The ask.com toolbar even after being uninstalled can remain stuck as Firefox’s URL search. I found this problem on a Vista machine . To remove it follow these steps.
- from the Control Panel/IE
- Uninstall the Ask.com toolbar using the Add/Remove Programs
- Remove it form the Internet Options /General Tab / Change search Defaults
- From Firefox
- On the address bar type about:config (you will get a warning, be carefull this is the regedit equivalent on Firefox)
- Change the setting – keyword.URL; – from ask.com to http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&q=
- Change the setting – browser.search.defaulturl – from ask.com to http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=navclient&q=
- change the settings – extension.snipit.chromeURL – from ask.com to http://www.google.com/search?&q={searchTerms}
- restart Firefox
