thanks vignon - I know what you are talking about favourites but this is different.
e.g. if I type in www.dailymail.co.uk then after looking at the site type www.dailymirror.co.uk then if I want to go back to dailymail all I USED to have to do was type dail and dailymail and dailymirror would show up together - this would be the same for any sites with the same initial letter - I hope I have not confused you.
Thanks for all your answers - yes indeed I had switched off browser in
Tools, Internet Options - "delete browsing history on exit" - that is where the problem was - hopefully this helps somebody else. anyway thanks to the rest of you for the answers - it is great to get help on these sites for practically everything. XXX