I have been asked how to get rid of the Bing Search bar from IE 8 quite a few times. This article explains what Bing is and how to delete it if you really dont like it.

I found that this search extra in IE 8 can be a very useful tool and you may want to think twice before getting rid of it. Maybe what you should do is embrace the functionality and understand what you can get from it,

What is the Bing Search Bar?

Firstly it is NOT a Bing Search Bar! It is a quick search facility called "Search Provider".

Bing is simply the default Search Provider that Microsoft put in to start it off. The user can change this search engine to their favourite quite easily. You can add more search providers to the dropdown list (the small down arrow to the right of the search bar).

Benefits of Using the Search Provider

Enter your keywords in the search provider then click on the search provider spyglass or press the enter key. Then click on the dropdown arrow and select another search provider. This searches all your favourite search engines without having to type in your keywords all over again. By now you should start to see the benefits of using this.

Manage Search Providers

Don't bother to try and add search providers via the Manage Search Providers menu link, it simply don't work. Instead, go to the website link listed below and simply add the search engine providers as addons.

After adding some more search engine providers you can set the default to your favourite one. Then Bing can be deleted if you really don't like it. You will only be left with your favourite Search Providers.

Visit the link below and select the Search Providers you like and then go to 'Manage Search Providers'. You can even create your own custom search provider.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/en-en/default.mspx

Don't just delete something you don't like, try to look for some benefits first before dismissing something out of hand.