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Yahoo has become my default search engine. It used to be google; I want google back as my default search engine. Can you help?

  • 12 replies
  • 204 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Penangry

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Google used to be the default search engine in my FireFox setup. Now it's Yahoo. I would like to change it back to google. Can you tell me how to revert it back to google? If so, thanks.

This happened

Every time Firefox opened

== Two or three days ago.

Google used to be the default search engine in my FireFox setup. Now it's Yahoo. I would like to change it back to google. Can you tell me how to revert it back to google? If so, thanks. == This happened == Every time Firefox opened == Two or three days ago.

Chosen solution

In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter . The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear. Click I'll be careful, I promise! , to continue to the about:config page. Search for the preference keyword.url. Right-click on it, and select Reset.

More info: Location bar search

Read this answer in context 👍 10

All Replies (12)

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We'll need some more info about your Firefox setup. Go to Help > Troubleshooting Information, then click Copy all to Clipboard. Open a reply to this post, and go to Edit > Paste to paste the info from your Troubleshooting Information page.

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Hi Chris,

Thanks for trying to help me out with this. Below is the Troubleshooying info you requested:


 Application Basics
       Name
       Firefox
       Version
       3.6.3
       Profile Directory
         Open Containing Folder
       Installed Plugins
         about:plugins
       Build Configuration
         about:buildconfig
 Extensions
       Name
       Version
       Enabled
       ID
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       7.0.20100326W
       true
       {3112ca9c-de6d-4884-a869-9855de68056c}
       Java Console
       6.0.12
       true
        
       Java Console
       6.0.13
       true
        
       Java Console
       6.0.14
       true
        
       Java Console
       6.0.15
       true
        
       Java Console
       6.0.17
       true
        
       Java Quick Starter
       1.0
       true
       jqs@sun.com
       McAfee SiteAdvisor
       3.1
       true
        
       Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant
       1.1
       true
       {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}
       Xmarks
       3.6.7
       true
       foxmarks@kei.com
       Java Console
       6.0.19
       true
        
       Java Console
       6.0.20
       true
        
 Modified Preferences
     Name
     Value
       accessibility.typeaheadfind
       true
       accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar
       0
       browser.fixup.alternate.enabled
       false
       browser.history_expire_days
       99
       browser.history_expire_days.mirror
       99
       browser.history_expire_days_min
       180
       browser.places.importBookmarksHTML
       false
       browser.places.importDefaults
       false
       browser.places.leftPaneFolderId
       -1
       browser.places.migratePostDataAnnotations
       false
       browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion
       2
       browser.places.updateRecentTagsUri
       false
       browser.startup.homepage
       www.igoogle.com
       browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone
       rv:1.9.2.3
       browser.tabs.loadInBackground
       false
       browser.tabs.warnOnOpen
       false
       browser.zoom.full
       false
       extensions.lastAppVersion
       3.6.3
       general.useragent.extra.microsoftdotnet
       (.NET CLR 3.5.30729)
       keyword.URL
       http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=
       network.cookie.prefsMigrated
       true
       network.protocol-handler.expose.mailto
       true
       network.protocol-handler.external.mailto
       false
       places.last_vacuum
       1273702097
       print.print_printer
       Auto Canon MP610 series Printer on ROADMODE
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_bgcolor
       false
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_bgimages
       false
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_command
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_downloadfonts
       false
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_edge_bottom
       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_edge_left
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       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_edge_top
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       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_evenpages
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       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_footerleft
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       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_headerleft
       &T
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_headerright
       &U
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_in_color
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       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_margin_bottom
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       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_margin_left
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       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_margin_right
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       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_margin_top
       0.5
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_oddpages
       true
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_orientation
       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_pagedelay
       500
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_paper_data
       1
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_paper_height
       11.00
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_paper_size_type
       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_paper_size_unit
       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_paper_width
       8.50
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_reversed
       false
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_scaling
       1.00
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_shrink_to_fit
       true
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_to_file
       false
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_unwriteable_margin_bottom
       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_unwriteable_margin_left
       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_unwriteable_margin_right
       0
       print.printer_Auto_Canon_MP610_series_Printer_on_ROADMODE.print_unwriteable_margin_top
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_bgcolor
       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_bgimages
       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_command
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_downloadfonts
       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_edge_bottom
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_edge_left
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_edge_right
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_edge_top
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_evenpages
       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_footercenter
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_footerleft
       &PT
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_footerright
       &D
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_headercenter
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_headerleft
       &T
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_headerright
       &U
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_in_color
       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_margin_bottom
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_margin_left
       0.300000011920929
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_margin_right
       0.300000011920929
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_margin_top
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_oddpages
       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_orientation
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_pagedelay
       500
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_paper_data
       1
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_paper_height
       11.00
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_paper_size
       7471201
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_paper_size_type
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_paper_size_unit
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_paper_width
       8.50
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_reversed
       false
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_scaling
       1.00
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_shrink_to_fit
       false
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_to_file
       false
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_bottom
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_left
       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_right
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       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon_MP610_series_Printer.print_unwriteable_margin_top
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       false
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_bgimages

