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How do I get back the functionality for the alphabetical drop down from my previous searches in the center Google search box of the Mozilla Firefox Start Page?

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  • Last reply by askmozilla

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In the afternoon of August 24 I lost a feature on my Mozilla Firefox Start Page and I cannot figure out how to get it back. It concerns the Google Search area in the MIDDLE of the page. Previously, when I would want to do a search, for example Amazon, I would type the letter 'A' and, because I had typed 'Amazon' in that Search box before, an alphabetical drop-down menu would come up with 'Amazon' in it. I could then click on that word without having to type the rest of it. That option is no longer working.

I had done an Adobe Reader update that Friday morning, so I thought that might be why this happened,. I did a System Restore and took the system back to Tuesday, August 21. That did not help.

I ran CCleaner and cleaned the Registry also. Interestingly enough, I found that right after I do that and then open a Mozilla Firefox Start Page, the alphabetical drop down function is back in the center Search bar for one time, one search. After that it is gone again. I go in and do just CCleaner (no Registry cleaning required) and the same thing happens...the functionality is there for one search only.

I went in and made sure all my Add-ons/Plug-ins are up to date. I also ran a full system scan but no issues came up.

I am computer illiterate, so please bear with me. I have no idea if any of the things I tried would have helped or not.

I have Windows 7 and Firefox 15.0.1

I appreciate any help you can provide.

In the afternoon of August 24 I lost a feature on my Mozilla Firefox Start Page and I cannot figure out how to get it back. It concerns the Google Search area in the MIDDLE of the page. Previously, when I would want to do a search, for example Amazon, I would type the letter 'A' and, because I had typed 'Amazon' in that Search box before, an alphabetical drop-down menu would come up with 'Amazon' in it. I could then click on that word without having to type the rest of it. That option is no longer working. I had done an Adobe Reader update that Friday morning, so I thought that might be why this happened,. I did a System Restore and took the system back to Tuesday, August 21. That did not help. I ran CCleaner and cleaned the Registry also. Interestingly enough, I found that right after I do that and then open a Mozilla Firefox Start Page, the alphabetical drop down function is back in the center Search bar for one time, one search. After that it is gone again. I go in and do just CCleaner (no Registry cleaning required) and the same thing happens...the functionality is there for one search only. I went in and made sure all my Add-ons/Plug-ins are up to date. I also ran a full system scan but no issues came up. I am computer illiterate, so please bear with me. I have no idea if any of the things I tried would have helped or not. I have Windows 7 and Firefox 15.0.1 I appreciate any help you can provide.

Chosen solution

It worked! I went into "Troubleshooting Information" and clicked on "Reset Firefox" which solved the problem. Thank you VERY much.

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Hi askmozilla

Go from Firefox button (Tools Win XP) > OptionsTools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history" > check "Remember search and form history" [v].

see for info : Use custom settings for history

see also for info Changing autocomplete behavior - Firefox for location or search bar


thank you

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I completed the Privacy tab of the Options as you directed, clicked "OK" and closed out the Options box. It did not solve the problem, so I went back into the Options > Privacy and noticed the "Firefox will" has defaulted back to "Remember history"; it did not retain the "Use custom settings for history" that I previously selected.

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Chosen Solution

It worked! I went into "Troubleshooting Information" and clicked on "Reset Firefox" which solved the problem. Thank you VERY much.

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you are welcome

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See also:


The "Use custom settings for history" setting allows to see the current history and cookie settings, but selecting that setting doesn't make any changes to history and cookie settings.
Firefox shows the "Use custom settings for history" setting as an indication that at least one of the history and cookie settings is not the default to make you aware that changes were made.
If all History settings are default then the custom settings are hidden and you see "Firefox will: (Never) Remember History".

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Thank you for the additional information. It was very helpful.