Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Preferences+are+not+saved

I found the culprit - an external program was keeping me from changing the default back to Google - it would change it back to Yahoo on Firefox closure. I found the icon in the taskbar and disabled it. Now I just need to find out how it got there and keep it from happening again. I'm surprised that my anti-virus and malware software didn't prevent this from happening. I never disliked Yahoo, just preferred Google for searches. Now I'm angry at Yahoo!

See also:

• BrowserProtect: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/browserprotect/

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

Brilliant! I tried all the technical fixes suggested in various posts, but this one sorted my problem out instantly. No more annoying Yahoo hijacking.

Thanks.

Very cryptice reply...Why not give exact details of which icon and what you did to solve the problem

Please give a step by step process on how to change the default back to Google... Why has Mozilla hidden away all the settings... I think its time to move to Chrome.. Firefox is becoming more and more like Explorer... Changing interfaces and dictating how it should be used

I cannot believe that Firefox does not have a simple staight forward answer to a Search question - How to change the Default Search Engine...

It has taken me a n hour to try and sift through heaps of pages... and still no answer...

Remember the KISS principle...