When i open firefox amazon appears in the search bar which i can't delete

Question

every time i open firefox amazon appears in the search window and i can't delete it.
why this has happened i don't know but it means ican't use firefiox as my search engine

Answer 1

Use the search bar to select Google as the search engine, it should then be used in all the searches including the location bar and the firefox start page.
* Navigate to the start page by key into the location bar ''about:home'' an hitting the Return key.
Thanks for including your troubleshooting information. You have SearchDial that is probably part of your problem, some users consider that unwanted software or even malware. You also have an Amazon addon installed. There is also a ''user.js'' file likely created by search dial to modify your preferences.
'' Add to Amazon Wish List Button 1.10 ([email protected])
MySearchDial 9.5.5.1 ({ad9a41d2-9a49-4fa6-a79e-71a0785364c8}) ''
First uninstall what you can. <br />
Use the addons page ''about:addons'' to uninstall unwanted addons, then also check your Windows Control Panel and uninstall any unwanted programs. Searching by date will help you find bundled software.
Second scan with multiple and up to date tools <br />
You need multiple tools because each finds some but not all problems.
Thirdly use the Search reset tool & review how Firefox works. <br />
You may also need to check for corrupted shortcuts and ''user.js'' file entries if the above reactions did not deal with them.
Post back to say what you have done and how you got on.
See also [[Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page]]
'''General Malware removal advice'''
Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.
You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:
* [http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/default.aspx Microsoft Safety Scanner]
* [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware]
* [http://support.kaspersky.com/faq/?qid=208283363 TDSSKiller - AntiRootkit Utility]
* [http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/ Hitman Pro]
* [http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/ ESET Online Scanner]
* '''[http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ AdwCleaner: (for adware)]'''
* [http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan Kaspersky Free security scan]
You need to use multiple and up-to-date tools as they will not all pick up the same things.
[http://windows.microsoft.com/MSE Microsoft Security Essentials] is a good FREE permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one.
Further information can be found in the [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]] article. Note the suggestion to use the Search Reset addon after removing the malware.
Hopefully any malware will be easily detected and removed. I would not suggest you try any manual hacks or edits of the Windows registry. (Once rogue files are removed any residual registry entry will not normally do any harm.)