the search function is actually a skin object (you can read about them in the skinning document @ http://www.dotnetnuke.com/Resources/Documentation/DownloadableFiles/tabid/478/Default.aspx ). Simply put, a skin object is a token, in searches case it's [SEARCH] . To remove it, you need to edit your skin, open the htm and remove the [SEARCH] text. Youll then have to parse your skin so that it correctly picks up the change i.e. log in as host and go to host->skins, select the skin and press "parse skin package", this will recreate the final skin ascx.

 If your skin is an ascx based skin only, you'll have to edit the relevant ascx file(s) and remove the line that looks like

<dnn:SEARCH runat="server" id="dnnSEARCH" showWeb="True" showSite="True" />

As this is an ascx file, you don't need to parse this skin.

Note: the location of the skin will depend on how you installed it, but typically Portals\_default\Skins or Portals\0\Skins is where you'll find most.

Cathal