I have Firefox 17.0.1, by doing a system restore, I lost all my major default search engines, google, yahoo, bing, etc.; can't get them back
Firefox was working fine until I did a system restore to get rid of a DLL initialization failed error; it went back 20 days; an older version of firefox was there and it wouldn't update, then I noticed all my major search engines and defaults were gone, including google, yahoo, bing, etc. Some of the minor search engines were there. I couldn't even add them manually.
I tried using system restore again, going back like yesterday; it doesn't work. The files or something is wrong. How can I fix this to get my major search engines back, or being able to add them. In manage search engines there is a restore default box exists but it doesn't work.
I have windows xp professional. Please help, this is driving me crazy. I also tried typing a command in the run in the start menue to go into a safe mode and click on restore defaults. It also didn't work, no safe mode.
All Replies (8)
http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/fx/#desktop
Download a fresh Firefox installer and re-install Firefox 17.0.1.
Please clarify; I simply click on fresh copy in the link you gave me. What about all my bookmarks and other settings. Does it retain everything the way I have it? It simply updates what I have but with correct firefox files such in the search engine bar?
Does it create a second firefox icon on desktop or just fix what I have without any loss in my bookmarks and settings.
Please advise.
thanks.
steve
You can also delete search.json file and a possible search.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder.
You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:
- Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder
I found a potential better option as eliminating the folders could cause further damage if they don't work, but I could still try this.
Below is the new reset option, please advise on my question.
Firefox 17.0.1 has a new reset function. However, my question is will I only possibly lose extensions (only have a few), or could I also lose numberous plug-ins I have on Adobe, Java and many others like shockwave, microsoft media, etc.
Clarification:
I believe now you potentially lose all extensions, plug-ins when you use the new reset function, but you will let me know.
If that is the case, your find corrupt file method maybe better. However, I reviewed the two help articles and there appear to be more files than just the delete search.json file and a possible search.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder. I am confused. Then I have to find the folders. I think help articles mentioned how to find the profile containing the files, but not sure.
Hello smagrill, yes the Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder by cor-el is to find your profile, then inside the profile delete the search.json file (see screenshot how it is) and NO search.rdf file (when put the mouse cursor you will see the JSON file, that's the one you have to delete), and delete also the search.sqlite file.
thank you
This didn't work; I didn't care that it didn't auto restore firefox default search engines, google, yahoo or bing. It didn't, and it didn't even fix being able to add the engines manually.
By opening google, it would show up on bottom of search bar to ad; not there.
I couldnt find the NO search.rdf file. I restored search Json and search.sqlite.
I may have to use the new reset function in firefox 17.0.1 which I have
ok, I added google, yahoo, bing, ebay using the Mycroft project as removing search.sqlite and search.json didn't work. Now, how do I fix the spell checker; it's checked, check my spelling as I type, but dosen't work, not active. I have latest Firefox 17.0.1. Help. I heard there are some value paramters, 0, 1, etc, but couldn't find them. Also, I couldn't find in 17.0.1 any more detailed paramters under check my spelling as I type - which I said yes to, made active.
thanks.
steve