Ideas, sure, always, but will they work?
Don't know. Maybe any of a few things will work, maybe none. I guess you are running XP because I don't have a Google bar, but then I don't have active desktop/content on or channels or any other animated stuff and use the classic desktop (2000).
Try these things:
From IEx.x, click on the search icon and select Customize. (If you can't see the search icon, right click the toolbar and select, customize. Find and insert the search icon onto the toolbar.) After selecting Customize, select Autosearch settings. Select Google
Other options: Edit the registry
Look at these keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main
Search Bar
Search Page
Use Custom Search Url
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl
string value name> (Default)
string value data>
http://www.google.com
string value name> provider
string value data>gogl
(Don't know why it doesn't spell right.)
Last suggestion: changing the Local Compute Policy (applies to everyone if PC is not a member of a domain)
WARNING: Changing the Local Computer Policy and the sub objects, User Configuration and/or Computer Configuration, will cause slightly slower booting because all the policy options are checked when any policy is enabled. Use at your own risk.
Under Run --> MMC --> add the snap-in for Group Policy (It actually appears as Local Computer Policy)
Select User Configuration --> Windows Settings --> Internet Explorer Maintenance --> URLs. Customize/modify any of the three options you want to change.
Couldn't find other pertinent options under the following, but it's still insteresting to browse:
MMC --> Local Computer Policy (added snap-in) --> User Configuration -->Administrative Templates --> Windows Components --> Internet Explorer.
Objects override IEx.x settings in the user interface on IE (Tools>Internet Options>).
