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When I click on "restore defaults" in manage search engines, the Babylon search returns. How do I get it out of the default list?

MelindaB
MelindaB
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I have gone through the steps of Babylon removal, and none of the usual suspects show up in the Remove Programs panel, and when I go to about:config, Babylon doesn't show up in the search. However, when I click on "Restore Defaults" in Manage Search Engines, Babylon reappears. Somehow it got itself set as a default search engine. How do I get it out of there so it's completely gone? I did reset Firefox at some point in the removal process. I just checked Chrome and found it, so followed removal instructions there, and found a single Babylon folder in my Users/AppData folder that I deleted. If I reset Firefox *again* is it likely that it will be gone?

I have gone through the steps of Babylon removal, and none of the usual suspects show up in the Remove Programs panel, and when I go to about:config, Babylon doesn't show up in the search. However, when I click on "Restore Defaults" in Manage Search Engines, Babylon reappears. Somehow it got itself set as a default search engine. How do I get it out of there so it's completely gone? I did reset Firefox at some point in the removal process. I just checked Chrome and found it, so followed removal instructions there, and found a single Babylon folder in my Users/AppData folder that I deleted. If I reset Firefox *again* is it likely that it will be gone?

All Replies (4)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can check if you see that search engine in the searchplugins folder in the Firefox program folder.

  • (32 bit Windows) C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
  • (64 bit Windows) C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\
MelindaB
MelindaB Mwenye swali
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I hadn't thought of looking there, so I checked and sure enough, there it was. I deleted the file, then checked the defaults--nope, it showed up again. So I shut down Firefox and restarted my computer. Opened Firefox, clicked on "restore defaults" and Babylon showed up again. However, when I looked in the folder, it wasn't there any more. So I started going through all of the Mozilla folders, and found it in Mozilla Firefox/updated/searchplugins. So I deleted it again, checked the defaults, and boom, there it was. That thing is insidious and I don't like having something on my computer that I can't get rid of, and that hides itself. Thanks for your help, though--I'm going to have to keep trying. Malwarebytes didn't even turn it up, so the next step is to try Spybot.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can use the MSConfig program or the Autoruns utility to see which software and services are getting started.

Try to do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before reinstalling a fresh copy of Firefox.

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

  • Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will also lose your personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

  • It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.

If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.

Babylon.Ltd
Babylon.Ltd
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Follow these instructions : Remove Toolbar (from Extensions)

1. Open Mozilla Firefox. Go to FF menu button.

2. Select Add-ons & than select Extensions. (delete excess text)

3. Remove/Disable the Babylon Toolbar 1.5.0.

4. Restart your browser.

Remove Toolbar (from Add/Remove Programs)

1. Click the Start button on your computer.

2. Select Add-ons & than select Extensions. (delete excess text)

3. Select Programs and Features.

4. Select Babylon Toolbar from the Programs list.

5. Right click to uninstall.

6. Press YES on the popup message.

Remove Search Provider

1. Open Mozilla Firefox. Click on the Search bar, located on the right side of your address bar

2. Press the F4 key and select Manage Search Engines from the drop down list that appears.

3. Select Search the Web (Babylon) and click on the Remove button.

4. Click OK to save your changes.

Remove/Change Home Page:

5. Open Mozilla Firefox. Click on the FF menu button.

6. Select Options.

7. Now select the General tab.

8. In the section of the popup labeled "Home Page," insert the URL of your desired Home Page.

9. Click OK to save the changes.

Remove Babylon Search from New Tab

If when you open a new tab in Firefox, Babylon Search still appears:

1. Type in the address bar line about:config and press enter.

2. Confirm the popup message.

3. In the search field, type "browser.search.selectedEngine". (remove excess text here)

5. Restart your Browser.