used it several times today with no problem or slow downs at all.

Just used it with no problem.

Nope! Fine off and on all day today, and yesterday too.

Delete your cookies and browser temp files, and try again. You may have a corrupt entry.

DA

Thanks all. I still have the problem after running various antivirus software, delting cookies, temp files, etc.

First, no displayed results (blank field, although ), then when I retry a couple times, I end up having to enter a kaptcha on Google. After that the results pop immediately, as well as thereafter for a while. Still trying to figure it out. BTW, I'm encountering the same problem on different browsers (Firefox & IE).

The other annoying new thing is the blue bar on the Google home page that says "Come here often? Make Google my home page...." This is every time I open Google via my favorites link so maybe I'll delete and refresh that next.

Ok, here we go. Now Google wants to me to create (personalize) my own Google home page. Ugh, I just want the basic thing to remain simple, open fast, and that's it.

Sorry for overposting, but I wanted to mention that google.com on IE get's me to a somewhat plain google page, yet when using Firefox's address bar (recently updated to version 3.6.17) it now will only redirect to a google subaddress asking to personalize. The link below shows where it's sending me.

Here is a link that might be useful: Google

well that link takes me to my personalized google page so I assume it is just the direct link to the personalize page.

when you type in http://www.google.com
it is re-directing you?

Trouble connecting: Google.com automatically takes me to another Google site

see if any of that info helps

Have you run an updated malwarebytes scan to make sure you do not have a re direct infection?

Yes. When using Firefox (the one I just updated to), if I type http://www.google.com I now get directed to igoogle...always. In my version of Firefox (3.6.17) it is no longer possible to get the the plain old, cleaner-looking Google.com homepage anymore. Raven, the links you sent did not help to remedy this. Even the mentioned http://www.google.com/ncr sends me to the same page, iGoogle (personalizable page). I guess that's how it has to be with this version of Firefox.

On the other hand, IE still let's me go to http://www.google.com.

Although I'm not a Mac user, I read a thread on a Mac forum that mentions this iGoogle redirect as far back as 2005.

Yet again Google made me complete a kaptcha to get my search results. Here's the message from the kaptcha page:

"About this page

Our systems have detected unusual traffic from your computer network. This page checks to see if it's really you sending the requests, and not a robot....."

Nothing is showing up on my antivirus (Malwarebytes and Superantispyware) so I don't know what this is all about.

FF add-ons you have installed?

DA

Not much in terms of extensions: Ad-block Plus and Flashblock. Also, it turns out everyone in the house (three computers sharing DSL via WiFi) is having the same Google search problems (blank searches & daily captcha's to continue onto the results. Next I'll be unplugging the router for a couple minutes, then plugging back in.

With FF4 I no longer type my query in the Google space, I type directly into the address bar and off we go. Would that make any difference on your computer?

Another option of course might be to swap to Yahoo or another search engine.

Maybe it could help, but I'm going to hold off with FF4 until they have a chance to find some bugs and do a few updates.

In the meantime, I'm either dealing with the captcha annoyance or using Bing, Yahoo...and whatever else.

I would suggest you go ahead with FF4 as it isn't as bad as some charcterize it as. You take ten users; eight of them are just fine with it, one is resistant to change, and the last wants everything as they know it. Progress marches forward for all of us; like it or not.

FF5 beta 2 was released recently so it is down the pipe.

DA

As DA suggests you can always try FF4 and if it plays up it can be deleted and an older version installed. I have had no issues since updating myself.

I fully agree with DA on the complaints too, many folk are never satisfied and any program that can be easily removed should be considered if you have issues with a current set up.