(This may
have something to do with it:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260821_msftads25.html.) No,
there
doesn't seem to be a way of getting the old Search Assistant back.

Steve Horrillo wrote:
I notice the Search Assistant isn't working right anymore. "Next" is
now
greyed out and will only let me use one chosen search engine. This has
happened on my XP as well as my Win 2000 machine. What's wrong?

 

[Jan Il]

Same here Jan, it seems to bounce back and forth. If I choose one search
service it seems to work. But can no customize search assistant.
Anna

Now that I can experience the issue as you and others are seeing it, I will
pass this information along to Microsoft see what they can find out on it,
if anything. I may be related to a recent update. It may take a while, and
I can't promise I will find out anything. But, I will try.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

As of this time, the Search has changed back to it was earlier this
morning. None of the Customize settings will work, and everything just
hangs up again.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other
readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to
Anna's post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections,
Search Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I
tried to select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked
OK, it just brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was
the search window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as
it was before.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.


Check again today and see if things have changed at all. They have
here. Why? I have no idea.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

PA Bear wrote:
See these recent threads: http://snipurl.com/f05w

Yes, Search Assistant has changed. No, we don't know how or why.
(This may
have something to do with it:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260821_msftads25.html.) No,
there
doesn't seem to be a way of getting the old Search Assistant back.

Steve Horrillo wrote:
I notice the Search Assistant isn't working right anymore. "Next" is
now
greyed out and will only let me use one chosen search engine. This
has
happened on my XP as well as my Win 2000 machine. What's wrong?

 

[Steve Horrillo]

They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to
Anna's
post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections, Search
Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I tried to
select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked OK, it
just
brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was the search
window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as
it
was before.

Hope this helps.

It doesn't help if "next" is still greyed out.

 

[LAH]

Thanks, that would be appreciated. Also, thanks for passing on the Copernic
recommendation. When some personal issues settle down here at home, I plan
to download and install unless Microsoft gets it fixed in the meantime.
Thanks again.

Same here Jan, it seems to bounce back and forth. If I choose one search
service it seems to work. But can no customize search assistant.
Anna

Now that I can experience the issue as you and others are seeing it, I will
pass this information along to Microsoft see what they can find out on it,
if anything. I may be related to a recent update. It may take a while, and
I can't promise I will find out anything. But, I will try.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

As of this time, the Search has changed back to it was earlier this
morning. None of the Customize settings will work, and everything just
hangs up again.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other
readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to
Anna's post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections,
Search Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I
tried to select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked
OK, it just brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was
the search window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as
it was before.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.


Check again today and see if things have changed at all. They have
here. Why? I have no idea.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

PA Bear wrote:
See these recent threads: http://snipurl.com/f05w

Yes, Search Assistant has changed. No, we don't know how or why.
(This may
have something to do with it:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260821_msftads25.html.) No,
there
doesn't seem to be a way of getting the old Search Assistant back.

Steve Horrillo wrote:
I notice the Search Assistant isn't working right anymore. "Next" is
now
greyed out and will only let me use one chosen search engine. This
has
happened on my XP as well as my Win 2000 machine. What's wrong?

 

[Jan Il]

Hi LAH

Thanks, that would be appreciated. Also, thanks for passing on the
Copernic
recommendation. When some personal issues settle down here at home, I
plan
to download and install unless Microsoft gets it fixed in the meantime.
Thanks again.

You're very welcome! Although I don't rely on the IE Search I can fully
understand the frustration of those who may. I have found that the problem
does seem to I hope that the Coprenic will work out for you. I have found
that it is not affecting everyone the same. I have a machine that has W2K,
and the original Search layout is still there. At the same time, I open the
Search panel on my XP and it is now back to the reduced Customize state and
nothing is working. And you have W98. So, it does not appear to be an across
the board problem with all Users. Strange situation. I'll post back to the
newsgroup if I hear anything from the IE team.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Same here Jan, it seems to bounce back and forth. If I choose one search
service it seems to work. But can no customize search assistant.
Anna

Now that I can experience the issue as you and others are seeing it, I will
pass this information along to Microsoft see what they can find out on
it,
if anything. I may be related to a recent update. It may take a while, and
I can't promise I will find out anything. But, I will try.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

As of this time, the Search has changed back to it was earlier this
morning. None of the Customize settings will work, and everything just
hangs up again.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other
readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to
Anna's post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections,
Search Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I
tried to select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked
OK, it just brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was
the search window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as
it was before.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.


