An IT question but not genealogical

I am a total dinosaur when it comes to computers and hope that the mods will allow me to ask this question here in the hopes of finding an IT expert.

I use Chrome and, since I came back from England in February and woke my computer from its deep sleep of two months, Google tells me that I am in the United Arab Emirates! Sometimes it comes up in France or the U.K. for further tabs; sometimes not. It's not a big problem, but it's annoying, and I can't do on-line banking as my bank has branches in the UAE and I am directed there - although I fooled it this morning by googling "Google UK" and then the bank

I seem to recall that, when I got the computer, which is French (well, a Samsung, actually) that I switched Google to the U.K. from France myself, but I can't for the life of me remember how. I've googled the question but found no satisfactory answers.

Can anyone help, please?

 

Open up an Google search (for anything you like). Click on the Search Tools button. A line opens up below this and should include the location being used. Click on the arrow alongside the location and you have the option to set your location.

From past observations, Google is sometimes forgetful about this setting, even when you have done it yourself. I suspect it then autodetects, perhaps with unpredictable results!

 

I agree. For soem reason Goofle (that was a typing error, but I do think sometimes its appropriate) thinks Reading , where I am, is High Wycombe, or Wokingham

 

I used to wander through inner-outer Wokingham & surrounds & end up in Reading when doing very early research, happily Daughter took that over.

 

As far as I'm concerned, it should go once turn it on - cars and computers! I can put petrol in (applause) and top up the windscreen washer liquid, but that's my limit - last time I had a rental car, I even had to have the key explained to me, because it wasn't a key and it didn't go where the key normally goes!

Progress isn't progress after a certain age; it's pain

 

I'm sorry to be replying late to your no doubt very useful post; we're like headless chickens at the moment with the inlaws moving. And I haven't had a chance to try out your solution, because, like when you take the car to the garage for a rattling noise which stops as soon as you drive round for the mechanic to listen to it, Google UAE has not shown up since I started this thread!

I will however bookmark your answer in case of a repeat offence

 

Google UAE has come back, so I tried your solution.

I fell at the first fence I don't appear to have a Search Tools button Does anyone know where it hides itself?

 

Jan, I tried this as well, but I obviously don't have la main heureuse with these dratted machines. It was supposed to open up a console where I would find wonders and marvels, but all I got was the Google sign to disappear and the cursor to go into blue spinning mode. It looked pretty, though

 

It's at the top of the page showing search results, not on the main "Google" page, so do a search for absolutely anything at all and look for it when the results come up

 

I was looking for it in the wrong place, which doesn't help Lastresort had said to open up a search, but I was looking in the right hand corner, where there are flower shapes and heads and noughts and crosses boards ...

I have now found Search Tools. Yippee!

However, me being me, (this is not good grammar) it won't let me change the country, apart from ticking "any country" instead of "uae". I did find that at the bottom of the page, I was supposed to be in Dubai - chance would be a fine thing, although there are other places I'd rather visit - and I managed to get that changed to where I actually am, but it didn't change anything on the new google page I opened to see. I think I'm doomed to buying burkhas for the whole family, but they're illegal in France

 

What about deleting your google and downloading it again. Not certain it would work but may be worth a try.

 

I might go that far one day, but the idea of being logged out of Top Dog amongst many others puts me off for the moment.

Not that I'm lazy or anything, you understand.

 

Can't you just google "Google UK" and when it comes up make that your home page? I'm sure that's what we did (but using Aust instead of UK).

And about the search tools, that seems to only apply to where the results come from rather than where you are. I just saw I have a choice of any country or Australia and changing to the more explicit certainly does affect the way the results are presented.

 

Two things come to mind:
1. Have you checked the system clock on the computer to make sure it is set to the correct time zone?
2. Do you know what IP address your computer is using to talk to the internet? Mine usually knows where my ISP's local office is, but sometimes it thinks I'm near their home office in Louisiana.

Either of these settings can trigger the auto-detection to change, I think.

Do you have a google account? There may be a setting in the account preferences for this? Isn't France one of the countries that want the search engines to "forget" your history?

Hope you get it solved. There is nothing more frustrating than a computer that tries to out-think and second-guess what you want it to do.

 

I use a VPN because the police state that I live in expects all browsers to keep a year-long record of sites visited, and, although I don't do porn, bombs or anything remotely naughty, I don't see why they should know when I looked at frilly underwear (yes, I admit it, I'm a cross-dresser ) on M&S.

Also, it allows me to watch British telly, so the IP addresses I get are all based in London.

My clock is on French time, i.e. an hour ahead of the U.K. Which reminds me that I must love you and leave you as I have an appointment with a 'plane ... "leavin' on a jet plane" (guitar smiley) ... sung out of tune

 

Sorry, GrannyBarb, I only saw this as I was replying, but I replied to it anyway. I shall have to check up on it when I get back.
And isn't D.C. at n° 10 bringing in a snoopers' charter? I'm all for being protected, but not being policed down to everything I do. I suppose I must be a Nimby at heart

 

Good on you for using a VPN. Cross-dressing is fine too, it that's what floats your boat. I cannot comment about our national snooping agency without it turning into a political rant - so I'll leave it at that.

Are you getting adverts for shopping specials in Dubai yet?

 

I'm no computer expert and I admit that I haven't read everything in this thread but I didn't quite understand your response to the suggestion that you delete and reload "Google". As I understand it Chrome is an internet browser and Google is a search engine. I know that Google owns Chrome and that they would obviously prefer you to use Google to search as well as Chrome to connect to the internet but you do have the choice. You could download one of the other excellent browsers that are freely available and still use Google or try another search engine like DuckDuckGo that doesn't saddle you with adverts.

If you decide to try another browser you don't have to get rid of Chrome and as you download a new browser it will invariably ask if you want to use the same bookmarks or favourites (the terminology varies but they mean the same thing) and if you agree it will then copy them across from Chrome.

I use Safari and DuckDuckGo as I have a Mac but I also have Chrome and often use Google as well. But you could try other internet browsers like Mozilla Firefox or Opera both of which score well in tests.

 

Perhaps, but I don't understand them; they're in Arabic