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Ask.com still preference search engine despite efforts to remove when google is the default

  • 6 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by porthome

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Initially, I did not request ask.com to become the default search engine and I did not ignore the box making the request. I have made the following efforts to return to google as default: Uninstalled ask.com and its automatic update, disabled all add-ons (including those that did not apply), checked extensions anything that pertained to ask.com (nothing was there), re-downloaded the latest version of Firefox, searched about:config for ask.com and reset it to default (google). On the Start Page the ask.com logo is still in the URL and a test search in the box under the logo yields ask.com results rather than google. Any additional recommendations would be helpful. At this point, I am considering the following: (1) restoring my computer to an earlier date; (2) reseting or removing firefox and reinstalling it; and (3) removing AVIRA.

Initially, I did not request ask.com to become the default search engine and I did not ignore the box making the request. I have made the following efforts to return to google as default: Uninstalled ask.com and its automatic update, disabled all add-ons (including those that did not apply), checked extensions anything that pertained to ask.com (nothing was there), re-downloaded the latest version of Firefox, searched about:config for ask.com and reset it to default (google). On the Start Page the ask.com logo is still in the URL and a test search in the box under the logo yields ask.com results rather than google. Any additional recommendations would be helpful. At this point, I am considering the following: (1) restoring my computer to an earlier date; (2) reseting or removing firefox and reinstalling it; and (3) removing AVIRA.

Modified by hittgv

Chosen solution

Found SerchReset and installed it. No change.

I did find a simple solution for this problem. Restore the computer to an earlier date, in this case it was a month. I then uninstalled Firefox, keeping my preferences. I allowed my computer to update for a second time all of the downloads for the previous 30 days. I then checked to determine where the ask.com was loaded, and this time deselected the box. In my instance, there was a second box to deselect in JAVA. I deselected the box, downloaded the remainder of my updates, and reinstalled Firefox. Problem solved.

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All Replies (6)

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Hi hittgv

go to about:config, find browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone and reset it (right-click > reset) exit firefox and restart it.


then install SearchReset add-on (the add-on is not permanent uninstalls itself after what makes.


thank you

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"browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone" not there.

Also, I continued to read the Helpful Solutions, and tried TonyE's (3/13/2011 5:09:21 a.m PDT). It is a modification of preferences in about:config. One recommendation "keyword.URL" did not have anything under "value" heading. This is where the ask.com link should have been. I modified as instructed (as if ask.com was there) and added the Google link recommended. It did not change ask.com on the startup page. I suspect that when I uninstalled ask.com, it removed the link but no link automatically replaced it. I hope that "keyword.URL" is the only one, but since browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone, is not listed, there could be others. Unfortunately, because "keyword.URL" did not have anything listed in its "value", I cannot filter for ask.com and replace or reset. Further, recommendations and/or solutions would be helpful.

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try the SearchReset add-on

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Chosen Solution

Found SerchReset and installed it. No change.

I did find a simple solution for this problem. Restore the computer to an earlier date, in this case it was a month. I then uninstalled Firefox, keeping my preferences. I allowed my computer to update for a second time all of the downloads for the previous 30 days. I then checked to determine where the ask.com was loaded, and this time deselected the box. In my instance, there was a second box to deselect in JAVA. I deselected the box, downloaded the remainder of my updates, and reinstalled Firefox. Problem solved.

Modified by hittgv

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At next restart, all the old settings have been magically overwritten to their original values, and ASK is again firmly in control.

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After trying just about everything suggested on this and other fora, I hit upon "Firefox reset in Safe mode" - which fixed the problem!

>> Close Firefox >> Hold down shift key and click Firefox icon >> When started in safe mode, choose reset >> restart

As far as I can tell, bookmarks, saved passwords, history, and cookies were not harmed in the process.