my search bar


 •  What is the My Search Bar?
 •  How do I "uninstall" the
My Search Bar?
 •  Will the My Search Bar work with my Web browser?
 •  To find out what version your browser is, try this...
 •  What are the system requirements for installing the My Search Bar?
 •  Does the My Search Bar track where I go on the Internet?
 •  How can I feel safe knowing the My Search Bar is not "spyware"?
 
navigating


 •  Can I search the Web with the My Search Bar?
 •  Can I hide the My Search Bar on my browser?

customizing


 •  How do I customize the My Search Bar?
 •  How do I add or modify buttons on the
My Search Bar?
 •  How do I change the layout of the My Search Bar?
 •  How do I add links to the My Search Bar?
 •  How do I change my default Search button?

troubleshooting guide


 •  The
My Search Bar says, "Retrieving buttons from My Search..."
 •  I installed the
My Search Bar, but it does not appear. Why?
 •  I cannot find "
My Search Bar" in my Interent Explorer toolbars menu.
 •  The
Toolbar was on my Internet Explorer browser but now it's gone. What happened?

 
general questions


What is the My Search Bar?
The My Search Bar installs directly onto your Web browser. Its design allows you to easily search the Web using a variety of popular search engines at your fingertips. It also offers you the ability to add your own personalized buttons and links for one-click access to all your favorite sites and pages on the Internet. The My Search Bar is free to use.
 
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How do I "uninstall" the My Search Bar?
You can easily uninstall the My Search Bar using the instructions below:
 •  Close all open Web browsers
 •  From the "Start" menu in Windows, select "Control Panel", and then select "Add/Remove Programs"
 •  Select "My Search Bar"
 •  Click "Change/Remove"

The My Search bar will be uninstalled. However, if you reopen your Web browser, and still see the My Search Bar, you may need to restart your computer for the uninstall process to be completed.

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Will the My Search Bar work with my Web browser?
The My Search Bar will work with the most recent versions of Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. The Search Bar is fully compatible with Internet Explorer versions 5.0 and above. The Search Bar is compatible with Netscape Navigator versions 4.0 through 4.79. The Search Bar is not compatible with browser versions below 4.0 and currently is not compatible with Netscape 6.0 and 7.0.
 
To find out what version your browser is, try this:
Internet Explorer: Go to the Help menu located at the top of your browser. Select "About Internet Explorer." A box will appear that tells you what version you have.
 
Netscape Navigator: Go to the Help menu located at the top of your browser. Select "About Navigator." A page will appear that tells you the name of the browser (Navigator or Communicator) and the version.
 
Note to AOL Users: The My Search Bar is designed for use with standard Web browsers and currently will not function within AOL's software or its built-in Web browser. However, you can use My Search Bar on any supported browser you launch while you are connected to the Internet through AOL.
 
Note to WebTV Users: The My Search Bar currently does not function with the WebTV interface.
 
Note to CompuServe Users: The My Search Bar is designed for use with standard Web browsers and currently will not function with the browser supplied by CompuServe.
 
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What are the system requirements for installing the Toolbar?
The My Search Bar is currently available for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT 4.0, Windows XP, Windows ME, and Windows 2000. The My Search Bar software and cache require only 300k of disk space on the disk drive containing your windows directory (usually the C: drive). If you are currently able to run a supported Web browser on your computer, you should be able to install and run the My Search Bar. In particular, your Web browser and the My Search Bar require a 486 or newer, compatible processor, 16 MB of RAM, VGA display (SVGA is recommended), a mouse or similar pointing device, and Internet access.
 
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Does the My Search Bar track where I go on the Internet?
The My Search Bar does not monitor or report back to My Search information about where you are traveling when you leave the My Search service, or what you do on other Web sites.
 
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How can I feel safe knowing the My Search Bar is not "spyware"?
The following should help clarify that the My Search Bar is NOT spying on you and that we take guarding your privacy seriously.

 •  The My Search Bar DOES NOT track, collate or aggregate any information about a user when the user is NOT on the My Search service.
 •  The My Search Bar DOES NOT collect information stored on your user system and DOES NOT upload information from your computer system to My Search.
 •  The My Search Bar IS subject to My Search's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
 •  The My Search Bar can be uninstalled from the "Add/Remove Programs" Control Panel. In this case, all of the toolbar's registry settings that hook the My Seach Bar into your Web browser are deleted. It is also safe to delete the My Search Bar's executable code without uninstalling the toolbar. The My Search Bar's executable code is (by default) installed in a sub-directory of "\Program Files\My Search\My Search Bar
" on the user's drive containing their Windows directory.
 •  Installation of the My Search Bar DOES NOT change the signature of any email or newsgroup clients or cause such clients to advertise the My Search service.


Our intention was to build a toolbar that would be of value to our users by always providing easy access to a number of popular search engines, while offering the ability to personalize the My Search Bar to provide one-click access to any site or page on the Web. At the same time, we take the privacy concerns of our users seriously and we have tried to design the My Search Bar out of respect for these concerns. We believe that we have succeeded and will continue to work on improving the My Search Bar with these concerns in mind.
 
