Can't Remove Ask.com search program.

[toglenn]

After downloading an update of the Adobe lens corrector program from lab.adobe.com I now have the unwanted ask.com search program. This program acts as the default search engine in both Explorer and Firefox when using speech recognition software to initiate a search. Ask.com is not listed with any of the search programs, and is not listed as a program or a plug-in in Windows 7. I even tried restoring Windows 7 to an earlier date but ask.com program still remains in the computer. It does not show up under a malware to search. A Google search returns other users who have the same problem but no one that I found as a solution.

I would like to get rid this unwanted piece of crap but I don't know how. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[boohbah]

is it in programs and features in the control panel ,if so uninstall it from there.

 

[toglenn]

Not listed in Programs and Features

No it's not list anywhere. I had this problem with ask.com a few years ago and it was listed under programs and was easily removed but this appears to be a new version that is very well hidden.

 

[toglenn]

As I said in my original post ask.com is not listed as a program in either 64 bit or 32-bit program listings. I also looked for software with a name I didn't recognize but could not find any. I wish that problem would have been that simple but unfortunately I fear it's going to be complex. Thanks for the suggestion and I'd be happy to hear of any others you might have.

 

[PooMan UK]

Supposedly from what I've read there is a "ask toolbar remover" but I haven't messed about with it so maybe you could find some more info on this or maybe one of the other members have used it ... but here's the link ask toolbar remover v1.3

 

[carwiz]

Can't help with Firefox but in IE, click on Tools then click Manage Add-ons. You can enable/disable any of the BHOs there.

 

[toglenn]

Ask.com is not listed in IE's Manage Add On's. It does seem to be listed anywhere in either Firefox or IE. That's what is so puzzling and there is no Ask.com Toolbar. It only pops up when a search is requested by speech recognition when both browsers are closed. Normally I would say "search italian Restraunts in San Francisco" the default browser would open and display the results of the search not not the multiple choice Google or Bing search page. Now it opens Ask.com's search page without displaying search results.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[carwiz]

In the Manage Add-ons, does it show up under Search Providers?

 

[ossjzb]

- hmm.. are you Sure thats not the way the software programmers have Made it work now?.. Are there forums for that software?.. What im getting at is.. firewalls..etc.. will sometimes Force you into IE.. when you tell them to open their help file ( or any link via their software ).. my guess is because IE is Gaurenteed to be on that windows pc.. while Firefox is not.

ie. perhaps the software engineers have specifically Programmed it so it MUST search via ask.com?.. i wouldnt doubt it.. just goto Cnet .. used to love that site.. NOW every damn program has a cnet installer wrapper.. AND they ask you everytime.. do you want to isntall CHrome? and have it checked by default... or they will auto check installing the ASK toolbar..etc..etc.. quite annoying.. i may just stop using cnet.. ( granted they are a business and need to make money to stay afloat )..

I would first check into wheather this is 'correctly' functioning.. or / as designed.. ( granted its Not for your wishes ).



Only other thing i can think if is have you tried installing Revo Un-installer.. its pretty awesome and may see soemthing different than windows crappy uninstaller...

Maybe reinstall the app that you think put it there.. then uninstall w/ revo?.. i dunno ive never used that lens corrector apps before

Is the lens app Free??.. if so i wouldnt put it past adobe to just hard code the 'using ask.com as default search provider" into the app.. they probably got paid a good chunk of money from ask.com to do so..

just my 2 cents.

 

[marsmimar]

You could try T-Tools AntiSeptic here.

I'd also second Revo Uninstaller. The Pro version has a 30 day trial with full functionality.

 

[ossjzb]

One other thing i was thinking of.. was just open regedit and do a F3.. on ask.com ... see if it perhaps puts its 'recommended' search engine somewhere in the registry..

 

[koolkat77]

check these


Ask Toolbar
Ask Toolbar
Ask Toolbar

this link too

http://www.paperstreet.com/blog/582

it could be listed under extensions too
recheck all your settings
http://rancidtaste.hubpages.com/hub...ents-form-all-browsers-and-from-your-computer

 

[koolkat77]

better yet, download the ask toolbar again from the website, install it again. restart the browser when requested. then go to control panel and see if it is visible/listed in add remove programs or not., if it is uninstall it from there or if you have C cleaner installed, uninstall the ask.whatever using C cleaner. when you've done all that, if your browser still shows ask. as the default search engine do this >
click on the small arrow as <untitled> select manage search engines >select ask and remove it as <capture>.
hope this works.

 

[koolkat77]

and for internet explorer, it may have set the ask.com as the default webpage,look at attach capture2 just go to tools > internet options > there you will find that annoying ask.com page set to default. just click on use blank page. one similar thing you'll have to do, if ask.com is still set as the default search in internet explorer, go to the same small arrow near the default search engine and click manage search providers, set google as default and then you can remove ask.com from there. (as untitledssa) ps. <capture3> its not listed cause i already removed it.
edit: for this thread, i installed ask.com latest version from the official website on my computer to post all the stuffs that i can do to test/verify it and help you so hope this gets it sorted. also i suggest one of the senior member/moderator to make a tutorial on how to get rid of this ask.com thing

 

[koolkat77]

Can't help with Firefox but in IE, click on Tools then click Manage Add-ons. You can enable/disable any of the BHOs there.

i figured its listed in Manage Add-ons, beneath Tool bars & Extensions /> search providers

 

[toglenn]

No...it's not listed there but now more boy fun and games.

I went looking for a newer program that promotes removing Ask.com from my computer. It works just find except now About.com comes up instead of Ask.com. Could it be that programmers are having a mini war between each other trying to get their search engines installed? Well whatever it is it's not the end of the world and I worked out a workaround for my speech recognition search commands. Instead of saying "Search for such and such" I now say "Search Google for such and such" and the browser starts and the Google search page is displayed.

This problem only happens with speech recognition commands. I've written the software maker, Dragon, to see if they have any solutions but I can live with a workaround as I can dictate which search engine I want to use.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions and maybe someday I'll run across a solution to bring finality to this problem.

 

[toglenn]

No Luck with T-Tools

I tried T-Tools and Absolute Uninstallers they didn't find any trace of the programs.

Also did a RegEdit and no trace of either Ask.com or About.com was found.

I've searched through all the Options of both IE and FireFox and no trace of these malwares was found. Anti-Malware programs also fail to find them and of course there are no Tool Bars for these programs.

Again, they are only active when speech commands are used to activate the default browser to start in search mode.

Dragon Support, the Speech Recognition producer, suggested doing a software reload repair but that didn't solve the problem so the ball is back in their court, for now.

Thanks again for all the suggestions.

 

[koolkat77]

so you're still stuck with it?

 

[toglenn]

Oh it appears that I'm stuck with it for now but I'm not giving up and the folks here have been very helpful and I find it challenging.

I hate low life companies that resort to this type of method to promote their inferior products that failed in the open market place.

 

[koolkat77]

Oh it appears that I'm stuck with it for now but I'm not giving up and the folks here have been very helpful and I find it challenging.

I hate low life companies that resort to this type of method to promote their inferior products that failed in the open market place.

did you try the steps in my other posts?