Bing Not Available on Starting Computer

The next free application you install could wreak havoc with your operating system and affect the way you search the Web. Some software developers bundle safe but annoying adware with free programs that can alter search engine settings. Cyber-criminals distribute dangerous malware that may do the same thing. If Bing closes when you try to use it or doesn't appear when you start your computer, your system may have an infection you’ll need to remove.

Browser Hijacking: It Happens All the Time
Your default search engine is the one that your browser uses when you search from within the browser. If you've installed an app, particularly a free one, it may have changed your default search engine from Bing to Conduit or some other search provider. This is just one of many examples of Potentially Unwanted Programs changing your default search engine. A PUP can alter your default search engine settings in all browsers at once. If that happens, another search engine processes your search request when you enter it in your browser.

Find Bing Again
Unless you have a serious malware infection, you can always navigate to Bing's main page and type your search query in its search box. However, you may not want to do this every time you need to search for something. You might find it more convenient to use your browser's search box or address bar. Until you fix the problem, you can always bookmark Bing's homepage and click that bookmark when you'd like to visit Bing. This eliminates the need to type Bing's URL in your address bar. You can also consult your Browser's help menu to learn how to restore its default search engine to Bing. However, this may not always work if spyware or malware programs undo your changes.

Scan for Problems
Open your anti-virus program's main window and find the tool that lets you scan your computer. Your program's documentation can show you how to do that. If you have an option to perform a full system scan, choose that option. It takes longer than a quick scan, but a full system scan can identify more malware threats. Ideally, your anti-virus program will discover the PUP or malware that changed your search engine settings and show you how to eliminate the threat. Visit Bing after you run a scan and see if the problem has been resolved.

Scans Don't Always Work
Depending on your anti-virus program, it may not find all threats that reside on your system. Your program may also fail to identify adware programs that you gave permission to install. That can happen if you don’t read the fine print when you install a program or toolbar you found on the Web. That fine print may tell you that the setup wizard is about to change your search engine settings. If your anti-virus program finds no threats after it scans your system, download another application that can search for malware and spyware. SuperAntiSpyware, SlimCleaner and Microsoft’s Malware Removal Tool perform that task. Run one of these programs and follow the instructions to remove unwanted software that it finds.

Posted in: Google Optimization