Search Button Opens Explorer Bar Instead of Custom Search Page (171939)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 1.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.x for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x for Windows 95
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.02 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 for Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.01 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for Windows 98
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 for Windows 98
This article was previously published under Q171939

SYMPTOMS

When you click the Search button on the Standard Buttons toolbar, your custom Internet Explorer 3.x search page is not opened. Instead, the Search bar opens with a random search engine page displayed.

CAUSE

Internet Explorer now includes a new search feature that uses an Explorer bar. Internet Explorer 3.x search pages do not work properly in the Search bar, so Internet Explorer ignores the custom search page defined in Internet Explorer 3.x. For information about the Explorer bars, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

171232 How to Use the Explorer Bar in Internet Explorer

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior and use an Internet Explorer 3.x custom search page, use one of the following methods:

  • Create a shortcut to the appropriate search provider on the Links toolbar, and use it instead of the Search button on the Standard Buttons toolbar. For information about how to add shortcuts to the Links toolbar, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    171228 How to Customize the Links Toolbar in Internet Explorer

  • If you are using the Windows Desktop Update, create a shortcut to the appropriate search provider on the Quick Launch toolbar on your taskbar, and use it instead of the Search button on the Standard Buttons toolbar. For information about how to add shortcuts to the Quick Launch toolbar, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    171206 How to Customize the Quick Launch Toolbar

  • Change the search page that is accessed when you click Start, point to Find, and then click On The Internet. For information about how to do so, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    171853 Changing Search Pages Used By Internet Explorer

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/5/2003
Keywords:KB171939
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.