-> Search Bar - Removing a Search Engine

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Search%20bar#w_removing-a-search-engine

-> Restore Default Search Engine (Google)

Type about:config in the Location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key. When you see a warning, click I'll be careful, I promise! button.

• Preferences that have been modified are shown as bold (user set).
• Preferences can be Reset to the default or changed via the right-click context menu.

-> In the Filter bar, type browser.search.selectedEngine

• right-click the preference browser.search.selectedEngine and choose Reset from the menu.

-> In the Filter bar, type ask.com. This will show the remaining ask.com related preferences.

• right-click all ask.com related Preferences (one by one) and choose Reset from the menu to restore their Default values.

-> Close the about:config tab and then Restart Firefox.

Check and tell if its working.

Thanks for quick response. I got stuck at the second bullet - the 'reset' is greyed and won't let me select it. It's currently set as 'default'.

Close all Firefox Tabs & Windows except about:config tab.

Nope, still grey.

-> Close Firefox (click Firefox button and click Exit OR File Menu -> Exit)

-> Start Firefox in Safe Mode by holding down SHIFT key while starting Firefox

• As an alternative method, use Win + R key combination and enter one of the following in the Windows Run box:
  • firefox -safe-mode
  • "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

-> Firefox Safe Mode window will appear -> DON'T SELECT ANY OPTIONS, just click Continue in Safe Mode

Now perform the steps mentioned in my first reply. Check and tell if its working.

Hi again. It still doesn't work. Here's a screen dump - a bit small but you can see it's still greyed even in safe mode. Sorry...

You are trying to Reset services.sync.prefs.sync.browser.search.selectedEngine. That preference is correct. You are looking for the wrong preference.

You have to Reset browser.search.selectedEngine (the selected Blue preference - attached screenshot)

After this, Continue forward using my first reply. Check and tell if its working.

When I type browser.search.selectedEngine into the filter bar it only comes up with the services.sync.prefs.sync.browser.search.selectedEngine only, nothing else, per my screenshot sent earlier. There's no other options to select when it filters, just that one comes up.

Does it still not appear when you start Firefox in Safe Mode ??

Nope, 'fraid not.

Proceed to the next step mentioned in my first reply.

Check and tell if its working.

You bet. Thanks so much for all your help and patience. I hate computers (but I couldn't live without them!). Have a good day/weekend.

IF it still won't work after performing the lateral steps mentioned in my first reply, Create a New Profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

-> Basic Troubleshooting: Make a New Profile

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic%20Troubleshooting#w_8-make-a-new-profile

IF that New Profile works then you can recover your Bookmarks and Passwords from the Old Profile.

-> Recovering important data from an old profile

• https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Recovering%20important%20data%20from%20an%20old%20profile

Check and tell if it works.

Obviously UK English and US English aren't the same! It's working now, I just reset the ask.com preferences in the about:config bar without going via browser.search.selectedEngine. Thanks again for everything.

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