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How do I get the old search box back again?

  • 10 replies
  • 5 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by ideato

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I just (inadvertently I might add) upgraded from Version 30 to Version 37. I can't stand this search box format. How do I get the old search box format again, without that box popping up? I need Google and DuckDuckGo and the option to switch between both like I did before. Thank you for your help.

I just (inadvertently I might add) upgraded from Version 30 to Version 37. I can't stand this search box format. How do I get the old search box format again, without that box popping up? I need Google and DuckDuckGo and the option to switch between both like I did before. Thank you for your help.

Chosen solution

Hello Randy, you can have your "old" Search Bar again, go to about:config, copy the next bold browser.search.showOneOffButtons and paste it in the search field, now double-click on it to make it false, exit firefox and restart it.


thank you

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Chosen Solution

Hello Randy, you can have your "old" Search Bar again, go to about:config, copy the next bold browser.search.showOneOffButtons and paste it in the search field, now double-click on it to make it false, exit firefox and restart it.


thank you

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Good Morning -

Thank you for your assistance with my question - it worked perfectly!

Couldn't make head or tail of that new search box and my auto-completes had disappeared. All is good now though!

That is one reason I am always hesitant about making updates to new versions.

In fact, I had not made an update since last fall when I updated to Version 30. One of my favorite sayings is: "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

Thanks again for your help! I am sure that I will need your help again in the near future:)

Randy

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You are welcome Randy, definitely if you need help someone contributor will help you.

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Hi again,

note that we have a small problem if you update to latest 38.0 (released today) with the above preference, the search panel in the new options will be broken in firefox 38, but a fix is implemented for 38.0.5 (probably in June 2nd)

as jscher2000 correct said :

As a temporary workaround for the problem with the Search panel in about:preferences, users of the "old" search box can use the "old" Manage Search Engines dialog by pasting the following in the address bar and pressing Enter/Return to load it:

chrome://browser/content/search/engineManager.xul


thanks and sorry for the inconvenience

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Hi - Thank you for the heads up on that! I definitely will not update. I find that these updates cause more problems than they solve.

In fact, I stayed with Version 30 for something like 8 months and it worked perfectly fine. I had not intended to upgrade to Version 37 either; I inadvertently clicked the wrong button and couldn't stop the upgrade at that point.

One of my favorite axioms is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Thanks again for letting me know.

Randy

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Hi - Thanks for your earlier support. Had a couple of more questions.

First how do I get directly into support to post my questions? Seems like the site has changed. I keep going around in circles with all this rigmarole and self-help.

Is support still available?

Second - and this is really weird, as I have never seen this before - when I click on my home page, it freezes and I get a blurred screen in front of me. Really weird! My Internet flickered off for a second and that is when it happened. Now I can't get rid of it.

I'm still on Version 37 per your earlier advice that there would be issues with Version 38 with the search box.

Thanks again for your help!

Randy

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Hi Randy

First :-) you can use the next link : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new/desktop

For the Second it is better to re-write the question in a new post, to avoid confusing users with lots of questions in one main post.

thank you

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Hi - Thank you for getting back to me, but this link doesn't work. When I click the green "ask this" button nothing happens. When I click 'contact us' all I get is a world map of the global offices. Am thinking of un-installing altogether and re-installing? I'm unable to use Firefox at all - just a blurred screen appears. When I click on e-mail links nothing happens. Had to temporarily change my default browser. Thanks again!

I can attach a screenshot if that will help

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Well guess what - my lucky day! Decided to give it one last final try. THIS time, I did not get the blurred screen but instead got the little gray crash reporter box.

I sent it in to Firefox, along with the same comments that I sent to you in my e-mail. Then I clicked submit report and then restart.

Then Voila - all of a sudden something like 20 Firefox windows opened all at one time! I closed them, re-started, and now everything seems to be fine once again - hopefully it will stay that way! I have never seen that happen before at all.

I really do appreciate your assistance! You have been very helpful.

Randy

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Randy said

Well guess what - my lucky day! Decided to give it one last final try. THIS time, I did not get the blurred screen but instead got the little gray crash reporter box. I sent it in to Firefox, along with the same comments that I sent to you in my e-mail. Then I clicked submit report and then restart. Then Voila - all of a sudden something like 20 Firefox windows opened all at one time! I closed them, re-started, and now everything seems to be fine once again - hopefully it will stay that way! I have never seen that happen before at all. I really do appreciate your assistance! You have been very helpful. Randy

Hi, :-)indeed, if you solve it, leave it as it is.....:-) none of us is inside to computers :-) :-)

cheers