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Yahoo wants to be my default search engine

  • 2 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by blindfred

blindfred
blindfred
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I had some rogue software install the Ask toolbar on Firefox.

I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox v28 (my standard library copy which I have used elsewhwere).

Firefox recognised my Profile in most regards.

But appearance is different and also Yahoo wants to muscle in and take over my searches.

It runs the default Firefox theme. It is set to remember no history. (Identical to my other FF28 browser.)

When I open my home page it now goes to the correct page (Google). But for some reason there is no search engine box next to the address bar. That's different from usual.

If I open a new tab, once again there is no seach bar at the top. But the page has a massive search bar on it which is linked to the Yahoo search engine (which is a total dfrsutration for most of my needs).

In about:config my default search is set to Google. For second choice I tried removing Yahoo but that makes no difference.

I had some rogue software install the Ask toolbar on Firefox. I uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox v28 (my standard library copy which I have used elsewhwere). Firefox recognised my Profile in most regards. But appearance is different and also Yahoo wants to muscle in and take over my searches. It runs the default Firefox theme. It is set to remember no history. (Identical to my other FF28 browser.) When I open my home page it now goes to the correct page (Google). But for some reason there is no search engine box next to the address bar. That's different from usual. If I open a new tab, once again there is no seach bar at the top. But the page has a massive search bar on it which is linked to the Yahoo search engine (which is a total dfrsutration for most of my needs). In about:config my default search is set to Google. For second choice I tried removing Yahoo but that makes no difference.

All Replies (2)

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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There is a hidden setting for the new tab page:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box that appears above the list, type or paste newtab and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.newtab.url preference and enter the desired value:

  • Page thumbnails (default) => about:newtab
  • Blank tab => about:blank
  • Built-in Firefox home page => about:home
  • Any other page => full URL to the page

Press Ctrl+t to open a new tab and verify that it worked.

Success?

If your choice is ignored and you still get some other page, most likely it is generated by an extension. You can review and disable extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Anything unrecognized or nonessential?

blindfred
blindfred Question owner
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Thank you jscher2000

It was an add on, Start Page by Spigot.

I had done some research earlier and I now recall the Spigot name as causing someone else a problem.

Much appreciated

blindfred