To revert to Google as your preferred search engine, please do the following.

1. In the location bar, type about:config and hit Enter.
   
   
2. In the filter at the top, type: keyword.URL
   
   
3. Double click it and remove whatever's in there and replace it with http://www.google.com/search?q=
   
   
4. In the filter at the top again, copy/paste the following (remove keyword.URL first): browser.startup.homepage
   
   
5. Right click it, choose Modify and then click Reset.
   
   
6. Close the tab.
   
   
7. Click the Firefox button, go to Add-ons, then Extensions and remove these add-ons if they're in there: Windows iLivid Toolbar and Bandoo Media.
   
   
8. Next, open Windows Explorer and navigate to C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins. In there, delete the following: SearchquWebSearch.xml
   
   
9. Go to Add/Remove Programs and look for Windows iLivid Toolbar and Bandoo Media again. Remove if found. You might possibly find a reference to "Web Search" (searchqu) in Add/Remove Programs too. If so, remove it.
   

The URL to add in "keyword.URL" becomes a link in this post, so right click it and choose "Copy Link Location" to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Then hit CTRL+V to paste it. Saves you having to type the whole thing.

To reset your home page, do the following.

• Go to the site you want to set as your homepage.
  
  
• Go to Tools | Options | General
  
  
• Make sure it says "Show My Homepage" in the first dropdown menu.
  
  
• Click the button called "Use Current Pages" to set the homepage to the one you have on the screen.
  

Thank you for your input. I appreciate the trouble you went to. After following the process several times, I have to report that it does not work. It still goes right back to http://www.searchqu.com/405. I can't get rid of it.

See these threads about searchqu:

• /questions/816181
• /questions/790833

Open about:config again, type searchqu in the filter at the top. For every instance you see with that name in it, right click it and choose Reset.

@ co-rel, you've linked to a program (Spyhunter) considered to be a rogue anti-spyware app. See: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic156810.html

Other sites mention that Spyhunter requires a fee of $29,99 to remove a single infection.

The link is contained in the Ehow article which you've linked to in 816181.

I too tried the solutions posted above, but they did not work. Here is what I found. I have no idea if everyone's machine behaves the same way, but each time, I went back in my Tools > Options > General and tried changed the homepage address, when I closed this Tools window, at the bottom right of my screen, a small warning window (about the attempt to change the homepage) shows for only one second...so short, that it's impossible to read its full content. So, I did the same update, and did a screen capture when this warning flashed... as you can see on the picture there is a small "settings" option in this warning window. So, the trick is to change your update, and before you close the options window, have your cursor placed at the bottom right of your screen, or wherever the warning appears, and when the warning appears, click on the "settings" link...you will get a very simple window offering the option to confirm the homepage change....easy!! I did it and it worked...no more stalking from Searchqu!! Good luck

I see others have had this problem also. I have solved my particular problem, and it seems it was not a problem with Firefox. I was using Incredimail, and I found out that program was forcing me to use their preferred homepage. I removed Incredimail, and had no further problem changing my homepage. I can't see any profit motive for Incredimail to do that, and since I don't like being "controlled," I opted not to use their product.

@Pragmatik: That's exactly what I just did! Worked like a charm, too. I don't know whether it will be affected by a computer restart (don't really know why it would though), but so far, so good.

There is a program called "DataMngr" that gets installed in C:\Program Files\....". There exists an Uninstall.exe in the same directory, after doing this, The browser is restored for me.

Hope this helps.