Still no luck

[tearinghair]

After several days I'm still no nearer being able to Search the AB site. The situation is exactly the same, i.e. there's no Search button to the right of the web/site dots, and the button underneath still has the orange frame through it. I've seen a suggestion that I need to upgrade to IE 8, but I don't particularly want to do that. I know the Technology section loves Firefox, but I'd rather stick with the one I know. Is there any possibility that this problen will be fixed by AB?

[Sly,Duck]

I have the orange bar going through my search box, just click on part of the box underneath the bar that is still visable and it will search

[snags]

''I've seen a suggestion that I need to upgrade to IE 8, but I don't particularly want to do that.''

Can I ask why?

[tearinghair]

Thank you very much, SlyDuck. I thought I had tried that, but in fact I'd been clicking on the orange frame. Now I've tried it just below the frame, and it works perfectly.

Snags, I've been avoiding the upgrade for two reasons: first, because when it originally came out there were a lot of comments in the Technology section that it caused problems, and second because I'm afraid it may take up more room than IE7 on my hard drive which is getting very crowded.

[factor-fiction]

Do you have a search box, though, tearinghair?
If so, just type the search item into it and press your enter key to activate your search.
Let me know how you get on

[bibblebub]

I just loaded this page in IE7 and I don't the search button either (thank goodness I use Firefox).

As factor30 says, just hitting the return key will do the search.

[factor-fiction]

I use IE 8 and I don't recall having any problems at all. Might be worth trying it now. The longer you delay the more likely you are to fall behind the times when using other sites too.

[tearinghair]

Yes, that works too. Many thanks Factor and Bibblebub.
I think I'll clear a bit of space on the hard disk and then upgrade to IE8. Difficult to know where to start though; I've already got rid of a lot of stuff and it never seems to make much difference. Perhaps I'll run ccleaner, but last time I did that it took me a while to replace some items that had been erased in the process.

[AB Editor]

IE is more compatible with modern websites, so it is probably wise to upgrade.

As to space - if it replaces IE7 you'll be swapping some of the space - so the larger program shouldn't be a massive problem. Out of interest, how big is your hard-drive?

We're still looking at the problems caused by the recent AB upgrade. Please bear with us.

All the best,

Spare Ed

[tearinghair]

Thanks for your help, spare ed. The hard drive size is showing as 18.64 GB (though when I had to have something repaired recently the mender said that this was an unlikely amount), with the current free space at 2.12 GB, i.e. 11%, though this fluctuates. I'm not capable of opening up the tower to insert any extra - I rely on my son for that, and he lives in California - so I'm trying to hang on until he comes at Christmas to change to a new computer and Windows 7 (presently on XP).

[factor-fiction]

You'll have enough space for IE8.
Have you run a disk clean up exercise and got rid of things in your recycle bin? It's easy to do.
Even if you don't want to risk getting rid of any programmes you don't use you will be able to save quite a bit of space if you get rid of (delete or copy onto a pendrive) any videos, pictures or music) you don't need any more.

[AB Editor]

You have tons of space then.

I would suggest visiting here and downloading IE8: http://www.microsoft..../worldwide-sites.aspx

The download is about 16MB - if you have 2GB that's (roughly) 2000MB. You will be fine.

Spare Ed

[Jan1957]

I am using IE8 and still have the same problem as tearing hair. It has only been since the update but nothing I do changes it.

[factor-fiction]

I have IE8 and I don't have the problem. Maybe it has something to do with screen settings.

[trt]

'' I know the Technology section loves Firefox, but I'd rather stick with the one I know ''

Firefox is easy to get used to and its a lot faster.

[tearinghair]

Thanks, everyone, for your suggestions. Yes, factor30, I run disk cleanup regularly and check the recycle bin - empty at the moment. I've transferred all my old photos and videos to a separate bit on the G drive, just keeping ones from this year on C in case I want to edit them. Hardly any itunes, so that wouldn't make much difference. The last time I ran ccleaner it freed up loads of space, but as I mentioned it also took away some things that I had to re-install.

The reason I'm thinking there isn't much room on C is because when I attempt to de-frag it tells me that to do it properly it needs at least 15% of space, and I'm well below that.
I'll go for the upgrade to IE8 after the weekend.

[factor-fiction]

If you get automatic Java update syou may find you've got several older versions on there that you don't need.

[Coldicote]

Not much help I'm afraid but I have IE7 which is working well, so I doubt if that is the problem. I have both IE7 and Firefox - you can have more than one browser - though as far as I can see Firefox is mainly useful for blocking out unwanted frames and adverts. Apart from that it has too many add-ons and plug-ins for my liking.

[tearinghair]

Thanks for the link, Spare Ed, I've successfully upgraded to IE 8 and all the lines, spaces and boxes have appeared on the AB site.