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navigating


Can I search the Web with the My Search Bar?
Yes! In fact, the My Search Bar allows you to search the Web using a number of popular search engine options. You can look up images, MP3s, people and more - as well as perform a general Web search - using either My Way Search (powered by Google), AltaVista, AlltheWeb, Ask.com or LookSmart. All this can be done right from the My Search Bar. Finding what you're searching for has never been easier or more convenient. 
 
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Can I hide the My Search Bar from my browser?
If you are using Internet Explorer 5.0 or above, you can hide the My Search Bar by doing the following:
 •  Go to the "View" menu at the top of your browser.
 •  Select "Toolbars"
 •  Click "My Search Bar" to hide; click again to unhide.

If you are using Internet Explorer 4.0 you cannot hide the My Search Bar. If you are using any version of Netscape Navigator, you cannot currently hide the My Search Bar.
 
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customizing


How do I customize the My Search Bar?
To customize the My Search Bar, click on the "My Search" button on the toolbar. 

You will be shown the following customization options:

 •  Add/Remove Buttons: This option allows you to choose a default search provider button, as well as add other search provider buttons and your own personalized buttons that you would like to see appear on your My Search Bar.

 •  Change Order of Buttons: This option allows you to customize the order in which your selected buttons are displayed on the My Search Bar.

 •  Edit Personalized Buttons: This option allows you to customize your personalized buttons and links.

 •  Change Default Search Provider: This option allows you to choose a default search provider button or change your current settings.

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How do I add or modify buttons on the Toolbar?
Go to the "Personalize My Search Bar" page by selecting "Add/Remove Buttons" from the "My Search" button on the Search Bar. On this page you are able to select which buttons you wish to have displayed on your My Search Bar. You can select up to 5 search providers as well as 5 personalized buttonsfrom the available list to have displayed on your Search Bar.

Once you have selected the buttons that you would like to display on your Search Bar, click "Finished" when done, click "Change Layout" to change the order of the buttons on your Search Bar, or click "Edit My Buttons" to edit your personalized buttons.

Note: If you choose to include more buttons than will fit across the Search Bar at one time, you can find the remaining buttons at the right side of the Search Bar under the "More>>" button. Clicking on this button will show you a list of the remaining buttons that will not fit within the Search Bar.

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How do I change the layout of the My Search Bar buttons?
Once you have selected the buttons that you would like to display on your Search Bar, click on the "Change Layout" button on the "Personalize My Search Bar" page. (Or from your Search Bar, click the "My Search" button and select "Change Order of Buttons.") On this page you are able to specify the order in which the buttons are displayed on the Search Bar.

Click a button name in the "button order" box and then click the up and down arrow buttons to move it up or down within the list of buttons. Buttons that you move to the top of this list will display immediately to the right of the Search box on the My Search Bar.

To remove a button, click a button name and then click the "X" button to the right of the "button order" box.

When you have placed the buttons in the order which you would like them displayed, click either "Finished" if you are done, "Add More" to add more buttons to your toolbar, or "Edit My Buttons" to further customize your My Search Bar buttons.

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How do I add links to the My Search Bar?
If you have chosen to add any of the personalized buttons to your My Search Bar, this page will allow you to customize each individual button with specific links of your choosing.

To customize any of the personalized buttons, select the button that you would like to customize from the list at the top.

Note: If you wish to customize any of the personalized buttons, you will have to have already selected them within the "Personalize My Search Bar" page.

Personalized Button Customization

Button Title: This is how the particular button will be labeled on the My Search Bar. If you leave this field blank, your toolbar will display "My Button X" where "X" is the default button name.

Button URL: Enter in the URL of the page that you would like this button to point to. By clicking on this button, you will then be taken directly to that page.

Button Icon: Select, from the displayed options, the icon that you would like to be shown for that particular button.

Edit/Add links in button

You can customize additional links within each button that will display within the drop down list when clicking the arrow next to each button. To do so, enter in the link name as you would like it displayed on the list as well as the URL of the page that you wish to point to. Click on the "Add>>" button to add the new link to the list for this button

To change the order in which these additional links are displayed within the button drop-down menu, click the link name in the right box and then click the up and down arrow buttons to move it within the list.

To remove a link form this list, click on the link you wish to remove and then click the "X" button.

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How do I change my default Search button?
If you want to change the search provider that your My Search Bar defaults to when you enter a search (in other words, the first search button to the right of the search box), click the "My Search" button and choose "Change Default Search Provider." 

You have the option of changing your default search provider from a list of all My Search Bar search providers. You may also add or remove My Search Bar search buttons - or your personalized buttons - while on this page.

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troubleshooting guide


The My Search Bar says, "Retrieving buttons from
My Search..."
In some cases, this will happen when you first launch your browser. Retrieving buttons should not last more than 10 seconds. If it takes longer than 10 seconds, you might not be connected to the Internet. You must first connect to the Internet using a network login or ISP account.
 
