There is a change beginning in Firefox 4 in how Location bar search works. *'''''In Firefox 3.6.x''''', Location bar search uses Google "Browse by name" search. With the browse by name search, it performs a Google search and **if there is a clear match it will take you to the site **otherwise it shows the Google search result page *'''''Firefox 4 and newer versions the default''''' is **to perform a Google search and present the Google search results page '''''if''''' you type something which is not recognized as a URL **you must type a complete URL, such as www.youtube.com , to go directly to the site To get the Firefox 3.6.x behavior in Firefox 4 and newer versions. you need to change a hidden preference '''''OR''''' install the add-on below. '''To change the preference:''' #Type '''''about:config''''' into the location bar and press the Enter key #If you see a warning, accept it (promise to be careful) #A list of preferences will open #Filter = keyword.URL #Double-click on that preference in the lower pane #A small window will appear; copy one of the URLs below and paste into the box in that small window (or type it into the box in that window '''''exactly''''' as shown below): *Google "I'm Feeling Lucky": http://www.google.com/search?btnI=I%27m+Feeling+Lucky&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q= *Google "Browse by Name": http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q= '''Instead of the above, you could install this extension:''' *'''''Browse by name''''' add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/browse-by-name See: *http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keyword.URL *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Location_Bar_search '''If this reply solves your problem, please click "Solved It" next to this reply when <u>signed-in</u> to the forum.''' ------------------------- Not related to your question, but... You need to update some plug-ins: *Plug-in check: https://www-trunk.stage.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ *Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Shockwave%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-shockwave Installing ('''''or Updating''''') the Shockwave plugin with Firefox] *Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Adobe%20Reader%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-and-updating-adobe-reader Installing/Updating Adobe Reader in Firefox] *Shockwave Flash (Adobe Flash or Flash): [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Managing%20the%20Flash%20plugin#w_updating-flash Updating Flash in Firefox] *Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: [https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using%20the%20Java%20plugin%20with%20Firefox#w_installing-or-updating-java Installing or Updating Java in Firefox] --------------------------- Does not relate to your question, but... You have multiple old Java Console extensions that Java did not clean-up during updates. You need Java Console only if you do Java programming/development or debug Java applets on web pages. You can see them in Add-ons > Extensions, '''''but you can not remove them from there'''''. Removing them will not affect the functioning of Java on websites. You can '''''manually''''' remove them, '''''if you do not do Java development work''''' to avoid future, possible problems/conflicts: *http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java#Multiple_Java_Console_extensions Your old Java Console Extensions: *Java Console 6.0.20 {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0020-ABCDEFFEDCBA} *Java Console 6.0.21 {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0021-ABCDEFFEDCBA} *Java Console 6.0.23 {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0023-ABCDEFFEDCBA} *Java Console 6.0.24 {CAFEEFAC-0016-0000-0024-ABCDEFFEDCBA}