Killing the search suggestions on Google

[letterman@invalid.com]

Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google, these
search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate that
feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing. I want
to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or do
I need to just find a new search engine?

 

[Dan]

No, all you do is to remove the autocomplete check boxes in the advanced
properties of Internet Explorer Options in the control panel.

"letterman@invalid.com" wrote:

> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google, these
> search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate that
> feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing. I want
> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or do
> I need to just find a new search engine?
>
>

 

[thanatoid]

letterman@invalid.com wrote in
news:8o9fb4l0ejcmc2ncun4o2fpg2khmjkf3c1@4ax.com:

> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in
> google, these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I
> absolutely hate that feature. All it does is steal my
> focus of what I am typing. I want to block this feature in
> all browsers (IE and FF). I know that disabling java
> script works, but I dont want to do that because it
> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block
> this, or do I need to just find a new search engine?

IE and Ff are not /all/ browsers, they are two at best, and
crappy ones at that. I won't even go into why IE is dangerous
garbage, but see www.firefoxmyths.com for some interesting info
on that one.

I use Opera (THE best) and OffByOne (the smallest and fastest
and safest). I have not experienced your problem with either.

It /may/ be the problem lies with your "all" browsers or some
feature which you have customized your Google search page with.



--
[from a recent conversation]
thanatoid: So why did you decide you needed broadband?
Neighbor: I wanted to read my e-mail faster.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

The drop-down menu of suggestions (which is becoming popular in various
places -- try the MSKB Search) does NOT steal focus from my typing. I just
ignore it. And I'll bet a dollar that it doesn't steal focus from your
typing, either, it just steals your personal attention. Not the same at all.
But yeah, go find another search engine if it drives you crazy. Or put
Google into the Restricted Zone.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

<letterman@invalid.com> wrote in message
news:8o9fb4l0ejcmc2ncun4o2fpg2khmjkf3c1@4ax.com...
> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google, these
> search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate that
> feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing. I want
> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or do
> I need to just find a new search engine?
>

 

[letterman@invalid.com]

On 29 Aug 2008 14:12:08 GMT, thanatoid <waiting@the.exit.invalid>
wrote:

>letterman@invalid.com wrote in
>news:8o9fb4l0ejcmc2ncun4o2fpg2khmjkf3c1@4ax.com:
>
>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in
>> google, these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I
>> absolutely hate that feature. All it does is steal my
>> focus of what I am typing. I want to block this feature in
>> all browsers (IE and FF). I know that disabling java
>> script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block
>> this, or do I need to just find a new search engine?
>
>IE and Ff are not /all/ browsers, they are two at best, and
>crappy ones at that. I won't even go into why IE is dangerous
>garbage, but see www.firefoxmyths.com for some interesting info
>on that one.
>
>I use Opera (THE best) and OffByOne (the smallest and fastest
>and safest). I have not experienced your problem with either.
>
>It /may/ be the problem lies with your "all" browsers or some
>feature which you have customized your Google search page with.

I have Opera installed too. It's the one I like the least, and rarely
use. Firefox works the best, but takes too long to load, so I often
use IE if I dont want to wait for the loading.

 

[Franc Zabkar]

On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:44:09 -0500, letterman@invalid.com put finger
to keyboard and composed:

>Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google, these
>search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate that
>feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing. I want
>to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or do
>I need to just find a new search engine?

What happens if you select the "Do not provide query suggestions in
the search box" radio button?

http://www.google.com/preferences

You need to allow Google to write a PREF cookie.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

That raises my estimation of Google, which has been sliding a bit, lately.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message
news:abvgb4dev914t94ntkj7m1okjgfsr0a8fe@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 29 Aug 2008 02:44:09 -0500, letterman@invalid.com put finger
> to keyboard and composed:
>
>>Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google, these
>>search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate that
>>feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing. I want
>>to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>>disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>>interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or do
>>I need to just find a new search engine?
>
> What happens if you select the "Do not provide query suggestions in
> the search box" radio button?
>
> http://www.google.com/preferences
>
> You need to allow Google to write a PREF cookie.
>
> - Franc Zabkar
> --
> Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Roger Fink]

I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable javascript
(especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that will solve it. But
then you are left with disabled javascript, so you would need to install an
extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a way to
achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it installed. You
might ask in another newsgroup.