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I installed the My Search Bar, but it does not appear. Why?
The toolbar may be hidden. If you have Internet Explorer, do the following to unhide the My Search Bar:

 •  Go to the "View" menu at the top of your browser
 •  Select "Toolbars"
 •  Click "My Search Bar" to unhide the Toolbar

Microsoft has reported a significant bug with versions of Internet Explorer between 5.0.0.0 and 5.00.2919.0. If your Internet Explorer version number is within this range and your computer's operating system is Windows NT or Windows 2000, you should upgrade to the latest version of Internet Explorer. The bug in these versions may prevent you from successfully using the My Search Bar.
 
To find out what version of Internet Explorer you have, go to the Help menu located at the top of your browser. Select "About Internet Explorer." A box will appear that tells you what version you have.
 
If at some point you uninstalled the My Search Bar, and you are using a Microsoft browser, you may experience difficulty seeing it right away if you attempt to re-install it. The easiest way to make the My Search Bar reappear is to close and restart your Web browser.
 
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I cannot find "My Search Bar" in my Internet Explorer toolbars menu.
There is a known bug with certain versions of Internet Explorer that will cause the My Search Bar to be labeled "Radio" under the toolbars list. If this is the case with your browser, you'll need to do the following to hide or unhide the My Search Bar:

 •  Go to the "View" menu at the top of your browser
 •  Select "Toolbars"
 •  Click on each instance of "Radio" until you see the Search Bar hide/unhide

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The My Search Bar was on my Internet Explorer browser but now it's gone. What happened?
On certain occasions when using Internet Explorer 5.0, you might notice the My Search Bar is not visible when you re-launch the browser. If this happens, do the following:

 •  Go to the "View" menu at the top of your browser
 •  Select "Toolbars"
 •  Click "My Search Bar" to restore the Toolbar on your browser.
 
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search the web
  

Use capital letters to avoid lowercase matches
By using capital letters at the beginning of search terms, you are searching for web pages that contain only capitalized versions of your search terms. For example, a search for White House would only turn up web pages where those words are capitalized and will ignore pages that contain the same words in all lowercase.

To see how this works, click the Search button below...

search the web
  

Use quotes to search for exact phrases
If you have an exact set of words that you are searching for, use quotation marks around these words when searching. Quotation marks tell the search engine to find only those Web sites that contain your search terms in the exact order that you type them in.

Click the Search button below to see, or type in your own phrase.

search the web
  

Use minus signs to exclude keywords
Plus + and minus - symbols can be used to include or exclude search keywords. We've designed our search engine to automatically add a plus + sign to every word you enter. If you want to keep one or more words from appearing in your search results, just add a minus - symbol before each keyword you would like to exclude.

Try this example to see...


search the web
  

Use metawords to search for something specific
Metawords give special instructions to the search engine and allow you to search for specific Web page characteristics. For instance, you can use the metaword title: to search for Web page titles of a particular name. When using metawords, you should always separate the metaword and your first search term with a colon, but with no spaces in between. Metawords can also be used to exclude Web pages by placing a minus - symbol before the metaword. You can use any of the following metawords with our search engine:

title: Allows you to locate or exclude web pages by title
domain: Allows you to locate or exclude web pages by url domain
link: Allows you to locate web pages that contain links to a specific url

The following example uses the metaword title to search for civil war sites.


search the web
  

This example makes use of the metaword domain to search for government web sites.

search the web
  

Try searching with a Boolean term
Boolean terms are capitalized words that require certain keywords to be included or excluded from your search results. These work very similarly to the plus + and minus - symbols. You can use any of the following Booleans when searching:

AND
OR
AND NOT

search the web
  

Use wildcard symbols when you're not sure
Wildcards are very handy when you are not exactly sure of the syntax or spelling of what you are looking for. The asterisk * symbol can be used at any point in your search to look for a string of unknown letters or characters. The question mark ? can be used at any point to search for a single unknown letter or character. You can use as many wildcard symbols in a search as you need to, so long as your search includes at least three adjacent characters that are not wildcard symbols. For example, the search grand* will return Web pages that contain the words grandparents, Grand Banks, and so on. An example of a search using the question mark is william shakesp??re. Question marks are particularly helpful when you are not sure of the spelling of a particular word.

Try it for yourself...


search the web
  

Add words to refine your search
If you have searched for something but still haven't found the right Web page, use the My Search Search box found on the right hand side of the search results page. We make it simple to refine your search by remembering the words you've just searched with. You can easily add words to this search box to further refine your search or to start a new search.
Enabling "Smartupdate" (Netscape 4.5 and after):

 •  Go to the "Edit" menu at the top of your browser
 •  Select "Preferences"
 •  Click on the category named "Advanced"
 •  Click on "Smartupdate"
 •  Make sure checkbox named "Enable Smartupdate" is checked
 
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