Create your own search box
By Anatoly Mironov
It is very simple. Create a new module: SearchArea. Delete Sample.txt and Elements.xml. Create a new file: SearchArea.xml
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Elements xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/sharepoint/">
<Control
Id="ContosoSearchAreaBox"
Sequence="15"
ControlClass="Microsoft.SharePoint.Portal.WebControls.SearchBoxEx"
ControlAssembly="Microsoft.Office.Server.Search, Version=14.0.0.0,
Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=71e9bce111e9429c">
<Property Name="GoImageUrl">/\_layouts/images/Contoso/searchbutton.png</Property>
<Property Name="GoImageUrlRTL">/\_layouts/images/Contoso/searchbutton.png</Property>
<Property Name="GoImageActiveUrl">/\_layouts/images/Contoso/searchbutton.png</Property>
<Property Name="GoImageActiveUrlRTL">/\_layouts/images/Contoso/searchbutton.png</Property>
<Property Name="DropDownMode">HideDD\_useDefaultScope</Property>
<Property Name="FrameType">None</Property>
<Property Name="UseSiteDefaults">false</Property>
</Control>
</Elements>
Next add your searcharea module to a site scoped feature.
In the masterpage locate this:
<SharePoint:DelegateControl runat="server"
ControlId="SmallSearchInputBox" Version="4" />
and replace with your brand new search area:
<SharePoint:DelegateControl runat="server"
ControlId="ContosoSearchInputBox" Version="4" />
Now you have full control over the appearence and behavior of the search button. Create your own search button, or google it, style the input with css and add javascript if needed.