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My new tab opens with a "Search" page, http://www.searchnu.com/406?tag=newtab, and I am unable to add thumbnails like I used to have.

  • 8 replies
  • 9 have this problem
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  • Last reply by HiTechMama

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When I used to hit "Tab" it opened with a page full of my favorite "thumbnails". Somehow I have managed to delete those, which is fine--as long as I can restart building those thumbnails. The site that pulls up every time I hit "Tab" is http://www.searchnu.com/406?tag=newtab. I don't particularly like that search "engine?"--and would at least prefer to have Google pull up as a default (even if I can't have thumbnails). I have read thru your various "help" suggestions, but can't seem to improve this situation. I realize I hit something yesterday that removed "cache" ????---and that is the probable cause of my present situation. Can you help me restore my thumbnails---and/or make the "Tab+" at least default to Google? Thanks for your help- shnolan

When I used to hit "Tab" it opened with a page full of my favorite "thumbnails". Somehow I have managed to delete those, which is fine--as long as I can restart building those thumbnails. The site that pulls up every time I hit "Tab" is http://www.searchnu.com/406?tag=newtab. I don't particularly like that search "engine?"--and would at least prefer to have Google pull up as a default (even if I can't have thumbnails). I have read thru your various "help" suggestions, but can't seem to improve this situation. I realize I hit something yesterday that removed "cache" ????---and that is the probable cause of my present situation. Can you help me restore my thumbnails---and/or make the "Tab+" at least default to Google? Thanks for your help- shnolan

Chosen solution

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.


Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

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Chosen Solution

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.


Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

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Thank you so much!! This worked perfectly!! I would never have figured it out---and had already spent way too much time on my own trying to solve the issue. Awesome!!

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Good Day ladies and gentlemen,

I have been infected by the searchnu pest. Not only does it change your default URL but, when you open a new tab you are automatically directed to the www.searchnu site. DO NOT EVER GO THERE....

In normal operation, this pest generates a process trying to reach a specific IP address to upload whatever information it has harvested on your PC. This process is a FireFox.exe process and the reason why the bugger's operation is not detected and not detectable. This means that the pest is hidden like a rootkit in an unused space (typically a space with all bytes being hex 00) of the firefox.exe file.

The permanent solution is as follows: 1. Backup your bookmarks and take a note of where you save them. 2. Using the Control Panel, de-install your version of FireFox. 3. Restart your PC. 4. Using Internet Explorer, get on the Internet and download a fresh version of FireFox. 5. Re-install Firefox then restore your bookmarks. 6. The problem is gone for good.

Good luck to everyone. - Tchantches

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Starting in safe mode makes the problem go away and tabs open in homepage .

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If it works in Safe Mode and in normal mode with all extensions (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) disabled then try to find which extension is causing it by enabling one extension at a time until the problem reappears.

Close and restart Firefox after each change via "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: Firefox > Quit Firefox; Linux: Firefox/File > Quit)

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edit1

Modified by bluegoat

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Then if Firefox takes my extensions away, and my apps, that is another problem. It took me hours to find and load those - so you either lose your thumbnails which is my case, or if you reset back you lose all of your extensions/apps? IS there ANY way you can get that thumbnail page BACK to loading the thumbnails?

I just cleaned my computer and it took that away and now for a new tab it puts a search engine up. May have to go back to chrome. Not so complicated.