I would like to remove the search bar from IE in Windows 7 as I use the Google toolbar. Is there a way to do this? Or am I locked in to this space waster?

Hey Robin,No it is not possible to remove the search field in IE. :( Jabez Gan [MVP] - http://www.msblog.org

I have removed it in Vista and I would think it is the same in Win7. Im not on a Win7 machine at the moment so cannot check out the registry keys. This is what you do: Click the Windows Orb (Start), type regedit, press Enter and navigate to registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft. Right-click Microsoft and click Edit > New > Key and name it Internet Explorer (note the space), now right-click Internet Explorer and click Edit > New > Key and name it Infodelivery, now right-click Infodelivery and click Edit > New > Key and name it Restrictions. Finally, right-click Restrictions and click Edit > New > DWORD Value and name it NoSearchBox. In the right pane, right-click NoSearchBox and modify its value to 1 (one). Create a system restore point first just in case anything goes wrong during the registry updating. If you have Ultimate, try this: Click the Windows Orb (Start), type gpedit.msc and press Enter. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer. Now scroll down to the "Prevent the Internet Explorer search box from displaying" option, double-click it and set it to "Enabled".Added by Forum Moderator:Warning: While this solution solves the issue or problem, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk. For more information about modifying the registry, see Microsoft support article 256986.

You can make the search field smaller just be clicking and dragging the spacer between it and the address bar, but I would not recommend changing things in the registry!

Thank you all, now to decide if I want to play with the registry.

BurrWalnut said: I have removed it in Vista and I would think it is the same in Win7. Im not on a Win7 machine at the moment so cannot check out the registry keys. This is what you do: Click the Windows Orb (Start), type regedit, press Enter and navigate to registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft. Right-click Microsoft and click Edit > New > Key and name it Internet Explorer (note the space), now right-click Internet Explorer and click Edit > New > Key and name it Infodelivery, now right-click Infodelivery and click Edit > New > Key and name it Restrictions. Finally, right-click Restrictions and click Edit > New > DWORD Value and name it NoSearchBox. In the right pane, right-click NoSearchBox and modify its value to 1 (one). Create a system restore point first just in case anything goes wrong during the registry updating. If you have Ultimate, try this: Click the Windows Orb (Start), type gpedit.msc and press Enter. Navigate to User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Internet Explorer. Now scroll down to the "Prevent the Internet Explorer search box from displaying" option, double-click it and set it to "Enabled".I used your second method and it works fine, search bar is gone. Thank you. Now to work on my most important problem is to get the Windows 7 PC to wake from sleep by network request or LAN.

Joelw135I should have said that the above will make the changes for all users of the computer. If you want to apply it to an individual, reset the above and use the HKEY_CURRENT_USER key and the User Configuration branch in gpedit.msc.

Who helped you to remove the address search bar, being that i have a small laptop and I need as much space as possible and the bar blocks many things. Could you help me?