How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

zackhawkins0103 · Post by **zackhawkins0103** » Mon Jul 11, 2011 2:56 pm

In order to remove the mint search completely from Firefox a few things need to be done. The first thing to do is to open the terminal and sign in as root using the su command, or just using the root terminal. You will want to remove the mint-search-addon with the following command: "apt-get remove mint-search-addon" or if you didn't sign in as admin "sudo apt-get remove mint-search-addon" you can also get rid of the stylish addon using the command: "apt-get remove mint-stylish-addon" or "sudo apt-get remove mint-stylish-addon. This alone will not work because mint adds the modified google search into the directory "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins", "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-US", "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-GB", and "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-ZA". To fix these files you will need to run the following commands and replace the text in each of the files.
note: gedit for gnome & kedit for kde
If Root Privileges in Terminal:

Code: Select all

gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-US/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-GB/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-ZA/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
exit
exit

If Desktop or Admin(Without Root Privileges in Terminal):

Code: Select all

gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-US/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-GB/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-ZA/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
exit
exit

The Default Google.xml File Use to Replace:

Code: Select all

<SearchPlugin xmlns="http://www.mozilla.org/2006/browser/search/">
<ShortName>Google</ShortName>
<Description>Google Search</Description>
<InputEncoding>UTF-8</InputEncoding>
<Image width="16" height="16">data:image/png;base64,AAABAAEAEBAAAAEAGABoAwAAFgAAACgAAAAQAAAAIAAAAAEAGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADs9Pt8xetPtu9FsfFNtu%2BTzvb2%2B%2Fne4dFJeBw0egA%2FfAJAfAA8ewBBegAAAAD%2B%2FPtft98Mp%2BwWsfAVsvEbs%2FQeqvF8xO7%2F%2F%2F63yqkxdgM7gwE%2FggM%2BfQA%2BegBDeQDe7PIbotgQufcMufEPtfIPsvAbs%2FQvq%2Bfz%2Bf%2F%2B%2B%2FZKhR05hgBBhQI8hgBAgAI9ewD0%2B%2Fg3pswAtO8Cxf4Kw%2FsJvvYAqupKsNv%2B%2Fv7%2F%2FP5VkSU0iQA7jQA9hgBDgQU%2BfQH%2F%2Ff%2FQ6fM4sM4KsN8AteMCruIqqdbZ7PH8%2Fv%2Fg6Nc%2Fhg05kAA8jAM9iQI%2BhQA%2BgQDQu6b97uv%2F%2F%2F7V8Pqw3eiWz97q8%2Ff%2F%2F%2F%2F7%2FPptpkkqjQE4kwA7kAA5iwI8iAA8hQCOSSKdXjiyflbAkG7u2s%2F%2B%2F%2F39%2F%2F7r8utrqEYtjQE8lgA7kwA7kwA9jwA9igA9hACiWSekVRyeSgiYSBHx6N%2F%2B%2Fv7k7OFRmiYtlAA5lwI7lwI4lAA7kgI9jwE9iwI4iQCoVhWcTxCmb0K%2BooT8%2Fv%2F7%2F%2F%2FJ2r8fdwI1mwA3mQA3mgA8lAE8lAE4jwA9iwE%2BhwGfXifWvqz%2B%2Ff%2F58u%2Fev6Dt4tr%2B%2F%2F2ZuIUsggA7mgM6mAM3lgA5lgA6kQE%2FkwBChwHt4dv%2F%2F%2F728ei1bCi7VAC5XQ7kz7n%2F%2F%2F6bsZkgcB03lQA9lgM7kwA2iQktZToPK4r9%2F%2F%2F9%2F%2F%2FSqYK5UwDKZAS9WALIkFn%2B%2F%2F3%2F%2BP8oKccGGcIRJrERILYFEMwAAuEAAdX%2F%2Ff7%2F%2FP%2B%2BfDvGXQLIZgLEWgLOjlf7%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F9QU90EAPQAAf8DAP0AAfMAAOUDAtr%2F%2F%2F%2F7%2B%2Fu2bCTIYwDPZgDBWQDSr4P%2F%2Fv%2F%2F%2FP5GRuABAPkAA%2FwBAfkDAPAAAesAAN%2F%2F%2B%2Fz%2F%2F%2F64g1C5VwDMYwK8Yg7y5tz8%2Fv%2FV1PYKDOcAAP0DAf4AAf0AAfYEAOwAAuAAAAD%2F%2FPvi28ymXyChTATRrIb8%2F%2F3v8fk6P8MAAdUCAvoAAP0CAP0AAfYAAO4AAACAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAQAA</Image>
<Url type="application/x-suggestions+json" method="GET" template="http://suggestqueries.google.com/complete/search?output=firefox&client=firefox&hl={moz:locale}&q={searchTerms}"/>
<Url type="text/html" method="GET" template="http://www.google.com/search">
  <Param name="q" value="{searchTerms}"/>
  <Param name="ie" value="utf-8"/>
  <Param name="oe" value="utf-8"/>
  <Param name="aq" value="t"/>
  <!-- Dynamic parameters -->
  <Param name="rls" value="{moz:distributionID}:{moz:locale}:{moz:official}"/>
  <MozParam name="client" condition="defaultEngine" trueValue="firefox-a" falseValue="firefox"/>
</Url>
<SearchForm>http://www.google.com/</SearchForm>
</SearchPlugin>

