By '''''"search box opened a new window and then switched over to that window, leaving original screen intact"''''', do you mean: *search box ''(Search Bar ? not URL/Location/Address Bar)'' opened a new <s>window</s> '''tab''' and then switched over to that <s>window</s> '''tab''', leaving original <s>screen</s> '''tab''' intact If so, you can change a preference to open a new tab when searching from the Search Bar ('''<u>not</u>''' the URL/Location/Address Bar):<br /> # type '''about:config''' in the URL/Location/Address Bar # if you see a warning, accept it (promise to be careful) #Filter = browser.search.openintab #double-click on that preference in the lower part of the screen to toggle to "true" (the default is "false") #*See: http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config_entries (click on "Browser", scroll down to browser.search.openintab) ---------------------------- <br /> '''Other issues that need your attention''' The information submitted with your question indicates that you have out of date plugins with known security and stability issues that should be updated. To see the plugins submitted with your question, click "More system details..." to the right of your original question post. You can also see your plugins from the Firefox menu, Tools > Add-ons > Plugins. *Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.5 *Next Generation Java Plug-in 1.6.0_20 for Mozilla browsers **3 updates behind including 2 security updates #'''Check your plugin versions''': http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/plugincheck/ #*'''Note: plugin check page does not have information on all plugin versions''' #'''Update Shockwave for Director''' #*NOTE: this is not the same as Shockwave Flash; this installs the Shockwave Player. #*Use Firefox to download and SAVE the installer to your hard drive from the link in the article below (Desktop is a good place so you can find it). #*When the download is complete, exit Firefox (File > Exit) #*locate and double-click in the installer you just downloaded, let the install complete. #*Restart Firefox and check your plugins again. #*'''<u>Download link and more information</u>''': http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Shockwave+plugin+with+Firefox #'''Update the [[Java]] plugin''' to the latest version. #*Download site: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE) #*Also see "Manual Update" in this article to update from the Java Control Panel in Windows Control Panel: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Using+the+Java+plugin+with+Firefox#Updates #* Removing old versions (if needed): http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/remove_olderversions.xml #* Remove multiple Java Console extensions (if needed): http://kb.mozillazine.org #*Java Test: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml

You can toggle the behavior of browser.search.openintab with Alt + Enter.<br /> You can also middle-click the search bar Go button to open the results in a new tab. It is possible that extensions override the above mentioned pref, so you may need to check for that. See: * [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]]