I normally use the standard google search which is so nicely build into firefox. For some reason the searche engine (all of them) disappear after un update.
Removing the Firefox and Firefox settings from home is a solution but I hate to install Firefox again and again. What could be the reason for the loss of search enigines in Firefox?

Regards

I'm not sure of the reason.
Have you tried adding them back in thru the firefox GUI?
Where you select the search engine to use, there should be an option called "add more..." or something to that effect.

trying to add more doensn't work. It seems to work but no engine gets listed...really weird..I guess it's back to reinstalling Firefox

Tell me, do the search plugins actually disappear from the searchplugins folder? Or are they still there, but just not displaying in the browser itself? Also, are you using the Debian apt version or the main Mozilla.org one (and if so, where are you installing it)?

I once had problems with search engines disappearing because the searchplugins folder is located inside the main program folder (/usr/share/firefox/searchplugins, in my case), and it got wiped out whenever the program was updated. I think the Debian package maintainer finally got wise and fixed it, 'cause it hasn't happened to me in a long time.

But if ALL of your plugins disappear, that might not be the problem, because you would at least still have the default plugins that way. And if they're still in the folder, then it's got to be something else.

If they have been wiped out like mine were, there are a couple of options:

It seems that FF has finally incorporated a profile-specific searchplugins folder, in addition to the main one. So it should be able to put them in your ~/.mozilla/firefox/<random#>profile/searchplugins folder, and updates shouldn't affect them.

The second, linux-specific, option would be to store your searchplugins in a separate folder somewhere on your disk, and replace the searchplugins directory with a symlink to it, or at least simply copy them back in after your update.

And if you can't install plugins, it could be because you don't have write permission for the searchplugins directory. You either have to run FF as root and install them then, or chmod/chgrp the FF directory to give you write ability. Although again it seems strange, because nowadays they should install to your profile.

Well, I'm using the apt version of firefox and the searchplugins seem to be all there /usr/share/firefox/searchplugins list all the default ones.

I'll keep searching for the solution

Thanx!

Search engines disappear from Search Bar - MozillaZine Knowledge Base
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Search_eng...rom_Search_Bar

Hmm, seems to be my problem although I'm using a newer version which shouldn't have this problem. As root the engines are listed. I'm trying the solution and see if this fixes the problem. thanx for the link!

Brilliant! That was the solution (starting it in safe-mode and selecting 'Reset toolbars and controls' then 'Make Changes and Restart'
Can search again!