This has proven to work on LinuxMint 11 Gnome and KDE and using Firefox, I am not Sure About the Other Versions or Other Browsers.

emnog · Post by **emnog** » Thu Jul 14, 2011 12:14 am

I just liked to add one thing. There is also a copy of "google.xml" on
/usr/share/linuxmint/common/artwork/firefox
I'm point this out because after I've applied the solution above the Mint Search got back (in its incomplete form, without the headers).
I've applied the same process to it just now and I'll post it later if something happens (or if not).

alirezaimi · Post by **alirezaimi** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 4:38 pm

Hi
I use LMDE and this paths don't exist for me (in lmde !).
What should i do for disable completely from address bar search and search bar ?

Mike_IronFist · Post by **Mike_IronFist** » Sun Jul 17, 2011 7:15 pm

alirezaimi wrote:Hi
I use LMDE and this paths don't exist for me (in lmde !).
What should i do for disable completely from address bar search and search bar ?

I found that removing the package mint-search-addon in LMDE gets rid of the mint-style search in Firefox.

alirezaimi · Post by **alirezaimi** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 3:06 am

Mike_IronFist wrote:
alirezaimi wrote:Hi
I use LMDE and this paths don't exist for me (in lmde !).
What should i do for disable completely from address bar search and search bar ?
I found that removing the package mint-search-addon in LMDE gets rid of the mint-style search in Firefox.

I don't have this package! and this style exist yet.

SimonTS · Post by **SimonTS** » Mon Jul 18, 2011 4:42 am

I've been involved in another almost identical thread with MikeIronFist on the "Newbie Questions" forum - http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=90&t=77340

To quote two things I posted there yesterday;-

"Why does Mint actually customise the Google search engine the way it does?
It certainly doesn't add any form of bias to the searches returned (yes, I have tested to check this statement).
My understanding (maybe an incorrect assumption) is that Mint in some way gains financially from this arrangement and that is why I have always been happy to use it - I am currently unemployed and cannot afford to donate to the Mint project, so I feel it is the least I can do.
Can somebody confirm or deny my assumption?"

"Well, what do you know? Less than 2 minutes searching and I've found the answer (I believe) - http://blog.linuxmint.com/?p=142
I was right, it is done to generate revenue for Mint. I do not see how anybody who comes to Mint for the free nature of the product (and the freedom of the product) could ever begrudge using a Mint branded customised search engine if that is what it takes to help Mint grow and develop.
Having said all that - if Clem or anyone else "High up" in Mint is reading this, it would be useful to see the revenue figures for the Mint Google search, compared to those from the start-page, the donations etc."

habfan29 · Post by **habfan29** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:13 pm

SimonTS wrote:I do not see how anybody who comes to Mint for the free nature of the product (and the freedom of the product) could ever begrudge using a Mint branded customised search engine if that is what it takes to help Mint grow and develop.

Because the Mint Google search customizations are inferior to a regular Google search, in that the Google page presented to you does not contain the top Google title/menu bar. That means you can't change the search results page to look for images instead of web pages, which I do from time to time and it always annoys me. If the customized page were just a Mint-branded Google page, containing all Google's functionality, I'd be 100% fine with it.

richyrich · Post by **richyrich** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:22 pm

@ ken dryden . . am I missing something ?

habfan29 · Post by **habfan29** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:32 pm

richyrich wrote:@ ken dryden . . am I missing something ?

