Windows Desktop Search Default is Ask.com - Can't get rid of it?

D

Dreanmachine

Howdy,

For some reason my default search from the Windows Desktop Search now always
goes to Ask.com. I have played around with the default search options and
Google is set as my default (which is what I want) However, it still always
goes to Ask.com. when I search the web from the desktop search option. I
don't see how to get rid of this. Any help? It is annoying. Thanks in
advance!
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

If using IE7, try installing the Google Web Search provider from here, and set it as the default provider:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/en-en/default.mspx

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Howdy,

For some reason my default search from the Windows Desktop Search now always
goes to Ask.com. I have played around with the default search options and
Google is set as my default (which is what I want) However, it still always
goes to Ask.com. when I search the web from the desktop search option. I
don't see how to get rid of this. Any help? It is annoying. Thanks in
advance!
 
S

starlight

Dreanmachine said:
Howdy,

For some reason my default search from the Windows Desktop Search now always
goes to Ask.com. I have played around with the default search options and
Google is set as my default (which is what I want) However, it still always
goes to Ask.com. when I search the web from the desktop search option. I
don't see how to get rid of this. Any help? It is annoying. Thanks in
advance!
Click to expand...
 
S

starlight

Hi, I'm in the UK. If I try to access a web site that is outside the UK my
msn or google search engines are hyjacked by the stupid and futile search
engine that is ASK.com
Is this a ploy by microsoft to stop you searching outside your country of
residence?

It sucks... I know the web site exists and yes I spelt it properly What's
going on. There are no Ask programme entries on Add and Remove programmes and
Ask does not appear as one of my search engines. Please help this is driving
me nuts as I often access sites in Canada and the USA.

Peter
 
M

Malke

starlight said:
Hi, I'm in the UK. If I try to access a web site that is outside the UK my
msn or google search engines are hyjacked by the stupid and futile search
engine that is ASK.com
Is this a ploy by microsoft to stop you searching outside your country of
residence?
Click to expand...

Ah, the old Evil Ploy routine? No. If you really think this, then you should
consider wearing a tin foil beanie.

http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

Otherwise, do some scanning for malware.
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

In addition, if you are using Internet Explorer 7, change your default
search engine to something better such as Google.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/searchguide/en-en/default.mspx

If you are not using IE, then look in the preferences of whatever browser
you *are* using for this.

Malke
 
T

Tom

I am from Norway and have the same problem. It always go back to Ask.com in
the default search engine in IE7. I delete it and set google.com or google.no
as default. But ask.com always come back. I have also reached of ask.com in
the registry, but cannot find it. It should be a good way to change the
default search engine permantently.

Tom
 
D

decebal mihailescu

Dreanmachine said:
Howdy,

For some reason my default search from the Windows Desktop Search now always
goes to Ask.com. I have played around with the default search options and
Google is set as my default (which is what I want) However, it still always
goes to Ask.com. when I search the web from the desktop search option. I
don't see how to get rid of this. Any help? It is annoying. Thanks in
advance!
Click to expand...
I had the same pesky problem in IE6.
Here is how got rid of it.
1.Close all IE instances.
2.Uninstall everything that resembles ask.com or ask something.
3.check for a folder likely to be called C:\Program Files\AskSearch\bin or
some similar name
4.open a command prompt and cd C:\Program Files\AskSearch\bin
5.uregister that evil dll: regsvr32 /u defaultsearch.dll
6.It should succeed, and if you want you can delete/rename it.
7.restart IE6 and check it out for some sites wit no www prefix
It worked for me on Win XP & IE6.
 
S

Steve

Decebal,

I have a similar problem with Ask hijacking my search default.
The situation is different and I'm having problems following your fix.

Here's my situation:

I installed a Sprint 3G wireless data USB dongle (Model U680) onto my laptop.
The dongle comes complete with software included in the USB.
I installed the 3G card with no problem and have access to the internet
wirelessly.

The one irritant is that my default search engine in IE7 gets reset to Ask
everytime I boot up. Regardless of how many times I change to Google and
remove Ask as a search option, it shows back up again when I reboot.
Needless to say this is getting irritating!

