Default search provider corrupted?

Question

I just started receiving this error message today and I don't know why. I have not installed any programs prior to this happening.

 

http://img253.imageshack.us/my.php?image=errormj4.jpg

 

My default and only search provider is Live search, and the message doesn't even tell me what program corrupted it. The only add-on I am running is IE7pro.

 

Has anybody else experienced this before and know how to get rid of it?

 

I am using Internet Explorer 8 beta 2.

Answer 1

Hi,

 

The error message tells you what to do..

 

Tools>Internet Options - General tab, Search section - Settings button > Find Search Providers link (at the bottom of the dialog)

 

Add new search providers, make a new one your default then delete the Live entry.

 

Return to the Add Search Providers page and then Add the Live Search Provider, make it you default if you wish.

 

Regards.

 

Answer 2

 

well the  issue is that its corrupted to where it cant be changed or delete i can add google but not make default ... it just wont take

Answer 3

 

yeah i am having the same issue too ... IE 8 beta 2 ... no ad on's just a fresh install of XP change change the default ....

c'mon microsoft get it right ... i mean i know its beta ... but gosh!! how can so many other browsers can get it going ( safari , G Chrome, FireFox 2 and 3, even opera,)

Answer 4

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one having this issue as well. About two days after I posted this thread, the problem just seemed to go away on its own, and I didn't do anything. It just went away.

 

But now, today, the problem is back again for no reason. I mean its not stopping my web browsing in any way, its just an annoyance having to go through that message every time I start up IE.

 

Hopefully in another month Microsoft gets the final version of IE8 out the door.

Answer 5

If you could do the following, I'll try to figure out why this is happening:

1. Run regedit

2. Go to each of the following keys, right-click and choose Export

3. Post the content of the resulting files

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

 

Thanks!

Answer 6

I have the same problem...

my pc is in dutch, sorry!

 

sleutelnaam=key name

klassenaam=class name

geen klasse=no class

waarde=value

laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand=last time this file was written to

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

Sleutelnaam:          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
Klassenaam:        <Geen klasse>
Laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand:    29/11/2008 - 17:32
Waarde 0
  Naam:            DefaultScope
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            {EC90CD78-227C-4A2B-AA1A-AD86361E6C90}

Waarde 1
  Naam:            Version
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Gegevens:            0x2

Waarde 2
  Naam:            UpgradeTime
  Type:            REG_BINARY
  Gegevens:           
00000000   20 da 4c 5c 7d 0a c9 01 -                           ÚL\}.É.

Sleutelnaam:          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}
Klassenaam:        <Geen klasse>
Laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand:    1/09/2008 - 21:34

Sleutelnaam:          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}\Non-Matches
Klassenaam:        <Geen klasse>
Laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand:    1/09/2008 - 21:34
Waarde 0
  Naam:            http://www.live.com/live/search/search.xml
  Type:            REG_BINARY
  Gegevens:           
00000000   80 34 68 3d c5 8e c8 01 -                          .4h=Å.È.

Sleutelnaam:          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{8961277F-9E9D-45BA-BE9C-139BDD89BB27}
Klassenaam:        <Geen klasse>
Laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand:    29/11/2008 - 17:32
Waarde 0
  Naam:            DisplayName
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            Google

Waarde 1
  Naam:            URL
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q={searchTerms}

Waarde 2
  Naam:            ShowSearchSuggestions
  Type:            REG_DWORD
  Gegevens:            0x1

Waarde 3
  Naam:            SuggestionsURL_JSON
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            http://suggestqueries.google.com/complete/search?output=firefox&client=firefox&qu={searchTerms}

Waarde 4
  Naam:            OSDFileURL
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            http://www.ieaddons.com/en/DownloadHandler.ashx?ResourceId=813

Waarde 5
  Naam:            FaviconURL
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            http://www.google.com/favicon.ico

