918412 - Search engine override of last one used does not work.

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Firefox :: Search, defect)

Description

[renejr1]

User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 6.0; WOW64; rv:23.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/23.0 (Beta/Release)
Build ID: 20130814063812

Steps to reproduce:

I'm having a problem with the search bar. Whenever I use something other that my default search engine (Google). such as Webster or Wikipedia, and then return to Google.




Actual results:

 my setting in prefs.js 
"user_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename", "Webster")"; and "user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine", "Webster")"
 remain at whichever of the other engines I had selected temporarily in the last session when I log back on, not the last engine I had selected, Google.  About:config entries do not fix this, they seem to be changing properly




Expected results:

I understand that FF is supposed to start up with the last search engine that I have selected at the time I exited FF (why?). My problem is that the entries in prefs.js don't recognize that I 've changed back to Google before exiting FF.

Now this is a FF problem and the forum responses sending everyone to run an extension to correct it every time it occurs is stupid. It's time this was fixed.

Also, If I remember right, in the good old days, we had a check box under the Manage Search Engines which allowed us to set a default without editing the about:config. We need that back also.

Comment 1

[Drew Willcoxon :adw]

I don't understand what the bug is.  Could you please rephrase and include clear steps to reproduce?

Comment 2

[renejr1]

While using FF with the default search bar engine "Google", select a different search engine such as "Wikipedia" and search for something.

At this point exiting FF with Wikipedia as the search engine will cause Wikipedia to be the search engine currently in use when FF is started, as it is explained in FF.  I don't why this should be, we used to be able to check off our permanent default search engine.

Now for the bug steps:

1. I start FF with Google as my search engine.

2. At sometime I choose Wikipedia as my search engine temporarily.

3. I then choose Google again as my search engine.  I may or may not search with Google.

4.  I exit FF.  

5.  I restart FF.

6. Wikipedia is shown as my search engine rather than Google which was the last engine I chose.

7. This occurs whether or not I have actually made a search with Google after choosing it as my final search engine before exiting.


The entry in about:config: "browser.search.selectedEngine,S" shows google but the entries in my prefs.js file show "wikipedia" as stated in my original comment (or "Webster" depending on the one used).

Suggestion:  Why can't we just select our permanent default search engine that always comes up when we start?

Comment 3

[Paul Silaghi, QA [:pauly]]

WFM on FF 24, Win 7.
Please check if the issue occurs using Firefox in safe mode (with your addons disabled):
http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode

Comment 4

[renejr1]

Same results in Safe Mode.

Has anyone tried to reproduce this?  Seems like they could have checked safe mode as easily as me.

Comment 5

[Drew Willcoxon :adw]

(In reply to renejr1 from comment #2)
> 1. I start FF with Google as my search engine.
> 2. At sometime I choose Wikipedia as my search engine temporarily.
> 3. I then choose Google again as my search engine.  I may or may not search
> with Google.
> 4.  I exit FF.
> 5.  I restart FF.
> 6. Wikipedia is shown as my search engine rather than Google which was the
> last engine I chose.

When I try to reproduce, at this point Google is selected.  You don't have a user.js file, do you?

(In reply to renejr1 from comment #4)
> Has anyone tried to reproduce this?  Seems like they could have checked safe
> mode as easily as me.

Paul asked you to try safe mode because he, like me, can't reproduce the problem, which may indicate that it's caused by an add-on you've installed.

Comment 6

[renejr1]

Do not have a user.js file.  Checked all my app data.  The prefs.js entries still show Wikipedia as my search engine.  If I manually edit prefs.js entries, it works fine until the next time I use a different search engine.

Comment 7

[Paul Silaghi, QA [:pauly]]

Perhaps there is something corrupt in your profile. Please try again on a new, empty profile:
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/Managing-profiles#w_starting-the-profile-manager

Comment 8

[renejr1]

I did that last night and none of the new profiles seem to have the problem and they also do not have the two entries in prefs.js.

If my profile is corrupt,, how do I troubleshoot/fix it?  I really don't want to start all over again and have to install all addons and set options for addons and FF.

What could be writing those two lines at the end of prefs.js?  Obviously some earlier version of FF must have done this.
"user_pref("browser.search.defaultenginename", "Wikipedia")";
"user_pref("browser.search.selectedEngine", "Wikipedia")"

Comment 9

[Drew Willcoxon :adw]

prefs.js is overwritten every time you close Firefox.  It should reflect your about:config values.  You shouldn't edit prefs.js or be too concerned about what it contains, unless there is evidence that something besides Firefox is messing with it.

After selecting Google, about:config should show that both browser.search.selectedEngine and browser.search.defaultenginename are "Google".  If you then restart, about:config should show that those preferences remain the same as before restart.  Is that not the case?

Maybe Sync is incorrectly syncing these preferences.  If you go to about:config and set services.sync.prefs.sync.browser.search.selectedEngine and services.sync.prefs.sync.browser.search.update both to false, can you reproduce after that?

Comment 10

[renejr1]

Yes, it reproduces after changing them to "false".

I did see something different between the profiles though.  My about:config has a bunch of Services.sweetim... entries.  The others, without the problem, don't mention sweetim.

Checking help and the web, it seems these are related to some malware which can hijack the search engine.  Removal of these seems to be difficult at best.  I've found a number of different methods online and I'm reviewing them now.  Any suggestions?

In any case, I guess you can disregard this as a bug.  I do appreciate your time and patience though.

Comment 11

[Drew Willcoxon :adw]

OK.  I don't have any suggestions, but you might try searching the Firefox support site:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/search?esab=a&q=malware

If you create a new profile and import all your data from the old one, things may just work, but I don't know for sure, and if your computer remains infected, that won't disinfect it.  It's worth a shot maybe.  Good luck.

Comment 12

[renejr1]

Just a not e for future reference.  I checked the url you gave me above but it didn't have the procedural steps in detail.  Thought this information might be of help

I used the procedure at:  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/virus-removal/remove-sweetpacks-toolbar  and the problem seems to be cleared up.  I'm rid of sweetim entries in my prefs.js file as well as a number of other adware/malware  entries.  My registry, program files, program data and user files were also cleaned out.  I did a lengthy review iof all the item to be deleted and deselected about a half-dozen to keep.

So far my system seems to be operating as it should.  Bye the bye, I also tried your import to a new profile thing before starting FF in my old "default" profile and it worked fine.

Thanks again, Rene