If you are using Firefox's built-in new tab page, then there are 3 possible places to search:

• search box in the tab
• search bar on the main toolbar
• address bar

Is the problem with one of these in particular or all three of them?

Are you sure it's Firefox's built-in new tab page? To load that page manually, you can type or paste about:newtab in the address bar and press Enter.

I have no problems opening a new tab, but when opened and I type in information to search for, the search goes no where. The computer operates Window 8.1 with a touch screen. I do not seem to have the same difficulty on my other computer.

Sorry to repeat myself, but just to confirm: none of the 3 bars works at all, or do you see differences between them?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

• Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
• Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

You can use the SearchReset extension to reset some preferences to the default values.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/

Note that the SearchReset extension only runs once and then uninstalls automatically, so it won't show on the "Firefox > Add-ons" page (about:addons).

Hi everyone, and thanks for all the ideas. I could not get any of the three ways in a new tab to complete a search, even in safe mode. I resolved the problem by uninstalling Firefox cleaning the registry, rebooting, and reinstalling. Thus far, Firefoxis now allowing searches in new tabs. My best guess is that the file corrupted on download or when installing preventing the searches in new tabs.