Waarde 6
  Naam:            FaviconPath
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            C:\Documents and Settings\Joachim Jonkers\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Services\search_{8961277F-9E9D-45BA-BE9C-139BDD89BB27}.ico

 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences

Sleutelnaam:          HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences
Klassenaam:        <Geen klasse>
Laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand:    1/09/2008 - 21:33

 

 

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes

Sleutelnaam:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
Klassenaam:        <Geen klasse>
Laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand:    1/11/2006 - 18:13
Waarde 0
  Naam:            DefaultScope
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            {0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}

Sleutelnaam:          HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes\{0633EE93-D776-472f-A0FF-E1416B8B2E3A}
Klassenaam:        <Geen klasse>
Laatste keer geschreven naar dit bestand:    1/09/2008 - 21:33
Waarde 0
  Naam:            <Naamloos>
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            Windows Live

Waarde 1
  Naam:            DisplayName
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            @ieframe.dll,-12512

Waarde 2
  Naam:            URL
  Type:            REG_SZ
  Gegevens:            http://search.live.com/ie.aspx?q={searchTerms}

 

 

 

Answer 7

Thanks for the report, Joachim. Does this dialog appear every time you start IE? It might be related to some add-on. Could you go to Tools -> Manage Add-ons, select all and copy, then paste the result here?

Also, it looks like you're using some tool to print out the registry values. Just to double-check, could you run Regedit, go to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences and confirm whether there are any values there? Thanks!

Answer 8

thx for the response!

it appears in 98% of the times I start it up, so basicly always...

in "manage add-ons" I deleted all the add-ons earlier, trying to solve the problem.

the only things left are 2 entries in "search providers"

- google: search suggestions enabled, not default

- live search: search suggestions disabled, default

I've tried to delete live search, but that doesn't work, and changing the default provider to google also doesn't work...

When I check the box "prevent programs from suggesting..." at the bottom of the window it automatically unchecks the next time I open the "manage add-ons"-window.

 

I just exported the regs I posted with regedit itself, and I exported them to a normal .txt.

HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences:

name: (default), type: REG_SZ, data: (no value inserted)

 

Does this help?

Thx!

 

Joachim

Answer 9

Thanks for the additional information. I can't reproduce this issue myself, but it sounds like the settings have been corrupted somehow. You can try deleting both HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences, which will reset your search settings to the default values. Please let me know if you still have problems after doing that.

 

Answer 10

nope, I deleted both of them, but the problem still occurs. the only thing changed is that google is deleted from the search providers, and the live search suggestions are enabled... is it really hopeless? I mean, I can use firefox or chrome too you know...

Answer 11

I know, so I'd like to find a way to fix it for you. I appreciate your help with this.

 

There must be some other program that's writing to these regkeys as well. Did you have any IE toolbars installed (MSN, Yahoo, Google, etc.)? You said you deleted all add-ons, but sometimes toolbars include other programs that run outside of IE, which may still be enabled. Also, do you have any security or anti-spyware programs installed? For example, Norton, McAfee, Ad-Aware, Spybot, ZoneAlarm, etc.

 

If so, try disabling them, then deleting the abovementioned regkeys again, then launching IE.

 

If not, or if that doesn't work, please try:
1. Delete the regkeys, then launch IE with no add-ons by running: "%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -extoff
2. If that doesn't work, reboot into Safe Mode, then delete the regkeys, then launch IE.

Answer 12

I have no toolbars at all, I stopped avast (my virusscan) but it didn't have any effect (even with deleting the regs).
I tried 1.
I tried 2.

No effect at all!!

I think IE just doesn't like me

Answer 13

For the record, I was experiencing the same issues and the suggestion of "deleting both HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences" worked for me! Thanks, AlexGI and good luck, JoachimJ!!!

Answer 14

good for you!
I formatted my pc a month ago or so, for other reasons, and now it's working great, so no problems :D

Answer 15

I've got the same problem.  I've tried deleting the searchscopes keys, but I do not have a user preference key to delete.  It has not fixed the problem.  Could the missing User Preference keys be the problem?

This is on Media Center 2005 sp3 with IE8 RTW

Answer 16

All,

I have had this issue since I installed IE8 on my XP Pro SP2 laptop.  I just did this and it fixed the issue for me.

1.Make sure IE 8 is closed then navigate to registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

2.Add a new “Expandable String value” inside the above mentioned key with a value name of “AppData” and a value data of “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data”.

3.Reopen IE 8 and see if you still get the error message.

Answer 17

I finally got this resolved with media center 2005 sp3.  These are the steps I used.  There was alot of trial and error so I suspect there are some steps that weren't needed.  With only the live search provider installed and getting the error message I:

1. Added google search provider
2. exported HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes
   1. The export file contained keys for both the live search and google search providers
3. deleted the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes key
4. deleted the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes key
   1. Alexi doesn't say to delete the HKLM SearchScopes, but I did after only deleting the HKCU key didn't work
5. add the following key: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences
   1. Alexi says to delete, but I didn't have it in the first place so I just created the empty key
6. add the following key: HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences
   1. Alexi says to delete, but I didn't have it in the first place so I just created the empty key
7. followed Michael Agens' steps
   1. navigate to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
   2. Add a new “Expandable String value” inside the above mentioned key with a value name of “AppData” and a value data of “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data”.
8. started IE8 - no search providers were listed, no error message, but when I tried to install one it nothign happend.
   1. something actually was happening behind the scenes because i noticed searchscopes came back with some values about download retries
9. clicking in the search provider text box crashed ie
10. restarted ie, closed it out, ctrl+alt+delete to kill all iexplore.exe processes
11. import the search scopes exported in step 2.
12. open ie, search providers now worked.  was able to set google to default, add amazon, and switch live back to default without any errors.

 

Answer 18

i don't know why you people are making this so complicated. to get rid of that message is easy. go to Tools->manager add on then click on search provider, on the left bottom, choose Find more search provider. a page with list of search provider would pop up. choose any one of those search provider. it would pop up with a window "Choose Make it my Default Search Provider". close IE and viola, no more annoying message of corrupted search provider.

Answer 19

i don't know why you people are making this so complicated. to get rid of that message is easy. go to Tools->manager add on then click on search provider, on the left bottom, choose Find more search provider. a page with list of search provider would pop up. choose any one of those search provider. it would pop up with a window "Choose Make it my Default Search Provider". close IE and viola, no more annoying message of corrupted search provider.

Because that didn't work...  Perhaps you should read the entire thread before commenting next time.

Answer 20

nothing shown under Reg_SZ so I can right click it?
Also having a sudden problem with Outlook password
It is constantly requiring I retype it in even though I don't need one and I have deleted and reinstalled pop server twice and rebooted UGH

Answer 21

All,

I have had this issue since I installed IE8 on my XP Pro SP2 laptop.  I just did this and it fixed the issue for me.

1.Make sure IE 8 is closed then navigate to registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

2.Add a new “Expandable String value” inside the above mentioned key with a value name of “AppData” and a value data of “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data”.

3.Reopen IE 8 and see if you still get the error message.

Great Answer- this worked for me too!  Thanks.

Answer 22

The solution from "briane26" which included suggestions from "Michael Agens" and "AlexGl [MSFT]" corrected my issues also, Windows Media Center 2005 W/SP3, IE 8 Final Edition.   Thanks for the help!

Answer 23

Many thanks Michael Agens,


1.Make sure IE 8 is closed then navigate to registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

2.Add a new “Expandable String value” inside the above mentioned key with a value name of “AppData” and a value data of “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data”.

3.Reopen IE 8 and see if you still get the error message.

This worked for me too. :) And I had another problem that XP/outlook/msn would not remember passwords. It's fixed too!!!

Answer 24

All,

I have had this issue since I installed IE8 on my XP Pro SP2 laptop.  I just did this and it fixed the issue for me.