Google tried this once before and must have received a negative response
because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would let you set a
site preference, similar to languages or the amount of results listed per
page, but that would probably be too uncoercive for any of the big boys. I
think this is a generational thing, and most of the "anti's" are languishing
on the downside of the age curve.

letterman@invalid.com wrote:
> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google, these
> search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate that
> feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing. I want
> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or do
> I need to just find a new search engine?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

Just to make sure, you *did* eventually see Franc Zabcar's port? They *did*
put it in Preferences. Added it to the bottom.

"Query Suggestions "
.. Provide query suggestions in the search box.
.. Do not provide query suggestions in the search box.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
news:OqSzOBvCJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable javascript
> (especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that will solve it. But
> then you are left with disabled javascript, so you would need to install
> an
> extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
> appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
> javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a way to
> achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it installed. You
> might ask in another newsgroup.
>
> Google tried this once before and must have received a negative response
> because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would let you set a
> site preference, similar to languages or the amount of results listed per
> page, but that would probably be too uncoercive for any of the big boys. I
> think this is a generational thing, and most of the "anti's" are
> languishing
> on the downside of the age curve.
>
> letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google, these
>> search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate that
>> feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing. I want
>> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or do
>> I need to just find a new search engine?
>
>

 

[Roger Fink]

Yikes - no, I missed that. Thanks Gary. Thanks Frank. (Thanks Google)

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> Just to make sure, you *did* eventually see Franc Zabcar's port? They
> *did* put it in Preferences. Added it to the bottom.
>
> "Query Suggestions "
> . Provide query suggestions in the search box.
> . Do not provide query suggestions in the search box.
>
>
> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
> news:OqSzOBvCJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable
>> javascript (especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that
>> will solve it. But then you are left with disabled javascript, so
>> you would need to install an
>> extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
>> appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
>> javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a
>> way to achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it
>> installed. You might ask in another newsgroup.
>>
>> Google tried this once before and must have received a negative
>> response because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would
>> let you set a site preference, similar to languages or the amount of
>> results listed per page, but that would probably be too uncoercive
>> for any of the big boys. I think this is a generational thing, and
>> most of the "anti's" are languishing
>> on the downside of the age curve.
>>
>> letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google,
>>> these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate
>>> that feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing.
>>> I want
>>> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>>> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or
>>> do
>>> I need to just find a new search engine?

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

That should have been "...in Franc Zabcar's REport, of course, <s>.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
news:%231HYaavCJHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Yikes - no, I missed that. Thanks Gary. Thanks Frank. (Thanks Google)
>
> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
>> Just to make sure, you *did* eventually see Franc Zabcar's port? They
>> *did* put it in Preferences. Added it to the bottom.
>>
>> "Query Suggestions "
>> . Provide query suggestions in the search box.
>> . Do not provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>
>>
>> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
>> news:OqSzOBvCJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable
>>> javascript (especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that
>>> will solve it. But then you are left with disabled javascript, so
>>> you would need to install an
>>> extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
>>> appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
>>> javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a
>>> way to achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it
>>> installed. You might ask in another newsgroup.
>>>
>>> Google tried this once before and must have received a negative
>>> response because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would
>>> let you set a site preference, similar to languages or the amount of
>>> results listed per page, but that would probably be too uncoercive
>>> for any of the big boys. I think this is a generational thing, and
>>> most of the "anti's" are languishing
>>> on the downside of the age curve.
>>>
>>> letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>>>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google,
>>>> these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate
>>>> that feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing.
>>>> I want
>>>> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>>>> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>>>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or
>>>> do
>>>> I need to just find a new search engine?
>
>

 

[Roger Fink]

That's OK. I'm still way ahead of you on the gaff-meter.

