Sunday, June 20, 2010

Totally Remove Bing From Firefox

Here's how to remove Bing as your Firefox Default search engine.
If you're reading this article, you probably already have Firefox open. If not, load it up!

Locate your Firefox address bar. This is the box at the top of your page where you type in your searches, NOT the Google search bar that you might occasionally use.

Type the following into the address bar:

about:config

Type it EXACTLY the way shown above. Do not improvise or type it the way that YOU think it should be typed. Do not add commas, parentheses or quotation marks. You're serious about getting Google back as your default search engine, right?

You'll see a scary warning that says, "This might void your warranty!".

Ignore it, and click on the little box that says, "I'll be careful, I promise!".

After you promise to be careful, Firefox will take you to a page full of intimidating computer stuff. Don't waste time looking around, and DON'T mess with anything!

There will be a filter bar at the top of your page. The filter bar looks exactly like the box you use to search for websites using IE, Firefox, or Google.

In the filter bar, type in:

keyword.URL

Again, type it in EXACTLY as shown. Do not add commas, quotation marks, or parentheses.
Double click on "keyword.URL".

A window (if you aren't familiar with computer jargon, a window looks like a small box) will open up.

Using your backspace or delete key, erase the text in the window.

Replace the text with the following:

http://www.google.com/webhp?ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

The "http" part is not optional. Type it exactly as shown above.

Click OK, and say adiĆ³s to Bing! - ehow





Here's how to remove the Bing Bar:

Did you just open Firefox to find the Search Helper Extension and Bing Bar had been installed even though you didn't install them? Well, you're not crazy. Microsoft's latest Windows Update KB982217 installs these in Firefox for everyone who's previously used Windows Live Toolbar, MSN Toolbar, Windows Live Essentials or the Bing Bar. These extensions make Bing your default search engine and add other functionality. If you'd like to remove these and change your search provider back, the rest of this article will explain how to do that.Note: This is not to be confused with the Search Helper - Enhance Google extension which lets you open Google search results in multiple tabs.

Remove the Bing Bar from both Firefox and Internet Explorer


(The uninstaller doesn't give you the option of only removing it from one browser)

  1. From the menu at the top of the Firefox window, select File and then select the Exit menu item.

  2. From the Start menu, select Control Panel and open Add or Remove Programs (Windows XP) or Programs and Features (Windows Vista or Windows 7)

  3. Select Bing Bar from the listed programs and click Remove (Windows XP) or right-click and select Uninstall (Windows Vista or Windows 7)

  4. Follow the steps in the Bing Bar uninstaller.




Note: This will remove the extensions but your search provider and home page may have also been changed. To set your home page see How to set the home page and to set your search provider see Switching search engines.

via Removing the Search Helper Extension and Bing Bar.

Virus: An unwanted computer program that installs itself without your permission and makes itself difficult to remove. Hey Microsoft, if you want to  slow down a web browser, and make it less secure, do it to your own browser, Internet Exploder. Leave Firefox alone!

4 comments:

Zacchaeus Nifong said...

Scientist~
Truly an incredible post! I'm wondering why I'm the first one to make a comment...

Bing just infiltrated FF and installed some junk on it and you totally came to the rescue. One strange thing about the file in "Add/Remove Programs" is that the Bing Search Bar is not listed as "Bing..." it's listed as "Search Bar", then after clicking on, "more info" in the file, the software is actually made from "..ltd".

Anyway, thanks a lot.

Z

miguel coronado said...

Maybe Zacchaeus Nifong is the first but I want to thank you for the post. I dislike anyone intruding into my personal preferences. This is inappropriate behavior from any corporation to shove something into your computer unwanted.

It's not right, it is rude and it should be unacceptable. Because of this, rules and laws are created that should not exist if basic respect existed from corporations. They are harassing us with their opinion and software.

Unbelievable. But Microsoft is a big rat for doing this. It's a terrible representation from a corporation and poor example to set among young people. We deserve the freedom to choose. I choose people that respect me. Microsoft obviously does not show me my due respect and freedom.

wendell said...

Man thanks a lot. You are the man!
I was in trouble because of this bing thing,
you saved my life

Thanks for that

hsk01945 said...

The instruction that you offer do NOT work in Firefox 4. Typing about.config in the address bar in Firfefox simply bring results about about.config.

Do you have instructions to remove Bing for Firefox 4?

Thanks, Harold