there is a feature? in context .98.6 which did not exist in earlier versions. If you do a global search (over all open files) then in another file press the Enter key, it works as a search (with the term highlighted). Going Esc to clear the window at the bottom of the screen does not clear this behaviour, though you can kinda get around it by using Ctrl-B instead of Enter to format your paragraphs. Only way to clear the problem is to restart ConText. WinXP Pro. I looked at the bug list. Apologies if this is in it, but didn't look like it.
I found an easier workaround. Ctrl-F, enter a nonsense string that is NOT in any of your open files. Scope: All Files on. Click Find. Click OK when the Search String ... Not Found box comes up. The kidnapping of the Enter key will then be cleared. Actually, it's about the same number of keystrokes as closing and restarting ConText--but psychologically....
Easiest fix of all. Uninstalled .98.6 and reinstalled .98.3 in same directory. Regret that I will not be available to participate in the debugging of this one.