       false
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_command

       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_downloadfonts

       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_evenpages

       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_footercenter

       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_footerleft

       &PT
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_footerright

       &D
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_headercenter

       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_headerleft

       &T
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_headerright

       &U
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_in_color

       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_margin_bottom

       0.5
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_margin_left

       0.5
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_margin_right

       0.5
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_margin_top

       0.5
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_oddpages

       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_orientation

       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_pagedelay

       500
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_paper_data

       1
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_paper_height

       11.00
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_paper_size

       2097199
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_paper_size_type

       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_paper_size_unit

       0
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_paper_width

       8.50
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_reversed

       false
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_scaling

       1.00
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\CanonBJC-4300_Series.print_shrink_to_fit

       true
       print.printer_\\CI888631-AP33\Canon__BJC-4300_Series.print_to_file
       false
       privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs
       true
       security.warn_viewing_mixed
       false
       security.warn_viewing_mixed.show_once
       false
more options

Chosen Solution

In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter . The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear. Click I'll be careful, I promise! , to continue to the about:config page. Search for the preference keyword.url. Right-click on it, and select Reset.

More info: Location bar search

more options

Der Chris,

Thanks a lot! I went into that last evening, searching for "Yahoo"anything. Didn't find anything I could see to "fix".

I'll try your suggestion this evening...

Thanks again, Lynn

more options

I mean Dear Chris.

more options

Your current setting for keyword.URL is

keyword.url : http://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&p=
more options

WooooHoooo! Thanks! It worked!

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I am having the same problem when I type a search from the location bar.

I have gone to about.config and reset the search and rebooted. It still doesn't help.

Any suggstions.

more options

What is your setting for the pref keyword.URL ?

See also:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keyword.URL
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Location_Bar_search
more options

You might want to be sure that these problems are actually taking you to Yahoo -- the problem was around last year (and has come back in a more problematic for this summer), and the search redirection was actually going to a site called wwww0.notfounditem.net (or maybe wwwwo...). It has ha Yahoo logo on it, but look at the actual address in the location bar.

This appears to be caused by some form of malware. This year's version is trickier because on my girlfriend's computer, even "about:config" redirects to the bogus search site, so you can't use the methods described above to fix the problem.

more options

If anyone is having this issue, I had to change more than just the keyword.url. Here are the steps I took:

Open Firefox and type about:config

Then I changed:

browser.search.defaultenginename to google

browser.search.defaulturl to www.google.com

keyword.url right click {reset} or set = http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&gfns=1&q=

Then I restarted Firefox.

Consider this another complaint against Yahoo's unclear messaging. I do use Yahoo for some things and I thought perhaps they were going to improve interoperability between services, I guess Microsoft is rubbing off on them.

Mozilla - If my elderly parents encountered this problem, they would not be able to solve it without assistance. Please consider adding this to tools -> options. I love them, but I don't need the exercise in patience

Modified by sarahinseattle

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Thanks to Chris and the solution chosen by Anonymoususer I have reset to Google in the prescribed manner. I should add that I'm convinced that the problem was a direct result of installing Panda - which was a pain to uninstall - and left a Panda redirect to Yahoo. Now if anyone can tell me why my Awesome bar does not show logos on known sites (daily national U.K. newspapers etc) I'd be v. grateful. Thanks. Penangry.