Google search is becoming more and more useless

So I'm trying to research a bizarre problem within Windows Vista under Virtual PC 2007.   Now given that Google is indexing many, many online forums which are mirrors of Usenet and the Microsoft newsgroups I don't even bother searching for complex technical questions at the main Google screen. 

Instead I switch to the Google groups web page and key in the group, or groups with a *, name.  In this case microsoft.public.virtualpc.   And then I key in my search terms.

GoogleGroupsRant1

And now Google is totally ignoring my selection of newsgroup microsoft.public.virtualpc.   I do *NOT* want the many similar hits that occur in Windows Vista.    I want just those that occur when running Windows Vista under Virtual PC.

GoogleGroupsRant2

Do you see microsoft.public.virtualpc anywhere there?   I sure don't. 

According to my fellow MVPs this has been broken for a month or more.

Google has become downright useless for complex technical searches.

Published Sun, Aug 17 2008 16:01 by Tony
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Comments

# re: Google search is becoming more and more useless

Yep I am glad it isn't just me, This has been driving me NUTS!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 2:42 PM by Bruce Jonson

# re: Google search is becoming more and more useless

It has actually been broken for over a year. I tried emailing them, but guess what? No response, no fix.

I find better results with just Google advanced search.

Friday, October 17, 2008 7:38 AM by Alphonse

# re: Google search is becoming more and more useless

Caught your post on slashdot...I've noticed a major fall off in search results over the last year or so, when searching usenet google groups that have tons of useful info in them. GG search just seems to fail...either very few or no results for many completely relevent searches.

I've tried writing about this to google in the help groups they provide, but they've never responded. That's been a major eye opener for me. I had the same experience with another google tool issue...nothing there, no support at all. Google seems to be pretty oblivious to input from users. What that means is they seem to have taken their eye off the ball...can some startup please step up to the plate?

google groups used to be a tremendous help. Now it's quite weak. I hope some other org can provide a web based interface to usenet that's better than what google groups has become.

Sunday, November 09, 2008 6:48 PM by from slashdot

# re: Google search is becoming more and more useless

It is still broken - the group filter that is. What a pain.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 1:32 PM by Kabe

# re: Google search is becoming more and more useless

I am just a very occasionl user ,still on dial-up. I can't type well, so every word costs, but more importantly, I  bust a gut in just expressing a simple request - and what do I get?  --- ZILCH. "NO MATCHES FOUND". It makes me want to go back to picking up the phone again or visiting libraries. GOOGLE SUCKS.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009 2:50 PM by louis kessler

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