I run LM9 and the bar is definitely not present in that version.

richyrich · Post by **richyrich** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:37 pm

Stock Mint 9 Xfce here . . is your's the same web address as my picture shows ?

habfan29 · Post by **habfan29** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:45 pm

richyrich wrote:Stock Mint 9 Xfce here . . is your's the same web address as my picture shows ?

Wait, we're talking about two different things. I mean the right-click "Search Google for.." Firefox context menu, when you select something on a page. A vanilla Firefox takes you to an ordinary Google page complete with the bar. LM9's Firefox takes you to a branded Google page w/o the bar. I'm not home at the moment but I can screenshot it this evening.

richyrich · Post by **richyrich** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:52 pm

. . ttyl . . we better start a new thread in a support area before we get in trouble . . I'll look for your post.

regards, richy , hab fan from sk !

jessy · Post by **jessy** » Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:59 pm

You can find the solution in:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.p ... 6&p=446477

jessy.

Smiff2 · Post by **Smiff2** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 11:00 am

habfan29 wrote:
SimonTS wrote:I do not see how anybody who comes to Mint for the free nature of the product (and the freedom of the product) could ever begrudge using a Mint branded customised search engine if that is what it takes to help Mint grow and develop.
Because the Mint Google search customizations are inferior to a regular Google search, in that the Google page presented to you does not contain the top Google title/menu bar. That means you can't change the search results page to look for images instead of web pages, which I do from time to time and it always annoys me. If the customized page were just a Mint-branded Google page, containing all Google's functionality, I'd be 100% fine with it.

+1, if you (Mint devs) can find a way to make this addon work without crippling google, i'd be happy to use it. as is though, it's a big nuisance (for me, i mainly use the Froogle product search, but same problem).

slider · Post by **slider** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 6:13 pm

This same topic subject (similar) has been posted over and over again through the years.

Smiff2
+1, if you (Mint devs) can find a way to make this addon work without crippling google, i'd be happy to use it.

Would ya now!?

How about trying a compromise > viewtopic.php?f=141&t=76128

Then users who wish to, can still help support Mint when they are able.

Please consider this. The choice is yours....

S

Smiff2 · Post by **Smiff2** » Sat Jul 30, 2011 8:10 pm

most users won't understand why, they'll just change their homepage and blame Mint's addons.
i have read some of that link and see it might be google's fault.. in which, what can i say, maybe find another way to raise money through advertising?
i am supporting mint by using and promoting it to others.. i may well donate too if i stick with Mint on my main PC. but doing things to customise the OS in ways that annoy users isn't going to help the cause, please don't take offense, i'm trying to be straight so you can deliver the best product.

alirezaimi · Post by **alirezaimi** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 4:40 pm

zackhawkins0103 wrote:In order to remove the mint search completely from Firefox a few things need to be done. The first thing to do is to open the terminal and sign in as root using the su command, or just using the root terminal. You will want to remove the mint-search-addon with the following command: "apt-get remove mint-search-addon" or if you didn't sign in as admin "sudo apt-get remove mint-search-addon" you can also get rid of the stylish addon using the command: "apt-get remove mint-stylish-addon" or "sudo apt-get remove mint-stylish-addon. This alone will not work because mint adds the modified google search into the directory "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins", "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-US", "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-GB", and "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-ZA". To fix these files you will need to run the following commands and replace the text in each of the files.
note: gedit for gnome & kedit for kde
If Root Privileges in Terminal:

Code: Select all

gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-US/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-GB/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-ZA/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
exit
exit

If Desktop or Admin(Without Root Privileges in Terminal):

Code: Select all

gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-US/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-GB/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
gksudo gedit "/usr/lib/firefox-addons/searchplugins/en-ZA/google.xml"
#replace the text in the file with the default google.xml file bellow
#save and exit gedit or kedit or you can replace gedit with your favorite text editor
exit
exit

The Default Google.xml File Use to Replace:

