hi cartedor, you can manage your default search engine like this: Change your default search settings in Firefox

I have tried, i have gone into Tools, Options SEARCH

and then

Default Search Engine, it has a drop down list, and every time i launched firefox it always has Search Firefox Search Engine as the top option and then google

then lower down there is One-click Search engines, again, that "Search Firefox Search Engine" is always the first option, and then google and some other engine

I have removed all but google so that there is NO other engines interferring it.

the thing with the new firefox is, there is NO save setting button. so you just go and close it. and somehow it will magically save it but of course it doesnt.

once i closed all the firefox, and then relaunch, its back to pre-mine own preference.

and to make matter worse, "Search firefox search engine" = yahoo search engine

which is utter bull cr@p.

i am beginning to think perhaps i have a malware that bugs my firefox to default it to yahoo.

i have tried uninstalled the entire firefox, but sadly when re-installed, it is the same

Yes, another user also got it recently. Here's my suggested procedure for tracking down and cleaning up bad add-ons, hijackers, and other troublemakers. I know it seems long, but it's not that bad.

(1) Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program (on XP: Add/Remove Programs). After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date (XP doesn't have this, but you can try sorting by "Last used"). This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Take out as much trash as possible here.

(2) Open Firefox's Add-ons page using either:

• Ctrl+Shift+a
• "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
• in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste
  firefox.exe "about:addons"

In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions. Bear in mind that all extensions are optional.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?

(3) You can search for remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.

Can you get control of Firefox again?

Also, your Firefox identified itself to the forum as version 38. An update is available: this article describes how to get Firefox 49 using the "About Firefox" dialog on the help menu: Update Firefox to the latest release.

If something is holding you back from upgrading to Firefox 49 (or if you use the ESR series, Firefox 45esr), please let us know so we can suggest solutions or workarounds. Version 38 is not secure; Mozilla discloses security flaws after each new release.

Sometimes Firefox reports the wrong version because that information was frozen in a preferences file. If the Troubleshooting Information page shows Firefox 49.0.2, you may need to clear out that incorrect information. See:

• Use the Troubleshooting Information page to help fix Firefox issues (first table should list your current version number)
• How to reset the default user agent on Firefox

thank you for your help and instruction. i will give them a go tonight

I am indeed using 45.3.0 ESR version of firefox, i think , i need to check because it is the only version where fb purity works, none of the latest firefox version is compatible with it. and the ability to strip out all the junk and ad from website and fb is a priority for me.

and i am experience this stupid search engine problem. which is so annoying.

Yes, its resolved. just like you said, removing the invalid and no longer working add-in, its back to normal!!

thanks so much you guys!!

I had the same problem, went to my add-ons and found Search for Firefox add-on I never installed. I removed it, and now I'm reunited with Google.