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I can't update my home page

  • 3 replies
  • 22 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by PAL

PAL
PAL
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A program has taken over my Home Page setting. Everytime I re-set my home page, this ends up there: http://www.searchqu.com/406 I have of course ran my anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spyware, disabled add-ons, and everything comes up clean. Yet everytime I update the home page setting in Options, this intruder is there the next time I open FF. I am on FF 4.0.1. Only options are Better Privacy 1.5.1. and IE TabPlus 1.98. But I have used these for a long time and this is a new problem. The workaround has been when FF starts, Show a blank page. But this searchqu is still there. An internet search reveals nothing about them. Any help much appreciated.

A program has taken over my Home Page setting. Everytime I re-set my home page, this ends up there: http://www.searchqu.com/406 I have of course ran my anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spyware, disabled add-ons, and everything comes up clean. Yet everytime I update the home page setting in Options, this intruder is there the next time I open FF. I am on FF 4.0.1. Only options are Better Privacy 1.5.1. and IE TabPlus 1.98. But I have used these for a long time and this is a new problem. The workaround has been when FF starts, Show a blank page. But this searchqu is still there. An internet search reveals nothing about them. Any help much appreciated.

All Replies (3)

Xircal
Xircal
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Searchqu gets installed if you don't opt-out of the installation when you install a 'free' app from bandoo.com which provides free emoticons.

If you have this app on your system now, uninstall it first, otherwise searchqu will reappear again after you complete the following steps.

See: http://www.bandoo.com/faq.php

To revert to Google as your preferred search engine, please do the following.

  1. In the location bar, type about:config and hit Enter.

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

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

  4. In the filter at the top again, copy/paste the following (remove keyword.URL first): browser.startup.homepage

  5. Right click it, choose Modify and then click Reset.

  6. Close the tab.

  7. Click the Firefox button, go to Add-ons, then Extensions and remove these add-ons if they're in there: Windows iLivid Toolbar and SearchquToolbar .

  8. Next, open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins. In there, delete the following: SearchquWebSearch.xml

  9. Go to Add/Remove Programs and look for Windows iLivid Toolbar and SearchquToolbar again. Remove if found. You might possibly find a reference to "Web Search" (searchqu) in Add/Remove Programs too. If so, remove it.

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.

Next, open a Command Prompt (Run As Administrator) and type the following: regsvr32 /u searchqudtx.dll and hit Enter. If you get an error message, you'll have to enter the full path. Do a Windows search for WI3C8A and then right click it and choose Open Containing Folder, or Open File Location. Then make a note of the full path.

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.

  • Go to Tools | 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.

Modified by Xircal

PAL
PAL Question owner
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Thanks so very much. It appeared as Windows iLivid Toolbar. Everything has gone smoothly except it is not clear what to do here:

  • Next, open a Command Prompt (Run As Administrator) and type the following: regsvr32 /u searchqudtx.dll and hit Enter. If you get an error message, you'll have to enter the full path. Do a Windows search for WI3C8A and then right click it and choose Open Containing Folder, or Open File Location. Then make a note of the full path.

I got the error message and Search has not found WI3C8A. but once it is found, what to do? Your help is much appreciated.

PAL
PAL Question owner
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BTW, search didn't find WI3C8A.