Check again today and see if things have changed at all. They have
here. Why? I have no idea.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

PA Bear wrote:
See these recent threads: http://snipurl.com/f05w

Yes, Search Assistant has changed. No, we don't know how or why.
(This may
have something to do with it:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260821_msftads25.html.) No,
there
doesn't seem to be a way of getting the old Search Assistant back.

Steve Horrillo wrote:
I notice the Search Assistant isn't working right anymore. "Next" is
now
greyed out and will only let me use one chosen search engine. This
has
happened on my XP as well as my Win 2000 machine. What's wrong?

 

[Jan Il]

It doesn't help if "next" is still greyed out.

If you read my replies to the others here, you will see that it has now
changed back again for me as well.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

 

[Jan Il]

Hi LAH

The report and support information has been sent to my MS program contact,
who is seeing the same issue with the Search we are, and has passed on the
information to the appropriate dept.l for investigation. That is all I can
do from my end. Fingers crossed.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Thanks, that would be appreciated. Also, thanks for passing on the
Copernic
recommendation. When some personal issues settle down here at home, I
plan
to download and install unless Microsoft gets it fixed in the meantime.
Thanks again.

Same here Jan, it seems to bounce back and forth. If I choose one search
service it seems to work. But can no customize search assistant.
Anna

Now that I can experience the issue as you and others are seeing it, I will
pass this information along to Microsoft see what they can find out on
it,
if anything. I may be related to a recent update. It may take a while, and
I can't promise I will find out anything. But, I will try.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

As of this time, the Search has changed back to it was earlier this
morning. None of the Customize settings will work, and everything just
hangs up again.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.

Replies are posted only to the newsgroup for the benefit or other
readers.
How to make a good newsgroup post:
http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


They just now changed here, or at least within the last hour. I see the
same search list I did a few days ago when I first checked it due to
Anna's post. It then changed the Customize to only two selections,
Search Assistant and Use one search service. No list boxes, and when I
tried to select one of the choices, they would not work. When I clicked
OK, it just brought the search list up again, and all that was in it was
the search window and the GO button.

Now, I see the same Search window in the panel, but, the Customize is as
it was before.

Hope this helps.

Jan
MS MVP - Windows IE/OE [DTS/AumHa]
Smiles are meant to be shared,
that's why they're so contagious.


Check again today and see if things have changed at all. They have
here. Why? I have no idea.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE/OE, Security, Shell/User)

PA Bear wrote:
See these recent threads: http://snipurl.com/f05w

Yes, Search Assistant has changed. No, we don't know how or why.
(This may
have something to do with it:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/260821_msftads25.html.) No,
there
doesn't seem to be a way of getting the old Search Assistant back.

Steve Horrillo wrote:
I notice the Search Assistant isn't working right anymore. "Next" is
now
greyed out and will only let me use one chosen search engine. This
has
happened on my XP as well as my Win 2000 machine. What's wrong?

 

[Robert Aldwinckle]

As of this time, the Search has changed back to it was earlier this morning.
None of the Customize settings will work, and everything just hangs up
again.

If you're just seeing Loading... you may need to do a Refresh.
E.g. right-click Refresh if the search bar still allows that.

Otherwise use the equivalent URL that the Search bar is rendering
in a separate browser window. Then you will be able to Refresh it.

<example>
http://ie.search.msn.com/en-us/srchasst/srchcust.htm

(Alter the en-us appropriately depending on your Language preference.)
</example>


FWIW doing that allows me to change from XP's default
search bar setting of Search Companion to Search Assistant
(or Search using one search service...) AND change providers.

With IE7b2p installed the Search Explorer bar is no longer
supported. So with it I have to simulate the use of it
(without the buttons) by opening

http://ie.search.msn.com/en-us/srchasst/srchasst.htm

However, as previously mentioned, code to implement the Next button
appears not to be present in the srchasst.htm page anyway.


FYI

Robert
---