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Although Google Desktop was discontinued long ago, I kept the installer and was able to continue to use it. The functionality that I used the most was "hit Ctrl twice and bring up a Google search". This is not "bring up Google.com in the browser" but it is a search box that appears on top of whatever windows I have open, and after typing the query and hitting Enter it directs me to Google.com with the search results displayed.

I still have it installed, but somehow the Ctrl-Ctrl hotkey stopped working. (Maybe because of a Windows update.) What I'm looking for is

  • Repair the hotkey if possible; what may have turned it off and how to restore previous behaviour
  • Or else: software offering similar functionality

Of course if neither is possible, I may set up AutoHotkey or something to associate Ctrl-Ctrl with Google.com.

(I don't need the Desktop Search functionality, only Web Search.)

marczellm
  • 511

4 Answers4

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Exiting and restarting Google Desktop should restore the hotkey.

(Note that this hotkey does not always bring up the search box, such as when running a browser in fullscreen mode.)

marczellm
  • 511
0

You can configure a hotkey to directly start your browser, then search directly from there; usually most keyboards and laptops have a dedicated "home page" launcher key that serve this purpose.
That's kind of a workaround, but the result is the same.

Sekhemty
  • 9,916
0

You can restore the hotkey with restarting Google Desktop. This would fix your prob. Btw. I think the performance is a little bit low. This is why I use third party software to replace Google Desktop as Windows Search solution. I know this is a little bit expensive but to me it is worth. With the performance of the web search there's no trouble at all. I'm fine with it

StefanS
  • 7
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An alternative could be the free or paid tool Lookeen. The free version offers all features of the paid version but only indexes drive C: . Another nice feature you may like is the the start on double ctrl tap ;).

Damian Dochat
  • 41