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I want to get rid of ask.com. I want to get a google search when I put something in the browser window, but now it defaults to ask, which totally sucks.

  • 4 replies
  • 70 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

musicwarrencohen
musicwarrencohen
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I want to be able to get a google search-sans advertising, and the rest of that crap-when I put something in the main browser. This used to happen, but in the latest version, when I search something I get ask.com, complete with a full page of advertised sites at the top, and for the most part useless search suggestions beneath it. I then have to go to the little google bar at the top to search. I have no idea what prompted you to set these defaults and to make it so hard to change-I have looked on on-lines forums, taken suggestions and tried to disable the ask.com toolbar, but it still comes up...please, tell me how to get rid of it forever, and please make it easy to change this type of thing...otherwise I will use Chrome or Safari as my default browser, despite liking some other features of Firefox!

I want to be able to get a google search-sans advertising, and the rest of that crap-when I put something in the main browser. This used to happen, but in the latest version, when I search something I get ask.com, complete with a full page of advertised sites at the top, and for the most part useless search suggestions beneath it. I then have to go to the little google bar at the top to search. I have no idea what prompted you to set these defaults and to make it so hard to change-I have looked on on-lines forums, taken suggestions and tried to disable the ask.com toolbar, but it still comes up...please, tell me how to get rid of it forever, and please make it easy to change this type of thing...otherwise I will use Chrome or Safari as my default browser, despite liking some other features of Firefox!

Chosen solution

Please do the following.

  1. In the location bar where you normally type in a web address, type about:config and hit Enter.

  2. If you see a window which says "This might void your warranty!", click the button which says "I'll be careful, I promise" so you can continue with the next step.

  3. In the filter at the top, type: keyword.URL

  4. Double click it and remove whatever's in there and replace it with http://www.google.com/search?q= and then click OK.

  5. Close the tab

The URL to add in "keyword.URL" becomes a link in this post, so right click it and choose "Copy Link Location" to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Then hit CTRL+V to paste it. Saves you having to type the whole thing.

To reset your home page, do the following.

  • Go to the site you want to set as your homepage.

  • Click the Firefox button, go to Options | Options | General.

  • Make sure it says "Show My Homepage" in the first dropdown menu.

  • Click the button called "Use Current Pages" to set the homepage to the one you have on the screen.

If this suggestion resolves the problem for you, please click the Solved it button next to this post after you log in into the forum. This will help others searching for a solution to the same problem.

Thanks.

Read this answer in context 👍 19

All Replies (4)

Xircal
Xircal
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Chosen Solution

Please do the following.

  1. In the location bar where you normally type in a web address, type about:config and hit Enter.

  2. If you see a window which says "This might void your warranty!", click the button which says "I'll be careful, I promise" so you can continue with the next step.

  3. In the filter at the top, type: keyword.URL

  4. Double click it and remove whatever's in there and replace it with http://www.google.com/search?q= and then click OK.

  5. Close the tab

The URL to add in "keyword.URL" becomes a link in this post, so right click it and choose "Copy Link Location" to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Then hit CTRL+V to paste it. Saves you having to type the whole thing.

To reset your home page, do the following.

  • Go to the site you want to set as your homepage.

  • Click the Firefox button, go to Options | Options | General.

  • Make sure it says "Show My Homepage" in the first dropdown menu.

  • Click the button called "Use Current Pages" to set the homepage to the one you have on the screen.

If this suggestion resolves the problem for you, please click the Solved it button next to this post after you log in into the forum. This will help others searching for a solution to the same problem.

Thanks.

John99
John99
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Sorry you feel frustrated, but it is likely to be something that you installed, Firefox does not behave like this by default. The ask.com toolbar is the sort of thing often installed along with other software as an additional feature. Assuming it is not malware but merely something that has been installed it will be listed under your Windows programs and should locate it and then uninstall using your Windows 7 Operating System.

Have a look and see if you can uninstall it, post back with how you get on.

musicwarrencohen
musicwarrencohen Question owner
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I cannot find it. I actually remember uninstalling it a while back, but it still comes up.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).