In an attempt to find solutions to lowering the amount of people reposting threads on topics that have been done to death I came up with a possible solution.

If the search function was available from the main page (just a small text box with an accompanying button) it may be used more frequently and help alleviate some of the problem. Basically I think the more it stares people in the face, the more likely they are to use it.

 

Excellent idea...that little search button is also kind of small and hidden.

 

That's a good idea I'll start looking for a place to put it in that cluttered top section

Mark