Is there a way to avoid ending up at my local version of Google web
search by default? If I enter www.google.com in my browser, I get
automatically redirected and forced into www.google.no. I don't want
this, I want to use the international (or American if you will)
version of the search engine, even though I am Norwegian and live in
Norway. By default. I don't want to ever even
see google.no. Can I for instance set a cookie that tells Google to
not redirect me? Or is there a setting I have missed somewhere? I am
fairly familiar with computer stuff, so if there is a "hack"
available, I'll figure out how to use it.

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Clarification of Question by elling85-ga on 17 Oct 2006 12:53 PDT

By the way, I know I can use Google Toolbar in Firefox or Internet
Explorer and select which version of Google Web Search I want to use,
and I know I can add the US International version explicitly to my
Firefox search box in both 1.5 and 2.0. I also know that I can simply
type www.google.com/webhp instead of just google.com to reach the
version of Google I want to use.

What I want is a way to get to google.com when I type "google.com",
for instance via a cookie or if there is a preference somewhere I can
change or a hack. The only time I should ever end up at google.no is
when I type "google.no" into my address box.

Thank you :)

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 17 Oct 2006 17:00 PDT

Try deleting your cookies (sorry!), and then type in
www.google.com/webhp as your first destination.

I think Google might then set a cookie to return you to this site on a
routine basis.

Let me know if it works out.


pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by elling85-ga on 18 Oct 2006 03:03 PDT

Unfortunately, no, that didn't solve the problem. I deleted all
Google-related cookies, opened my browser and headed for
"google.com/webhp", but when I later entered just "google.com", I
ended up at the Norwegian version again.

I wish Google would give it's users a preference choice somewhere...

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Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 18 Oct 2006 04:25 PDT

Dear elling85-ga,

I normally get sent back to google.co.uk so I tried setting my home
page in Firefox to ://www.google.com/ncr. I've cancelled cookies
and opened/closed the browser a couple of times and this seems to work
for me.

answerfinder-ga

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Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 18 Oct 2006 04:30 PDT

These pages also suggest this option.
Let me know if it works for you and I'll post it as answer.

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/raskin/1790
http://www.port80software.com/200ok/archive/2004/12/31/235.aspx

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Request for Question Clarification by answerfinder-ga on 18 Oct 2006 05:02 PDT

This blog of the 21 August suggests that you will still get Norwegian
adwords, etc., as Google still checks your IP. You may wish to test
this.
http://www.johnston.co.uk/blog.html

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Clarification of Question by elling85-ga on 18 Oct 2006 13:51 PDT

"www.google.com/ncr" did exactly what I was looking for. I just
pointed my browser towards this address once, and now the only time I
end up at google.no is if I type that address in my browser. I'm not
too worried that I'll still get "relevant" results and ads based on my
country, I just want the features associated with the international
version.

Thank you so much :)

Dear elling85-ga,

I am pleased to see that it has worked for you. By way of an answer,
I'll just post the link.
://www.google.com/ncr

answerfinder-ga

Excellent answer, this was exactly what I was looking for.