1.Make sure IE 8 is closed then navigate to registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders

2.Add a new “Expandable String value” inside the above mentioned key with a value name of “AppData” and a value data of “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data”.

3.Reopen IE 8 and see if you still get the error message.

Thanks so much Michael Agens, this worked for me as well!  Was getting extremely frustrating and was even blocking me from getting online at times.  Kudos!

Answer 25

                          hey briane26  i did as u sugested brilliant work like a charm thanx

Answer 26

Can some one give me the text string or how to do step two?  Not a programmer just an engineer.  My PC started doing this last month and I've finally had enough. 

Answer 27

YES, YES!

Your steps 1, 2 worked for me and also fixed the problem of Outlook not "remembering" my email passwords!

Thanks for whoever came up with this simple solution!

Gerald

Answer 28

This worked for me as well.  There may be an entry in there that looks similar that points to local settings under the user profile, but this entry worked.

Answer 29

Michael,

You don't know how much anguish you just relieved.  I have been dealing with this corrupted Default Search Provider message for 2 weeks -- worse yet I was being asked for
my password to receive/send emails -- every 5 min in Outlook.  That was also instantly cured.  I had tried a half dozen fixes - even official Microsoft support.  Nothing worked until you provided this very easy & simple fix.  Thanks too much!!

Answer 30

Well...I guess I am the odd-man out.  I have tried all the solutions proposed online including that of Michael Agens, checking each repeatedly to be sure that I had implemented each correctly and still I am getting the error message.  As an interim solution I have switched to Firefox until Microsoft can find and implement a real solution.

Answer 31

I tried the above step 1 and 2 but it didn't work for me......any other suggestion?

AppData\%USERPROFILE%\Application Data

Answer 32

I had to do one more step which was to change the default provider to something other than Live Search and then I deleted Live Search.  (I couldn't delete Live Search before the HKEY change.)  After I deleted it, the problem went away.  Thanks to Michael who posted the solution! 

Answer 33

I followed these steps briane26 outlined except I forgot to export my HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes file. Iddidn't add the registry keys I didn't have. My IE didn't crash but I had to reboot before IE would come up without the corrupt message.

1. deleted the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes key
2. deleted the HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes key
   1. Alexi doesn't say to delete the HKLM SearchScopes, but I did after only deleting the HKCU key didn't work,
   2. Didn't work until I also delete this entry
3. followed Michael Agens' steps
   1. navigate to HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\User Shell Folders
   2. Add a new “Expandable String value” inside the above mentioned key with a value name of “AppData” and a value data of “%USERPROFILE%\Application Data”.
4. Started IE8 still same problem, rebooted
5. started IE8 again problem gone, but no google search provider.
6. clicked on manage search providers added google but won't let me set a default.
7. restarted IE8 still can't set google as default.

Answer 34

I just started having this issue and I have followed your instructions and have tried to add to my registry but there is already a registry key called "AppData", am I safe deleting that or should I be calling it something else.

Your assistance is appreciated.

Answer 35

I just started having this issue and I have followed your instructions and have tried to add to my registry but there is already a registry key called "AppData", am I safe deleting that or should I be calling it something else.

Your assistance is appreciated.

Same here. I also all ready have the reg string. Nothing helped so far. Any suggestions?

Answer 36

great briane worked for me managed to change search provider and set google as default but the view and manage addons dialog box still appears when i start ie. Any ideas anyone how to get that to stop popping up

Answer 37

Just wanted to say I have had the same problem with the search providers.  I deleted Google Toolbar, I added another search provider - But I cannot delete or change google from the default.  I still get the same message when I start IE.
I looked at the registry and AppData is already there, I just modified it and that didn't work so I changed it back.

I suspect the culprit to be Google somehow; but others are reporting the same phenomenon who used or had Live as their default search provider.

I'm about to get ugly with my registry.

Help.

