Joan writes: > I wonder if this could depend on a cookie? Perhaps if certain cookie options are checked off in the browser the history is not recorded? This is really just a guess. < You mentioned earlier about using the AOL search box for searching. I don't. I access Google as a "favorite", and it goes to the URL window, where I use it. I don't think I've ever used the AOL search box (I assume you mean the one up by the Keyword box.) And I never get a history - from the pull-down list - beyond that which I've accessed since I've been on-line. I'm on and off my dial-up modem 8 or 9 times a day - not much time to build a history <gr>. Of course, I have my Preferences set to do just that - clear history and temp. internet files each time I sign off. Elaine writes: > Have you tried a control key/H to see your search history? < I have now, since you wrote....but it doesn't work. And that's fine, because I don't care. I was only hoping to explain Ellen's similar lack of history. The drop-down menu is fine for my use, when needed. Of the Ctrl- key options, only the Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V seem to work. That's all I need.... when the Copy and Paste option from the File drop-down menu don't work. Lance writes: > Pete, you still didn't elaborate on how using Outlook or Outlook Express are connected with using Google? Would be interested to know, thanks. < Sorry. I thought that was implied when I mentioned that I had forgotten to include Internet Explorer in my mini-jeremiad regarding MS products. It was the browser that I overlooked (it's hard to remember things, when you don't use them <gr>) Joan writes: > If you are using AOL's integrated browser you ARE using IE and you ARE vulnerable to any flaws in the design < I wasn't too sure just how much of IE was included in the AOL browser. I do know that (at least once) I was told to go directly to the IE browser and bypass the AOL one, when I was having repeated trouble with a program download. I can't recall whether it was AOL techsupport who gave me this advice, or the program-being-downloaded people. It was 2 or 3 years ago, and I may have been downloading a paid version of Computer Associates EZ-Trust (which is what I use). After about 3 attempts with the AOL browser, I got the IE advice, tried it, and it worked like a charm. As I recall, that's the only time I've ever deliberately accessed IE on my computer. Joan also writes: > hopefully you are also running an updated anti-virus program and screening for spyware and adware as well. < The anti-virus updates automatically at least daily. I've never seen a need for spyware or adware. I get fewer than 5 spam messages a day, out of about 200 e-mails (most of them in Digest form.... more convenient, and safer - I believe). And this number is the same as before AOL started their anti-spam campaign. (As I've mentioned, AOL has advised me that I have no provision for a spam folder, etc., with my AOL 5.0.) Thank goodness for small favors. I don't need a new place to search for mail. I only get pop-ups on a few known websites which I routinely access, so they are not a problem. In fact, nearly all of my 70 or 80 regularly-used websites are pop-up-free. So I haven't seen a need for spyware or adware. My computer is only on-line when I'm in front of it, and being on dial-up doesn't seem to make me a likely target for anything. In the several years I've had anti-virus protection, I've never gotten a virus notification or anything of the sort. Each year, when I renew my antivirus, I run a full-scan on the computer. I'm up to about 60,000 files now, and they're all clean. As always. It's hard to believe that my limited on-line use of a slow dial-up modem would be of interest to hackers of any sort....... but, for the last several years, I have used a paid AV program to assuage others' concerns. I would feel a bit better if "just once" I saw the program doing its work. Guess that's it for now. All tirades gratefully acknowledged <gr>. Pete Schermerhorn, in the glorious Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts