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

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

simonash — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:13:27 -0800

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

By: jikel_morten

jikel_morten — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 11:40:31 -0800

Have you filtered on earthlink within about:config? That may provide a clue.

By: malevolent

malevolent — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:08:05 -0800

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)

By: malevolent

malevolent — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:12:15 -0800

(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)

By: simonash

simonash — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:33:29 -0800

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

By: caddis

caddis — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 12:43:55 -0800

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="