Code: Select all

<SearchPlugin xmlns="http://www.mozilla.org/2006/browser/search/">
<ShortName>Google</ShortName>
<Description>Google Search</Description>
<InputEncoding>UTF-8</InputEncoding>
<Image width="16" height="16">data:image/png;base64,AAABAAEAEBAAAAEAGABoAwAAFgAAACgAAAAQAAAAIAAAAAEAGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADs9Pt8xetPtu9FsfFNtu%2BTzvb2%2B%2Fne4dFJeBw0egA%2FfAJAfAA8ewBBegAAAAD%2B%2FPtft98Mp%2BwWsfAVsvEbs%2FQeqvF8xO7%2F%2F%2F63yqkxdgM7gwE%2FggM%2BfQA%2BegBDeQDe7PIbotgQufcMufEPtfIPsvAbs%2FQvq%2Bfz%2Bf%2F%2B%2B%2FZKhR05hgBBhQI8hgBAgAI9ewD0%2B%2Fg3pswAtO8Cxf4Kw%2FsJvvYAqupKsNv%2B%2Fv7%2F%2FP5VkSU0iQA7jQA9hgBDgQU%2BfQH%2F%2Ff%2FQ6fM4sM4KsN8AteMCruIqqdbZ7PH8%2Fv%2Fg6Nc%2Fhg05kAA8jAM9iQI%2BhQA%2BgQDQu6b97uv%2F%2F%2F7V8Pqw3eiWz97q8%2Ff%2F%2F%2F%2F7%2FPptpkkqjQE4kwA7kAA5iwI8iAA8hQCOSSKdXjiyflbAkG7u2s%2F%2B%2F%2F39%2F%2F7r8utrqEYtjQE8lgA7kwA7kwA9jwA9igA9hACiWSekVRyeSgiYSBHx6N%2F%2B%2Fv7k7OFRmiYtlAA5lwI7lwI4lAA7kgI9jwE9iwI4iQCoVhWcTxCmb0K%2BooT8%2Fv%2F7%2F%2F%2FJ2r8fdwI1mwA3mQA3mgA8lAE8lAE4jwA9iwE%2BhwGfXifWvqz%2B%2Ff%2F58u%2Fev6Dt4tr%2B%2F%2F2ZuIUsggA7mgM6mAM3lgA5lgA6kQE%2FkwBChwHt4dv%2F%2F%2F728ei1bCi7VAC5XQ7kz7n%2F%2F%2F6bsZkgcB03lQA9lgM7kwA2iQktZToPK4r9%2F%2F%2F9%2F%2F%2FSqYK5UwDKZAS9WALIkFn%2B%2F%2F3%2F%2BP8oKccGGcIRJrERILYFEMwAAuEAAdX%2F%2Ff7%2F%2FP%2B%2BfDvGXQLIZgLEWgLOjlf7%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F9QU90EAPQAAf8DAP0AAfMAAOUDAtr%2F%2F%2F%2F7%2B%2Fu2bCTIYwDPZgDBWQDSr4P%2F%2Fv%2F%2F%2FP5GRuABAPkAA%2FwBAfkDAPAAAesAAN%2F%2F%2B%2Fz%2F%2F%2F64g1C5VwDMYwK8Yg7y5tz8%2Fv%2FV1PYKDOcAAP0DAf4AAf0AAfYEAOwAAuAAAAD%2F%2FPvi28ymXyChTATRrIb8%2F%2F3v8fk6P8MAAdUCAvoAAP0CAP0AAfYAAO4AAACAAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAAQAA</Image>
<Url type="application/x-suggestions+json" method="GET" template="http://suggestqueries.google.com/complete/search?output=firefox&client=firefox&hl={moz:locale}&q={searchTerms}"/>
<Url type="text/html" method="GET" template="http://www.google.com/search">
  <Param name="q" value="{searchTerms}"/>
  <Param name="ie" value="utf-8"/>
  <Param name="oe" value="utf-8"/>
  <Param name="aq" value="t"/>
  <!-- Dynamic parameters -->
  <Param name="rls" value="{moz:distributionID}:{moz:locale}:{moz:official}"/>
  <MozParam name="client" condition="defaultEngine" trueValue="firefox-a" falseValue="firefox"/>
</Url>
<SearchForm>http://www.google.com/</SearchForm>
</SearchPlugin>

This has proven to work on LinuxMint 11 Gnome and KDE and using Firefox, I am not Sure About the Other Versions or Other Browsers.

I did that and work for me.
Thanks.

Smiff2 · Post by **Smiff2** » Tue Aug 30, 2011 6:14 pm

presumably just doing your region would be enough?

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How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

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Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely

Re: How To: Remove Mint Search Completely