Windows 10: A Couple of Brief Questions: Search Engines / Unplugged Laptop

1. When I want to 'clean' my laptop, I often go to History and 'Clear History'.
Then I scroll up to Manage Search Engines and there are 5, 6 , 8 different websites I have recently visited. I am confident they exist because my computer has picked up some cookies, but they are titled 'other search engines.' I don't like the idea of Twitter or Home Depot being my main Search Engine or having that much access to my laptop.

Yahoo is my default and my other laptop is Google.

I have gone through my links and clicked on the option to prevent websites from tracking me, I have Google Ghostery and another ad block popup blocker.

Maybe it is something I have to live with, but it there any way around it? What if I used Proton or a paid VPN from another nation?

Any suggestions ?


2. When my laptop is plugged in, the display is bright and clear. When I unplug it and the battery is still 100 percent, the display is reduced. It is not as bright. If the battery is supplying enough power to display the monitor and search online, why doesn't it display the contents as bright as it does when it is plugged in?

Do Apples do the same thing?



Thanks

:)

 

search engine

windows xp advice for a windows 10 query. with registry fiddling. great advice.

anyway, the answer is very simple:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/change-the-default-search-engine-in-microsoft-edge

"

When you enter something in the address bar in Microsoft Edge, you’ll see results from Bing. Microsoft recommends Bing for the best performance with Windows 10. Bing gives instant help for Windows 10 and Microsoft Edge (just like this). And Bing links search
results with some Windows 10 apps. But Microsoft Edge uses OpenSearch technology, so you can change the default search engine. Here’s how:

• 
  Enter the search engine’s website and browse to it.
  
• 
  Select More actions (...) > Settings and then scroll down to select View
  advanced settings. In the list under Search in the address bar with, choose Add new.
  
• 
  Select the website and then select Add as default.
  
  • 
    Note: Only search providers that support the OpenSearch standard will appear in this list. If they don’t support it yet,here's how
    they can."
    

 

changing default search engine to google from Bing in IE Edge

To change the default search engine on Windows Edge.

Step One: Open Microsoft Edge

Step Two: type in the search engine into the browser address such as (www.google.com)

Step Three: Click on the three dots top right below the x (close button)

Step Four: Click on settings

Step Five: Scroll and click on Advance Settings

Step Six: Scroll to Search in the address bar with click within the box

Step Seven: Click on Add NEw

Step Eight: Your search engine should be listed Click on it

Final Step: select your choice of:

Add as default

Add

 

changing default search engine to google from Bing in IE Edge

To change the default search engine on Windows Edge.

Step One: Open Microsoft Edge

Step Two: type in the search engine into the browser address such as (www.google.com)

Step Three: Click on the three dots top right below the x (close button)

Step Four: Click on settings

Step Five: Scroll and click on Advance Settings

Step Six: Scroll to Search in the address bar with click within the box

Step Seven: Click on Add NEw

Step Eight: Your search engine should be listed Click on it

Final Step: select your choice of:

Add as default

Add

Tried this 26 Nov 2015 to make Google.com my search engine and received report "Couldn't add this provider"