They are both Opera 12.17 but one is OK (home PC keeps my default search settings which is not one of the opera defaults : duckduckgo) and one is NG (company PC often resets to google) :

• OK is a pre-12.15 install (version 9 or something updated little by little up to 12.17) whereas NG is a post-12.15 install updated to 12.17
• OK runs on windows XP whereas NG runs on windows seven
• OK did use opera link for a while (affects search.ini) but NG never did (because company firewall had always blocked my attempts to do so)
• Together with the previous point, maybe there is another difference in the search.ini and I will compare OK’s and NG’s to find out later…

I research whether it is possible to find a reproducible way to obtain my OK home PC, that is Opera 12.17 with a default search.

(1) Click the menu button and go to "Appearance", then click "Buttons", then click "Search". Drag-and-drop Startpage onto the top toolbar AS ITS OWN SEARCHBAR.

(2) Remove the default searchbar from the toolbar altogether.

(3) Close Opera.

(4) Go to search.ini and simply delete the entire paragraph pertaining to Google:
[Search Engine 1]
UNIQUEID=7A8CADE6677811DDBA4B5E9D55D89593
Name=
URL=http://www.google.com/search?q=%s&sourceid=opera&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest
ICON=http://redir.opera.com/favicons/google/favicon.ico
Suggest Protocol=JSON
Suggest URL=http://clients1.google.com/complete/search?q={SearchTerm}&client={Client}&hl=en
Query=
Key=g
Is post=0
Has endseparator=0
Encoding=utf-8
Search Type=0
Verbtext=0
Position=-1
Nameid=17171
UseTLD=1

(5) Restart Opera. Address bar will not work for searches. Now simply use the Startpage searchbar you created before!

Found a resolution that works for making ixquick the search engine for Opera without Google being set as the default after a restart.1. Type "opera:config" in the url window2. Type "google" in the quick find search3. Enter "https://ixquick.com/" in the field for "Google2011 Location Provider" under "Geolocation"4. Enter "ixquick.com" in the field for "Google TLD Default" under "User Prefs"5. Enter "https://ixquick.com/do/search?language=english&cat=web&query=" in the field for "Google TLD URL" under ""User Prefs"6. Click Save 7. Type "https://ixquick.com/" in the url window8. In the search window to the right of the url window, where Google appears, click on the downward arrow to reveal "Manage Search Engines" and select by clicking that selection9. Highlight Google and delete10. If ixquick is not shown, click "Add...' otherwise highlight ixquick and the Edit11. Make sure Ixquick is in the field for the name12 Make sure "ix" is the keyword13. Click the Details button14. Enter "http://ixquick.com/do/met.asearch.pl" in the field for "Address"'15. Enter ""https://ixquick.com/do/search?language=english&cat=web&query=" for the "Query string"16. Click the box before "Use POST" so a checkmark appears17. Click the box before "Use as default search engine"18. Click the box before "Use as Speed Dial search engine19. Click the "OK" button20 Make sure there is not a check in the box before "Enable search suggestions in the address field"21. Click the "OK" button22. Reboot OperaIf the above instructions are followed and there are no spelling errors (I use copy and paste or control C and control V as much as possible since I still use the hunt and peck method at 56 years of age), when Opera reboots, Ixquick will be the default search engine and Google will NOT appear in the list of search engines for the browser.I am strong-headed and when I find something that works, and works well, I like to continue using it. Have been frustrated like many Opera users with some changes over the years but for many many reasons, it is still my browser of choice, especially since it can actually be customized unlike many browsers, and can perform many operation unavaible with other browsers.Although I am strong-headed, I am not reluctant to admit when I make a mistake. The mistake I made was not visiting the forum before allowing the update to Opera to occur. Had I done so, a lot of frustration could have been avoided. I appoligize to any volunteer and developer I may have upset.

