Default search page

[Moira]

If I mistype a URL, the default search page which appears is MSN Search.

I'd rather it was Google, as I have on my other desktop PC, but I can't find any way of changing this.

Any ideas? :(

[stdPikachu]

1) It's an option in Internet Options > Advanced > Search from address bar > don't search from address bar. Then you can turn it off.

2) Don't use internet explorer

3) Use Opera or Mozilla [FireFox]. All three have inbuilt google search tools.

[Moira]

On both computers in Internet Options, I have ticked "just display the results in the main window", yet when I type in a URL in the address bar (nothing to do with searching) one PC comes up with a google page which offers a few more search options, yet this computer does the same thing but with MSN as the default page (which I hate and want rid of, Forthy knows why :) ).

I have tried running hijackthis and adaware and searching the registry for any mention of msn search and altered every option I can find in IE in the registry to use google, but to no avail :(

Yes I could use another browser (my laptop has mozilla) and even AOL's browser comes up with their customised search page based on Google.

It just annoys me that I know Internet Explorer can use Google and I don't know how to do it! I hate programs that worm their way into my system and ditch my preferred applications.

If you use IE, see what happens when you type something like "www.whirlpool.au" and you'll see what I mean.

[stdPikachu]

Yes I could use another browser

You should use another browser...!

I've already gone into why it sucks a million times, and people are sick of me banging on about it. Just switch, damnit!

;)

[Moira]

That isn't the issue really. What originally happened was I got a load of spyware installed when Forthy sent me a dodgy copy of MSN Messenger Plus. I removed it all eventually, but this "trace" seems to have remained in the form of MSN taking over my default search page. For all I know the same thing would happen if I did switch browsers (except it doesn't with AOL, they're pretty much impenetrable as they match the stubborn invasiveness of most spyware quite well).

I was just wanting to get this MSN search page off my system really .... it's not a big deal, I suppose it searches just the same as google does, I just don't like not being in control of what's on my computer.

[latency]

A new browser would solve that too, I used to clean about 20 tracking cookies off my system every two weeks, since using firefox, I've removed about 2 in 6 weeks.

[Moira]

Well it would solve it in one respect, but it still wouldn't get this MSN junk off my system which is what I was wanting to find out how to do :(

[[M]uuhh]

You should use another browser...!

I've already gone into why it sucks a million times, and people are sick of me banging on about it. Just switch, damnit!

;)
why dont you premote your fan club in PC world.

if its not broke, dont fix it

[stdPikachu]

uuhh']if its not broke, dont fix it

It is broken.

[Moira]

OK I fixed this after a fashion:


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main]
"Use Search Asst"="no"
"Search Page"="http://www.google.com"
"Search Bar"="http://www.google.com/ie_rsearch.html"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchURL]
""="http://www.google.com/keyword/%s"
"provider"="gogl"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Search]
"SearchAssistant"="http://www.google.com/ie_rsearch.html"

In "provider" I had "MSN". Despite making the recommended changes, I now don't get any more search options if I mistype a URL, just a 404, while my other PC comes up with google offering further ideas. However, I can live with this :)

http://www.google.co.uk/options/defaults.html

has some useful info.

[[M]uuhh]

It is broken.
um no the search page jus needed changing...

[stdPikachu]

uuhh']um no the search page jus needed changing...

Internet Explorer is broken as a whole.

[latency]

Hear hear.

10 characters.

[Forthy]

What originally happened was I got a load of spyware installed when Forthy sent me a dodgy copy of MSN Messenger Plus

:( let it lie! :p

[Moira]

OK Forthy .... it's been done to death I agree :)

I won't mention it again, promise! The problem appears to be sorted now anyway.

Moira

[DarkEntity]

all the msn messenger plus have hundreds of spyware.

if u got one without id love it :)

[dangerous_dom]

Internet Explorer is broken as a whole.

He's right ya know. IE is broken. But I can't be bothered either. People need to find it out for themselfs. Ignorance is bliss!

For all I know the same thing would happen if I did switch browsers

Nope. Firefox for example is almost 100% immune to spyware, browser hacks and homepage hijacks. One day you will see the light and switch. Then you will realise what you have been missing! :p

[dangerous_dom]

Anyway, who in the right mind uses MS messenger. Total nooooooobvile round here if you ask me. :rolleyes:

[shifty.ricky]

uuhh']why dont you premote your fan club in PC world.

if its not broke, dont fix it
Becasue the people in PC World are too stupid to run anti-virus / firewalls unless it has norton stamped on the front and they are charged £50 for the honour. So what makes you think that they would get the fact that MS sucks.

