How can I change the default 'address bar search' in Firefox?

October 19, 2006 11:13 AM

How can I change the default 'address bar search' in Firefox?

If I type a word in the address bar, rather than a URL, it now takes me to an Earthlink search page, rather than the Google 'I Feel Lucky' search results.
I have no idea why this is. Earthlink isn't my ISP. I don't have any Earthlink software. Have never used anything to do with Earthlink.
I checked keyword.url under the about:config options but that is set to Google.

Can you help - it's v. annoying

posted by simonash to computers & internet (5 comments total)

Have you filtered on earthlink within about:config? That may provide a clue.
posted by jikel_morten at 11:40 AM on October 19, 2006

Sounds like you're maybe using Earthlink's DNS servers? Are you sure your ISP isn't connected to them in some way?
(A lot of DNS servers nowadays direct queries for non-existent domains to their own branding/advertising-laden pages; Firefox relies on nothing being found to know to do a search of its own)
posted by malevolent at 12:08 PM on October 19, 2006

(Hmm it seems my Firefox notices there's no TLD and so doesn't bother doing a DNS query first, so perhaps it's something else)
posted by malevolent at 12:12 PM on October 19, 2006

That was it - thank you!

When the office router was set up, for some reason someone used Earthlink DNS servers for the static DNS settings. Clearing that fixed it.

Much appreciated
posted by simonash at 12:33 PM on October 19, 2006

On preview, looks like you fixed it, but I am goiing still post the this in case it helps some future person searching through AskMe for Firefox search issues:

You should put this string in your user.js file:
"http://www.google.com/search?btnI=I%27m+Feeling+Lucky&q="
posted by caddis at 12:43 PM on October 19, 2006