Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

I added a program but somnehow ended up with "searchqu" as my search engine, how do you get rid of it?

  • 4 replies
  • 44 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Chay28

mquigleys
mquigleys
more options

I added a program that somehow put the search engine "searchqu" on my computer. How do you get rid of it? I looked up in the web engines and it is not listed. A blog board I read says it is coming through google chrome that it has to be uninstalled... any ideas?

I added a program that somehow put the search engine "searchqu" on my computer. How do you get rid of it? I looked up in the web engines and it is not listed. A blog board I read says it is coming through google chrome that it has to be uninstalled... any ideas?

All Replies (4)

Xircal
Xircal
more options

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.

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.

  • 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.
appletart
appletart
more options

This worked a treat!!

johnh48
johnh48
more options

This works well to remove this annoying piece of malware. One small thing - point 5 says click modify and reset; they both appear on the same drop down menu so you can just click reset and it seems to work

Chay28
Chay28
more options

Hi, Zircal. The solution you gave was successful! Am glad I have deleted thechatvibes into my browser which I don't like seeing it everyday. Keep it up! You're such a genius!