I cannot choose a search engine.
When I originally downloaded FF, Google was the default search engine; I changed it to AVG using the "Manage Search Engines" method.
When I started FF today, it contained no search engines and none of the recommended methods for choosing a search engine worked. No search engines were listed in Manage Search Engines and literally nothing happened when I selected Get More Search Engines or when I selected Default.
I tried deleting FF using the Windows7 Programs feature and downloading it again. What loaded was an exact copy, bookmarks included, of what was on the machine when I deleted the program. I tried several times but could not download a "clean" copy of FF with search engines.
Chosen solution
Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
- Download the full Firefox installer and save the file to the desktop
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
- (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.
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All Replies (3)
Bookmark and use this; Download the Mozilla Search Reset {web link} This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and then resets your search preferences and home page to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.
I can't download the Mozilla Search Reset using Firefox.
Firefox is completely unresponsive to the Manage Search Engine options and any about: address I put in the address bar.
It also is completely unresponsive to the download command for the Mozilla Search Reset.
I even tried locating Search Reset on the Mozilla website by going through Chrome. I found it but it was unresponsive and wouldn't download.
I've never run into this sort of problem before -- and when I tried re-downloading Firefox, it appeared with all of my Favorites already loaded. That, too, is something I've never experienced.
I'm totally baffled. As it is, unless I know a web address, Firefox is useless to me in this condition.
Thanks for trying to help. Any other ideas?
Chosen Solution
Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
- Download the full Firefox installer and save the file to the desktop
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
- (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure NOT to remove personal data when you uninstall Firefox as that will remove all Firefox profile folders and you lose your personal data.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.