Make Ask.com Your Default Search Engine

This feature allows you to conduct your search within your browser address bar. This is where you typically type in your site url. For example: you can type your search term "Recipes for Apple Pie" in the address bar and it will return web results from http://www.ask.com. See image below:

Instructions if you have Internet Explorer:

For Windows version 7.0:
(Note: you will need Administrator privileges on your computer in order to install this file)

You will need to run this file  to make Ask.com your default search engine for Internet Explorer.

When you click on the above link, IE will ask you whether to open or to save the file. Select "open" (or "run") to immediately make the changes (i.e., to make Ask.com your default search engine for the actions described above).

For Windows versions 4.0 - 6.0:
(Note: you will need Administrator privileges on your computer in order to install this file)

You will need to download this file  to make Ask.com your default search engine for Internet Explorer.

When you click on the above link, IE will ask you whether to open or to save the file. Select "open" (or "run") to immediately make the changes (i.e., to make Ask.com your default search engine for the actions described above).

Select "save," and then look at the file under Notepad, if you'd rather examine what the file does first. Be aware that you may have to reboot your system to make the change go into effect (even if your computer does not tell you so).

If you are unsure of your decision, click this file and it will set the search engine back to the original Internet Explorer default.

Instructions if you have Netscape Communicator:

For Netscape 4.0 - 4.7:

You will need to edit the prefs file directly. We advise that you go to the Unofficial Netscape FAQ site to get detailed instructions. Warning: editing of prefs.js is not officially supported by Netscape, so please do so at your own risk. Before making any changes be sure to quit any copies of Netscape that may be running and the file should be edited from a text editor.

For Windows:

To edit the prefs file, use Notepad to load ...\Netscape\Users\{username}\prefs.js. ("..." Is probably the "Programs" folder.)

To edit the prefs file, use SimpleText or equivalent to load...: preferences:netscape f:netscape preferences. ("..." Is your system folder.)

For UNIX:

Edit the file .netscape/preferences.js in your home directory. Once you've loaded the preferences file, add the following line to the end of the file: user_pref("network.search.url", "http://www.Ask.com.com/keyword/"); Remember to hit <enter> at the end of the line.

NOTE:

This may not work if you have search toolbars installed. If you perform a search in the Address Bar and are not directed to Ask.com, you will need to go to your installed toolbar's options or settings and uncheck the toolbar's option for Browsing/Searching by Name in the Address/Location Bar.

Make Ask.com Your Default Homepage

This feature allows you to set your homepage to http://www.ask.com  when you open a new browser.

Internet Explorer

1. Select Options from the Tools menu.
2. Click on the General tab.
3. In the Home page location box, type http://www.ask.com  in the text box.
4. Click OK.

Firefox

1. Select Internet Options from the Tools menu.
2. Click on the General tab.
3. In the Home page section, type http://www.ask.com  in the text box.
4. Click OK.

Netscape 4.0-6.0

1. Select Preferences from the Edit menu.
2. Click on Navigator.
3. In the Navigator Starts with section, select Home page.
4. In the Home page section, type http://www.ask.com  in the text box.
5. Click OK.