how do i remove ask.com...? - Virtual Dr Forums-Computer Tech Support

Magill · #1 February 12th, 2008, 01:03 PM

I am using IE7 on a Vista machine. Google is my preferred search engine. Any entry in the search bar (the IE7 search bar) uses Google. If, however, I type a search word or phrase into the address bar, IE7 uses Ask.com as the default search engine. I would like to change this. I have looked in the internet option settings of IE7 and in the Add/Remove programs area of Vista. No luck.
Can someone help me out?
Thanks.
K

**Steve R Jones** · #2 February 12th, 2008, 02:02 PM

IE Tools->General Tab->"Change Search Defaults"

Magill · #3 February 12th, 2008, 02:17 PM

Thanks for the reply, Steve. Aleardy looked there. Google is the only search engine listed. Is a registry hack necessary?

**Train** · #4 February 12th, 2008, 02:36 PM

Change default search engine in Internet Explorer 7

http://windowsaddict.blogspot.com/20...engine-in.html

Magill · #5 February 12th, 2008, 03:10 PM

Thanks Train, but I tried that too. Ask.com isnt even listed as a search option there. Google is the only one listed.
I actually looked at the registry and there is a reference to Ask.com at HKey Local Machine, Software, Microsoft, Internet Explorer, SearchScopes
although I dont know whether that is the issue and how to change it.

**Train** · #6 February 12th, 2008, 06:07 PM

Have you now changed it here.

It should say Google when you start.

How to the changes with graphics.
http://www.askdavetaylor.com/change_...rer_7_ie7.html

Magill · #7 February 12th, 2008, 06:10 PM

The only thing that exists there is Google.

**Train** · #8 February 12th, 2008, 06:17 PM

Go through and set google up again and see if that fixes things.

**Broni** · #9 February 12th, 2008, 06:41 PM

Uninstall it through Add\Remove
Most likely, it's listed as "AskToolbar", or something similar.

Magill · #10 February 17th, 2008, 05:47 PM

OK, figured I would take another stab at this. It is one of those things that just bugs me.
Train, I tried going through the process again to establish Google as my default search engine. Searches entered in the IE7 search bar do go through Google. Searches enterred in the address bar get redirected through Ask.com.
Broni, as mentioned in my original post, I looked in Add/remove. There doesnt seem to be anything there that relates to ask.com.

**lgbpop** · #11 February 17th, 2008, 07:05 PM

It may be listed as Ask Jeeves.

**Broni** · #12 February 17th, 2008, 09:58 PM

Download HijackThis:
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/hijackthis.html
and post its log.
We'll find "the guy".

Magill · #13 February 17th, 2008, 10:16 PM

Broni,
Awesome suggestion. I completely forgot about Hijackthis. It's been at least a couple of years since I used it, and certainly never on this machine. It immediately identified and removed the Ask.com browser helper. Now maybe I will go back to the log and see if there is anything else there that catches my eye.
Thanks again.
K

**Broni** · #14 February 17th, 2008, 10:20 PM

You may post HJT log back here.

davids · #15 February 21st, 2008, 11:21 AM

Is Ask.com the default search engine for computers running Vista? Why wouldn't they use their own search engine?