Gary S. Terhune wrote:
> That should have been "...in Franc Zabcar's REport, of course, <s>.
>
>
> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
> news:%231HYaavCJHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>> Yikes - no, I missed that. Thanks Gary. Thanks Frank. (Thanks Google)
>>
>> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
>>> Just to make sure, you *did* eventually see Franc Zabcar's port?
>>> They *did* put it in Preferences. Added it to the bottom.
>>>
>>> "Query Suggestions "
>>> . Provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>> . Do not provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
>>> news:OqSzOBvCJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable
>>>> javascript (especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that
>>>> will solve it. But then you are left with disabled javascript, so
>>>> you would need to install an
>>>> extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
>>>> appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
>>>> javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a
>>>> way to achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it
>>>> installed. You might ask in another newsgroup.
>>>>
>>>> Google tried this once before and must have received a negative
>>>> response because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would
>>>> let you set a site preference, similar to languages or the amount
>>>> of results listed per page, but that would probably be too
>>>> uncoercive for any of the big boys. I think this is a generational
>>>> thing, and most of the "anti's" are languishing
>>>> on the downside of the age curve.
>>>>
>>>> letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>>>>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google,
>>>>> these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely
>>>>> hate that feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am
>>>>> typing. I want
>>>>> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>>>>> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>>>>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or
>>>>> do
>>>>> I need to just find a new search engine?

 

[Franc Zabkar]

On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:18:06 -0400, "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> put
finger to keyboard and composed:

BTW, it seems there are two culprits which are responsible for
automatically generating search suggestions. In Firefox under Tools ->
Options -> Privacy you also have a checkbox called "Remember what I
enter in forms and the search bar". This checkbox appears to take
precedence over Google's cookie, at least in my installation. I don't
know what happens with IE, though.

>Yikes - no, I missed that. Thanks Gary. Thanks Frank. (Thanks Google)
>
>Gary S. Terhune wrote:
>> Just to make sure, you *did* eventually see Franc Zabcar's port? They
>> *did* put it in Preferences. Added it to the bottom.
>>
>> "Query Suggestions "
>> . Provide query suggestions in the search box.
>> . Do not provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>
>>
>> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
>> news:OqSzOBvCJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>> I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable
>>> javascript (especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that
>>> will solve it. But then you are left with disabled javascript, so
>>> you would need to install an
>>> extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
>>> appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
>>> javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a
>>> way to achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it
>>> installed. You might ask in another newsgroup.
>>>
>>> Google tried this once before and must have received a negative
>>> response because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would
>>> let you set a site preference, similar to languages or the amount of
>>> results listed per page, but that would probably be too uncoercive
>>> for any of the big boys. I think this is a generational thing, and
>>> most of the "anti's" are languishing
>>> on the downside of the age curve.
>>>
>>> letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>>>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google,
>>>> these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate
>>>> that feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing.
>>>> I want
>>>> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>>>> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>>>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or
>>>> do
>>>> I need to just find a new search engine?
>

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Gary S. Terhune]

In IE, the Google setting takes precedence over my own "remember" list.

