I note in your system information you have or had searchqu

• browser.startup.homepage: http://www.searchqu.com/406

Install and use the Search Reset addon

• from https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/searchreset/
  

Note it installs runs and uninstalls itself

• see also Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page

The reset may not work permanently if you still have unwanted software on the machine.

• some related threads /search?q=searchqu

Please take care installing and downloading software. Always try to research the software and download site and very carefully watch for unwanted bundled software being offered.

Please post back with how you get on.

If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

What does the Status field show on the about:config page for those two prefs?

It is also possible that there is an user.js in your profile folder. 1. Close firefox 2. Create a copy of user.js file. 3. Open in a text editor, you will see the line that corresponds to the homepage url that you cannot change. 4. Delete that line. 5. Start firefox and see if there's anything broken. If there is, close firefox and restore your backup.

This is what I did when I installed hotspot shield and I can't set my homepage to my custom page.

Thanks

You might want to just delete the whole user.js file, the searchqu program likely made other changes to the configuration.