Yahoo has overtaken Google Chrome as its default browser

Topic

New Reply

Next week I’ll be servicing a laptop in which Yahoo has overtaken Google Chrome as its default browser.
Is it possible to reset Google Chrome as the laptop’s default?
If so, how can I do that?
Maybe do that using EDGE?

Also, how do I find out what version of Google Chrome is on.

I know, it’s obvious I don’t know anything about Google Chrome, but I’ll at least try to see what I can do.
I’ve accessed some websites on how to handle Google Chrome and maybe I’ll be able to determine the best one to help me in the future.

With all of that said, I plan on using EDGE afterward so I can troubleshoot issues the owner is having

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

Reply | Quote

Replies

My guess is that it’s a search engine add on.  I normally start in control panel/add remove programs. Then I go to the listing of software installed and sort by date and see what got installed recently.  Anything I don’t recognize I pull out.

Susan Bradley Patch Lady/Prudent patcher

1 user thanked author for this post.

cmptrgy

Reply | Quote

If your default search engine keeps changing to Yahoo suddenly when you traditionally use Chrome, Safari, or Firefox to surf the web, your computer is likely afflicted with malware.

‘Why does my search engine keep changing to Yahoo?’: How to reset your browser settings to remove a potential virus

1 user thanked author for this post.

cmptrgy

Reply | Quote

Terminology below is Windows 7; Windows 10 may differ.

Is it possible to reset Google Chrome as the laptop’s default?

One has to be logged on as ‘Admin’ to view or change this.
Control Panel > Default Programs > Set program access and computer defaults.

Also, how do I find out what version of Google Chrome is on.

There are multiple places from which one can determine a program’s version.

Below: [RCO] = [right-click on].
1 – The program’s .EXE file.
START > [scroll to, and RCO] Google Chrome > Properties > [tab] Shortcut > Open File Location > [RCO] chrome.exe > Properties > [tab] Details

2 – Bring up Chrome, navigate to Help.
In Chrome > [top right corner, click on the 3 vertical dots] > Help > About Google Chrome

3 – As Susan directs, Control Panel > Programs and Features.
There are many fields (columns) that are available.
[Menu Bar]: View > Choose details… . I have: Name, Publisher, Installed On, Size, Version. I’ve found that not all columns are useful. Click on each column header to sort on that column.

1 user thanked author for this post.

cmptrgy

Reply | Quote

b wrote:

If your default search engine keeps changing to Yahoo suddenly when you traditionally use Chrome, Safari, or Firefox to surf the web, your computer is likely afflicted with malware.

‘Why does my search engine keep changing to Yahoo?’: How to reset your browser settings to remove a potential virus

I definitely will check that

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

Reply | Quote

It could also be a rogue extension causing the problem. Check the Chrome extensions via Three-dot menu -> More tools -> Extensions, looking for any that have warnings in red. A friend of mine had a similar problem and removing the bad extension solved it, which was nice because sometimes those browser hijackers refuse to uninstall from the control panel (if they are even listed there).

1 user thanked author for this post.

cmptrgy

Reply | Quote

Yahoo’s not a browser, it’s a search engine (among other things.)  Someone allowed “make Yahoo my default search engine” during a software install or visited a website that did that, noted way down below in tiny font, maybe.  Common trick with infinite scrolling.  Many other ways to have this happen, including inadvertently altering Chrome’s settings.  Chrome’s default search engine is Google Search.

Constructive critisism:  Good idea to learn a lot more about Windows before “servicing” that machine.  Removing Chrome is easy, keeping whatever malware, if present, inserted Yahoo from just moving into to edge isn’t so easy.

If all that happened is a search engine switch, nothing will happen to the device beyond Yahoo results.

Running malwarebytes can show whether the machine’s infected or it was a simple reversible default search engine change.  Defender should (?) have blocked an infection, so I’m guessing it was inadvertently done by the user.

1 user thanked author for this post.

cmptrgy

Reply | Quote

With more prodding, I got some updated information.

Originally one of the complaints was based on wording that Yahoo has overtaken Google Chrome as its default browser as mentioned. Naturally I should have realized Yahoo isn’t a browser.
— Then there is the laptop starts up much too slowly.
— There was another complaint but I don’t recall it.

Now I received this new information today.
— She had the same problem about a year ago and thanks to someone’s advice it solved the issue but it came back 3 months ago.
— When I power up my laptop, I receive a prompt, asking if I want to make Google Chrome my default, but I don’t know how to do this. I want Google Chrome as my default.
— I don’t see that as a problem to solve now.
— With that being said, now I need to know how to ensure having Google Search to be Chrome’s default search engine.

McAfee LiveSafe is the Internet security in use.
— I want to consider Microsoft Defender instead.
— Will that work using Google Chrome as her default browser?

The laptop is Dell Inspiron 15 / 3000 Series.
— I like that.

I don’t have a problem running Windows. My laptop is Windows 10 Pro, my desktop is Windows 10 Home: each one will be 10 years old in a couple of months: each one continues to run as good as new.
— My concern is how to interact with Google Chrome.
— Thanks for the advice already provided, I am on the road to achieving that.

Have a great July 4 everyone

BTW, when I see “You can use BBCodes to format your content”, what forum can I look that to figure out how to do that?

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

Reply | Quote

cmptrgy wrote:

When I power up my laptop, I receive a prompt, asking if I want to make Google Chrome my default, but I don’t know how to do this. I want Google Chrome as my default.

Click yes, or

Type in Windows search box : default apps. Scroll to Web browser and set Chrome as default.

Open Chrome – settings (3 dots – settings). Scroll down to Search Engine and set Google search.

I want to consider Microsoft Defender instead.
— Will that work using Google Chrome as her default browser?

Yes, it will. A/V app has nothing to do with choice of browser.

2 users thanked author for this post.

cmptrgy, b

Reply | Quote

cmptrgy wrote:

BTW, when I see “You can use BBCodes to format your content”, what forum can I look that to figure out how to do that?

Don’t bother using codes. Stick to the format buttons at the top of the reply editor.

cheers, Paul

1 user thanked author for this post.

cmptrgy

Reply | Quote

Paul T wrote:

cmptrgy wrote:

BTW, when I see “You can use BBCodes to format your content”, what forum can I look that to figure out how to do that?

Don’t bother using codes. Stick to the format buttons at the top of the reply editor.

cheers, Paul

I appreciate that advice especially at my age.

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

Reply | Quote

All’s well that ends well. Chrome is now the default browser & Google search is the search engine. All other complaints were actually minimal and I left them alone.
Thanks everyone for your advice.

HP EliteBook 8540w laptop Windows 10 Pro (x64)

1 user thanked author for this post.

b

Reply | Quote