Same problem with Windows 7 operating system.

Hi

I had the same problem and here is how to solve it. I started Mozilla Firfox in the Safe Mode. Then I checked the option "reset the default search engine". Now it should work with your default search engine and break the link to Crawler.

Hany

I had this problem after downloading a "web security shield". I deleted the Crawler Program by using Add/Remove Program in Vista and whilst the Crawler Toolbar disappeared, the Crawler browser and home page remained and appeared every time I launched Firefox. It over-rode the settings I had made under Vista "Internet Options". I tried a number of Spyware/Malware programs to remove it to no avail. I then did a "System Restore" (Windows Vista) to a time that was about 24 hours prior to the problem appearing. This appears to have corrected the error as the Google browser now launches as set each time I open Firefox. I have launched Firefox about 20 times now and each time it has worked properly. If the previous answer doesn't help, perhaps this might.

Re: Hany's solution - Thanks! Just started having this problem today your suggestion fixed it!

The most frustrating thing is it's actually absolute garbage.... what were people thinking allowing this to be attached to there software/apps

Aussie Allan

After I registered and logged in to Firefox (and it took me multiple attempts todo this) my access to this forum was denied. My login failed four times. Firefox is the most deceptive of all browers. Crawler is the worst search engine of all and is inextricably linked to DynAdvance email notifier and to Spyware Terminator. I can't get rid of either Crawler or DynAdnace. I finally got rid of Spyware Terminator by installing Microsoft Security Essentials. But nothing will remove Crawler and DynAdvnce from my "C Drive". How is my reply related to this question? Firefox will repeatedly put Crawler back into your browser every time to use the address bar to search, instead of the little search box. If you have to be on your guard all the time using Firefox then Firefox is, in my opinion, malicious software itself. That's why I stopped participating in the Pilot Program. Watch this post get pulled by Firefox before too long. No wonder I made Google Chrome my default browser.

I have the same issue and was able to remove it using another method. I initially started by removing web crawler and media finder from my add/remove in control panel. The add-ons still existed and I could only disable them successfully, however. Whenever I tried to uninstall from within Firefox's add-on list, Firefox would remove, restart, and reinstall the add-on. Here's how I was able to remove using some information I have found elsewhere on the web:

removed folders and included files in Windows 7:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Media Finder\

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Extensions\{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\pno874rf.default\extensions\{9EB34849-81D3-4841-939D-666D522B889A}

removed registry keys located at:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Google\Chrome\Extensions HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Google\Chrome\Extensions

Now they should uninstall successfully.

I removed all the crawler from extensions etc under APPDATA like Thompson suggested.

However, General crawler still appear in the firefox extensions folder (although not enable luckily)

I dont run Google Chrome and there are no HKEY entries I can find for crawler using the search function, so I am not entirely sure my system is clean now.

On restart I couldn't find the crawler in Add-ons. So fingers crossed it was successfully deleted.

I really wanted to get rid of this crap and the help posted here was great. Still, I don't know how it got onto and into my system in the first place.

hi there people i can tell you where general crawler seems to be coming from its media finder and anything to do with media finder so dont install media finder and if you have it installed uninstall it right away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Test post...sorry but I'm being kicked out...

I deleted the Media File folder in Documents and Settings\user\application data and now the gencrawler is gone from the FF add-ons list.

There is also a key in about:config "extensions:installCache" a user set string that contains a key entry for gencrawler. This was within MS's .NET framework and the referred to folders that either did not exist on my machine OR seemed harmless. I chose to NOT delete that part of the key.

The next time FF is update (seems like 2x /month) it will be interesting to see if it returns...