Answer 38

I had this issue sometime back and I posted about it about on my blog, and lots of people have since commented about other possible fixes, etc. Read the comments on the following blog post for more help.

http://blog.kirb.us/2009/03/20/a-program-on-your-computer-has-corrupted-your-default-search-provider-setting-for-internet-explorer/

I think enough of people are still having the problem that it would warrant an official fix from Microsoft.

Answer 39

Ialso started having the same problem about a week ago. I have tried "All" of the sugested fixes with no avail.
I can't even change to default search which is Live Search or delete it.

C'mon microsoft a patch is deffinately here.

Answer 40

My computer is doing this. It isn't easilly fixed by using the simple user toolbars and settings. I'm not going into 5 different folders and adding and removing values, give me a break! I say this is due to Microsoft not wanting Google as a default search provider. If I wanted this kind of big brother control I'd have bought a Mac. Firefox seems to work great I'll just use that until Microsoft fixes it with an automatic update.

Answer 41

Yippee!!  Deleting both these keys did it for me!  The other solutions didn't work in my case.  Alex, thank you!  This issue was driving me crazy!

Answer 42

I had this same problem after I installed IE8, too.  I did what you said to do and it worked!  I am so glad I can finally pick my own search provider for "default".  It was so inconvenient to have the "search provider default" window pop up every time I went into IE.  Thanks for your help!

Answer 43

I tried your way first, but it didn't work. It would have been easier for sure.  I guess there isn't a "fix all" remedy.  I tried several before the one Agens gave me worked. 

Answer 44

i don't know why you people are making this so complicated. to get rid of that message is easy. go to Tools->manager add on then click on search provider, on the left bottom, choose Find more search provider. a page with list of search provider would pop up. choose any one of those search provider. it would pop up with a window "Choose Make it my Default Search Provider". close IE and viola, no more annoying message of corrupted search provider.

Because that didn't work...  Perhaps you should read the entire thread before commenting next time.

Exactly; if that worked ; nobody would be having this problem.  I have had the same problem ever since I downloaded Explorer 8.  I want Google to be my home page (as that is the way I have always had it and like it.) I got rid of the Windows live option; I click on the option to use ONLY the current website (Google) and it always changes it back. 
Another problem (don't know if its related is that I don't want that page to come up that says "you unexpectly closed your last session; do you want to reopen it" and private browsing.  I understand some people may want it but I don't.  I like to click on the arrow in the subject? line and go to one of the prior websites I was on.  Like in Explorer 7!!
Thanks

Answer 45

The problem is that I don't want to go into all them different folders; adding and deleting things.  I don't know how to do that and I do not want to ruin my brand new laptop by deleting something that I shouldn't have.  Why doesn't Microsoft come up with a fix for this as it was their fault (when it upgraded to explorer 8)?  Is it possible to just go back to an earlier version of Explorer and use that?
Thanks,
Tracy
P.S.  I agree with a writer who said Microsoft probably doesn't want us using Google as our default.

Answer 46

Forget all of the above. Here are 2 good fixes to this problem http://cuteautoposter.net/FAQ/index.php?action=artikel&cat=8&id=71&artlang=en

Answer 47

Forget all of the above. Here are 2 good fixes to this problem http://cuteautoposter.net/FAQ/index.php?action=artikel&cat=8&id=71&artlang=en

All of the above are the same fixes as you propose, and they DON'T WORK for most people. After searching and searching I've come to the conclusion there is no universal fix, so no one has found the root cause of the problem. It's up to MS to issue a patch and they seem to be very slow in doing so.

Answer 48

My REMOVE icon in that box is grayed out? I can Remove google but not live.com, Because I have the same prob. as the top poster!

Answer 49

Here is what i found with this issue and it seemed to fix the problem i was having.  I found that the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\User Preferences key had no permissions set for any user.  Once I added the permissions, I restarted internet explorer went through the default search provider ____ one time, but it fixed it.

Hope this helps