--
Gary S. Terhune
MS-MVP Shell/User
http://grystmill.com

"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message
news:46rlb4p87i87fqsth0tivi6ki3q65ef3eq@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:18:06 -0400, "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> put
> finger to keyboard and composed:
>
> BTW, it seems there are two culprits which are responsible for
> automatically generating search suggestions. In Firefox under Tools ->
> Options -> Privacy you also have a checkbox called "Remember what I
> enter in forms and the search bar". This checkbox appears to take
> precedence over Google's cookie, at least in my installation. I don't
> know what happens with IE, though.
>
>>Yikes - no, I missed that. Thanks Gary. Thanks Frank. (Thanks Google)
>>
>>Gary S. Terhune wrote:
>>> Just to make sure, you *did* eventually see Franc Zabcar's port? They
>>> *did* put it in Preferences. Added it to the bottom.
>>>
>>> "Query Suggestions "
>>> . Provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>> . Do not provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
>>> news:OqSzOBvCJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable
>>>> javascript (especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that
>>>> will solve it. But then you are left with disabled javascript, so
>>>> you would need to install an
>>>> extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
>>>> appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
>>>> javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a
>>>> way to achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it
>>>> installed. You might ask in another newsgroup.
>>>>
>>>> Google tried this once before and must have received a negative
>>>> response because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would
>>>> let you set a site preference, similar to languages or the amount of
>>>> results listed per page, but that would probably be too uncoercive
>>>> for any of the big boys. I think this is a generational thing, and
>>>> most of the "anti's" are languishing
>>>> on the downside of the age curve.
>>>>
>>>> letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>>>>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google,
>>>>> these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely hate
>>>>> that feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am typing.
>>>>> I want
>>>>> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>>>>> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>>>>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or
>>>>> do
>>>>> I need to just find a new search engine?
>>
>
> - Franc Zabkar
> --
> Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

[Roger Fink]

Unlike in Firefox, we SeaMonkey users (browser only, in my case) don't have
that second culprit you mention. However, in the past the basic tactic has
been to hang one car behind the leader and get that extra 10 mph draft, so
I'm sure version 2.0, when they finally release it, will offer searchbox
suggestions.

Franc Zabkar wrote:
> On Sat, 30 Aug 2008 19:18:06 -0400, "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> put
> finger to keyboard and composed:
>
> BTW, it seems there are two culprits which are responsible for
> automatically generating search suggestions. In Firefox under Tools ->
> Options -> Privacy you also have a checkbox called "Remember what I
> enter in forms and the search bar". This checkbox appears to take
> precedence over Google's cookie, at least in my installation. I don't
> know what happens with IE, though.
>
>> Yikes - no, I missed that. Thanks Gary. Thanks Frank. (Thanks Google)
>>
>> Gary S. Terhune wrote:
>>> Just to make sure, you *did* eventually see Franc Zabcar's port?
>>> They *did* put it in Preferences. Added it to the bottom.
>>>
>>> "Query Suggestions "
>>> . Provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>> . Do not provide query suggestions in the search box.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Roger Fink" <fink@manana.org> wrote in message
>>> news:OqSzOBvCJHA.4724@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> I hate it too. If you use a browser where it's easy to disable
>>>> javascript (especially if it can be turned off via the GUI) that
>>>> will solve it. But then you are left with disabled javascript, so
>>>> you would need to install an
>>>> extension that allows you to create a whitelist or a blacklist, as
>>>> appropriate to your preferences, to control which sites are
>>>> javascript-disabled and which are functioning. I believe there is a
>>>> way to achieve this in Firefox and SeaMonkey, but I don't have it
>>>> installed. You might ask in another newsgroup.
>>>>
>>>> Google tried this once before and must have received a negative
>>>> response because they gave up on it. It would be nice if they would
>>>> let you set a site preference, similar to languages or the amount
>>>> of results listed per page, but that would probably be too
>>>> uncoercive for any of the big boys. I think this is a generational
>>>> thing, and most of the "anti's" are languishing
>>>> on the downside of the age curve.
>>>>
>>>> letterman@invalid.com wrote:
>>>>> Lately when I type in a word or phrase to search for in google,
>>>>> these search suggestions pop up under my typing. I absolutely
>>>>> hate that feature. All it does is steal my focus of what I am
>>>>> typing. I want
>>>>> to block this feature in all browsers (IE and FF). I know that
>>>>> disabling java script works, but I dont want to do that because it
>>>>> interferes with other functions. Is it possible to block this, or
>>>>> do
>>>>> I need to just find a new search engine?
>>
>
> - Franc Zabkar