IE is broken period.

http://www.mozilla.org/firefox/Critical_Update.html <-- guess what doesnt exist as it isnt full of holes like IE :p

[Moira]

Anyway, who in the right mind uses MS messenger. Total nooooooobvile round here if you ask me. :rolleyes:

Who in their right mind makes a double post two minutes apart and doesn't know about the edit button ????

Total nooooooobvile round here if you ask me .......

I kind of agree about MSN Messenger - unfortunately I know too many people who use it and won't come on IRC.

Re Firefox, I do have mozilla on my laptop and I totally agree with the comments re Internet Explorer, however, IE comes with Windows and even if I switched, there are 4 other users of this network and someone is going to use Internet Explorer ..... the question was more about altering the search page, not "which is the best browser?"

[dangerous_dom]

Fair enough.

I just had a look at IE for you and there does not seem to be an option (unless I missed it).

So, here are ya options...

1) A reg hack - http://www.regxplor.com/tweak22.html

2) Some tweaking software, such as - http://www.tune-up.com/ I have used that to change it in the past and it not a bad bit of software, X-setup is also very good.

3) Forget about changing it and get the Google tool bar for IE (limited to google)

4) Download firefox and use it's fantastic fully configurable search box to...... ok, I will shut up for now :D

Hope that helps.

[DarkEntity]

ive happily just uninstalled IE 6 from all of my machines and replaced it with Firefox :)

and tbh Firefox is soooooooo much faster reliable and sturdy than IE ever was...go with the flow peeps change to a browser that does what is says on the tin.

[WiZeR]

so, what your saying is that Forthy gave Moira a dodgy copy of MSN Messenger Plus?

I see

[:Mac:]

I kind of agree about MSN Messenger - unfortunately I know too many people who use it and won't come on IRC.

"which is the best browser?"

well i can half-answer your question about IRC..I used it once...and was bombarded by about a hundred viruses at once...thats the fear that most people have of IRC is that its a haunt for every type of user out there hackers, porn fanatics, the list goes on really.

its the security of it all that frightens a lot of people. (this is just my oppinion and also personal experience)

i dont use it purely because i dont my machine flooded again

but firefox im gunna use sometime...

[nryoung]

OK, for those of us considering ditching IE, which is best for a noob, mozilla or firefox?

[stdPikachu]

FireFox is more suited to replace IE, as Moz comes with a shedload of extra functionaility that most people won't find an immediate use for. Mozilla is essentially a Netscape that doesn't suck.

I still like Opera bestest.

But this isn't really the thread for this kinda discussion.

[dangerous_dom]

This thread has been hijacked to be fair. There is this thread http://forums.kustompcs.co.uk/showthread.php?t=19803 thats probably better suited and answers a few question without having the need to start a new one.

[Forthy]

so, what your saying is that Forthy gave Moira a dodgy copy of MSN Messenger Plus?

I see


That's about the size of it. But my copy was fine, and everybody else I distributed it to too.

[Moira]

Fair enough.

I just had a look at IE for you and there does not seem to be an option (unless I missed it).

So, here are ya options...

1) A reg hack - http://www.regxplor.com/tweak22.html

I went through that reg hack and it's the same one I posted earlier - I have carried out the modifications.

2) Some tweaking software, such as - http://www.tune-up.com/ I have used that to change it in the past and it not a bad bit of software, X-setup is also very good.

I'll have a look at this.

3) Forget about changing it and get the Google tool bar for IE (limited to google)

I already have the google toolbar - it initially searches OK, but what was happening when an incorrect URL was typed, instead of a 404 error or google offering more search options, I got this MSN search page. Just on this one computer, strangely enough. However, I have now implemented the tweak correctly and all is well - I have my google search page back !!! :)

4) Download firefox and use it's fantastic fully configurable search box to...... ok, I will shut up for now :D

LOL!

Hope that helps.

Thanks, it has helped immensely - although I carried out the tweaks I posted, I was getting just a 404 error, no search page, so obviously there was something I hadn't done right. Going through it again, this is fixed, google back again, ie problem solved :D

[Moira]

That's about the size of it. But my copy was fine, and everybody else I distributed it to too.
Forthy, maybe they just didn't realise they'd been infected with spyware.

Before someone remarks I just didn't tick/untick any option to install an "extra" program, I will send the file to anyone who wants it and I challenge them to install MSN Plus without the spyware as well !!

[dangerous_dom]

problem solved :D

http://members.lycos.co.uk/domsstuff/hannibal.bmp