C:\Program Files\AskPBar\History contains a search2 file of unknown type.
It was created the day/time I first used the dongle, so this is the
offending piece of code. I will attempt to delete it and reboot my machine
and will let you know if I was successful.

Stay tuned.

Steve
 
S

Steve

Decebal,

Deleting the AskPBar folder did not fix the problem.
Ask still shows up as the default search engine.
Where can I find that pesky .dll and how do I disable/remove/delete it safely?

Steve
 
D

decebal mihailescu

If it's inthe Sprint USB driver than you are screwed.
But it might be some service sprint installed and that's restoring the
provider at boot time. I don't know if you can find it and disable it, but
try this:
Search your drive for DefaultSearch.dll and if you find it and the
manufacturer is shown as ask.com or unknown, unregister it with
regsvr32 /u defaultsearch.dll
 
R

Rajesh

I had the same problem and I did the following and it went away.

1.Close all IE instances.
2.Uninstall everything that resembles ask.com or ask something.
3.check for a folder likely to be called C:\Program Files\AskSearch\bin or
some similar name and delete the folder.

Rajesh
 
I

im.

tnx.. it worked

decebal mihailescu said:
I had the same pesky problem in IE6.
Here is how got rid of it.
1.Close all IE instances.
2.Uninstall everything that resembles ask.com or ask something.
3.check for a folder likely to be called C:\Program Files\AskSearch\bin or
some similar name
4.open a command prompt and cd C:\Program Files\AskSearch\bin
5.uregister that evil dll: regsvr32 /u defaultsearch.dll
6.It should succeed, and if you want you can delete/rename it.
7.restart IE6 and check it out for some sites wit no www prefix
It worked for me on Win XP & IE6.
Click to expand...
 
J

JJChgo393

Ask.com Hijacked my Default Search using IE7?
There are lots of articles on the Internet about Ask.com hijacking searches.
None of them had an answer that worked for me. I am running Win XP Home
Service pack 3. I recently reloaded Win XP and lots of other programs in the
same day so I'm not all that sure but I think Webshots screen saver and photo
managing software caused it. Judging by all that is written about this on the
web, there are other programs or sources causing this.
I installed Google Toolbar and found it has a built in block on something
being able to change the default search. Also it has a option to announce the
'block warning' silently. So it is automatic in the back round preventing the
hijack.
 
S

SociableLinda

Decebal Mihailescu....Dude! Thanks for the info on how to eliminate that
darn asksearch on Internet Explorer 6!!!!!! Your directions were easy to
follow and completely rid me of that pesky ask junk. I so enjoy having my
address bar back!!!
~ Linda
 
H

HMichUSA

I'm not dumb when it comes to computers but this ask.com thing is driving me
crazy. I have tried everything listed above and NOTHING is working it was
removed , cookies and all but for some reason if I type in the address bar to
somewhere it takes me to ask.com. now if I use my Favorites tab to switch
pages, it foes to the page I wanted. I am running IE7. my computer is acting
totally crazy. if we log in under mine (admin) we can't log into any of our
e-mails games ect ect.. but ask will not come up at all. then we log into my
DH and we can log in but then ask pops up. I'm lost and really need help.
Any ideas? -Besides the above ones.
Thanks,

HMichUSA
 
S

sub1ime14

PHENOMENAL! Thanks very much, decebal! If you are running IE6, this
solution is the one you should try. Not sure how it applies to IE7/8,
though. Again, thanks so much!
 
B

breather

I got rid of ask.com by;
1 uninstall ask toolbar and seekapp
2 run a search on files starting with ask and I found
ASKSBARSETUP-4.1.0.5.EXE-0D406EAC and some other files. I deleted them.
3 And finally I deleted the main setup files which I found in the folder
TempImages, this folder was in the local setting folder on my computer.
make sure you select (show hidden files) in the folder options.
The program reinstall itself every time the computer resart only because the
main setup file was hidden in the TempImages.
That works for me, I hope it works for you.
 

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