Ask.Com Toolbar

[Art1939om]

Hello, My first proper inquiry.
I 'mistakenly allowed the Ask search/toolbar to be installed whilst installing latest update of PDF Exchange viewer.
I have tried every way that I know to remove it and cannot. Even when the Ask Directory is uninstalled, the toolbar is still present when I open my browser (Firefox 3.6) I use Win XP_sp2.
Any help/advice with this problem would be deeply appreciated.
Regards, Allen

[Stefan - PDF-XChange]

Hello Allen,

by Uninstalling did you mean that you went to the Add remove programs window and selected to uninstall the Ask Toolbar or you just manually deleted the Ask folder?

Best,
Stefan

[Art1939om]

Hello Stefan...I do appreciate your assistance, thanks!
I used Invatools = Add remove plus with it's advanced mode. I removed everything from the ask directory. I had previously used windows add remove program, and, removed ask.com.
I have tried re-installing the program previously and removing by both methods as above.
regards,
Allen

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Art1939om

can you try running the following from a command prompt as Administrator please and let me know the result:

Code: Select all

regsrv32.exe "C:\Program Files\Ask.com\GenericAskToolbar.dll" /u

Note that this was for a 32 bit XP and the path to the GenericAskToolbar.dll may be different in your case.

[Art1939om]

Hello Paul... thanks, I was advised to try this, I don't have the password for 'administrator' this prevents access?
regards,
Allen

[ugradedeveloper]

I don't have the password for 'administrator' this prevents access?

What he meant was, you need to be logged in to Windows using the account that has full control to install and uninstall programs on the system. The actual name of this account is not necessarily 'administrator' and in fact, probably isn't.

If there is only one user account on your WinXP system, then you don't need to bother about this.

Lewis

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi guys,

thanks ugradedeveloper for the input.

Typically the Ask Tool bar is correctly removed simply by using the Windows Control Panel Programs and Features (Vista/Win 7) or Add/remove Programs (XP) applet. However when something goes wrong though we need to go a little deeper so here we go...

If you have only one account, as ugradedeveloper points out, it most likely will be one with "Administrative Rights". Depending on the version of Windows however that may or may not be sufficient as it is not actually the built in "Administrator" account.

All versions of Windows since NT have had a built in Administrative Account. Since Windows 2000 it has been hidden by default and it typically only available when starting your computer in safe mode or through a registry hack like this one to enable the true Administrator Account at logon on an XP machine. Please note that incorrectly changing your Windows Registry can permanently damage your computer so please only do this if you are fully aware of and prepared to take the risk.

regsrv32.exe requires at least Administrative rights. Fortunately there is an easier way to do this that enabling the administrator Account and logging in as this user or even being Administrator in Safe Mode. Although some Windows repairs are best done in Safe Mode, you can use the "Run As" feature to start a command prompt as though you were logged in as an Administrator: http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows- ... ows-vista/ has a nice explanation of how to enable the Administrator Account in Windows 7 and Vista. XP with SP3 also has a GUI based option available using the right mouse button context menu similar too the one below.

This image shows the menu option to open a command prompt with administrative rights:

Any of these methods should be enough to have regsrv32.exe run with sufficient privileges to de-register the dll and remove the Tool bar. Start the command prompt using this Run As feature as described and enter the command listed below and all should be well...

Code: Select all

regsrv32.exe "C:\Program Files\Ask.com\GenericAskToolbar.dll" /u

[ugradedeveloper]

Paul,

Sorry if I threw some incorrect information in there. I saw that the OP was running Windows XP and I thought the primary user account would always be the Administrator account. Maybe it is different with XP Pro, my experience is more with XP home.

On a slightly different point, the poster has XP sp2, the feature to which you refer apparently requires sp3.

Lewis

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

Hi Lewis,

your points are valid and taken and it might have been better not to go into the detail that I did. This forum is after all for the support of our software - not a Microsoft/Windows support forum.

I don't think you said anything that was not correct - a single user most likely is to all intents and purposes the Administrator so I appreciate your post. I've seen conflicting reports/opinions on the web about all this so I "might" be wrong... I was once in 1987 but I'm not married to her any more any way...

[Art1939om]

Thanks for your information fellas, much appreciated!
I have Win XP (home edition) sp2,
I have used Innovatools - Add-remove plus & MS Add Remove, to uninstall PDF Viewer/Ask Toolbar.
I have tried 3x times with re-installing/removing. During the latest re-install, It didn't 'mention' anything about 'permission' to install the Toolbar...? I still get the toolbar come up when I use my browser (Firefox).

I am 70 years young, obviously not very clever with these serious issues.
I just feel frustrated and fed up with being unable to resolve this problem.
Believe me, I do respect your advice/assistance, thank you for this!

Regards,
Allen

[Paul - PDF-XChange]

No problem Allen,

lets continue this offline as we discussed in email and if you are amenable to it I will post the resolution on this forum thread for the benefit of others who may be following along.

regards