Google Toolbar Destroyed My Firefox. Be Aware of the Problem.

Gary North
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October 24, 2006

Yesterday, I downloaded Google's Toolbar for Firefox. I have used Toolbar for Internet Explorer for over two years. It is a handy tool.

Toolbar for Firefox killed Firefox 1.5.

As soon as I downloaded Toolbar, the Firefox screen filled with a large message box. It asked me if I wanted to receive updates from Google. The boxes were checked yes. I unchecked them. Then I clicked Finish.

Nothing happened.

I clicked X to close the message box. It disappeared, but immediately reappeared -- with the "let us send you stuff" boxes checked.

Nothing would remove the message box. I finally used Control-Alt-Delete to escape.

I tried Firefox again. Same.

I went to the Windows XP Program Add/Uninstall option. Google Toolbar for Firefox was not there. Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer was.

So, I can't uninstall it.

I uninstalled Firefox. I downloaded it again. I rebooted it. The killer Google page reappeared.

Today, I downloaded Firefox 2.0. Still dead. Google doesn't mess around. When they kill something, it stays dead.

I posted a warning on Google's Toolbar for Internet Explorer forum. I could not find a forum for Toolbar for Firefox. So far, no response.

Google Toolbar for Firefox has killed Firefox. I must now go to Opera. (I have decided to abandon IE 7 forever. Here's why: //www.garynorth.com/members/1664.cfm.)

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