I have tried this "solution" and IT DOES NOT WORK. I have now rebooted several times. It continues to revert to Google. I even tried editing the google search settings to tell it to go to Startpage.com. Nothing works. Someone has got to have a better work-around - maybe it's in an actual file? I am not afraid to go into a file on the disk and modify it if someone can tell me where to go and what to change.

Sincerely, someone who is tired of resetting her search engine preference every single time she opens a new Opera session.

Just to add my own discontent with this Google intrusion, most alarmingly for the address-bar suggestions. Does this mean that every time you see a Google-tagged one, that Opera has already pushed the partial address to Google? That unbeknown to me, despite all my efforts to NOT use Google, I am being tracked by them?

Like others, I am seriously toying with abandoning Opera after using it loyally since the earliest days of Linux, when it was their standard browser, always included (how I discovered it); but not any more since Firefox. It is always my first addition to any installed system. I respect Opera & its long-term loyalty to Linux. I recognise with pride that many innovations now standard among browsers came from Opera. It is the fact of it being also my e-mail client that really holds me.

Mention of Bing is no better. That is being tracked by Microsoft instead, whose servers were the first to be infiltrated by the NAS. I doubt that Yahoo is any better.

Despite the outrage expressed or evidence presented to the contrary - I have never seen so much mud-slinging in a forum - it is *inevitable* that users will suspect a Google subsidy of Opera due to this. Whether true or not.

I am curious that Opera themselves have not responded to the thread; that it is up to users themselves to resolve the issue. Thanks to those who have; but hunderteins frig warrants an explanation, please.

I have the same problem... I can't change the default search engine

That's no surprise. Read the first post.

If you want to change the default search engine, use an earlier version.

http://www.opera.com/download/guide/?os=windows&list=all

We'll see how long these links stay alive.

Why post them at all?

Users can download Opera 12.14 or other versions from the FTP Server.

* (and my own search engine for http://%s that replaces the old "type a word to go to that domain" functionality)

It's best to get Opera from the source though, rather than another file site:

http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/

Navigate to win/mac/linux, 1214, "en" or "int" if necessary, and get the proper installer for your system (32 bit or 64 bit).

WIN32: http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1214/en/Opera_1214_en_Setup.exe
WIN64: http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1214/en/Opera_1214_en_Setup_x64.exe
WIN32-Int'l: http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1214/int/Opera_1214_int_Setup.exe
WIN64-Int'l: http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1214/int/Opera_1214_int_Setup_x64.exe
MAC32: http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/mac/1214/Opera-12.14-1738.i386.zip or http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/mac/1214/Opera_12.14_Setup_Intel.dmg
MAC64: http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/mac/1214/Opera_12.14-1738.x86_64.dmg
LINUX: http://get.geo.opera.com/pub/opera/linux/1214/ slash
opera-12.14-1738.i386.linux.tar.bz2
opera-12.14-1738.i386.linux.tar.xz
opera-12.14-1738.i386.rpm
opera-12.14-1738.x86_64.linux.tar.bz2
opera-12.14-1738.x86_64.linux.tar.xz
opera-12.14-1738.x86_64.rpm
opera_12.14.1738_amd64.deb
opera_12.14.1738_i386.deb

We'll see how long these links stay alive. Good luck.

This (imo) is a(nother) problem that Opera should stop ignoring and fix.
I want MetaCrawler as my default search engine everwhere in Opera and
think it reflects poorly on Opera and does Opera no good for Opera to not "fix" this ...

What a load of rubbish. You have had a free ride for years (as have I). The company has not charged you to use its suite has it? Opera has always been a niche player in the desktop division and frankly it needed to change in order to survive. It's a BUSINESS not a charity. They have to make money. Shareholders have invested and they expect returns. Do you understand that? Conscience indeed! If you don't like the new Opera, use a former version. If you are concerned about security issues (and you shouldn't be just yet) then use another browser. But don't post such rubbish as you have above. Frankly, I'm ashamed of you.

I'd have to disagree. I can completely support Opera as a business but it is disrespecting its users right now. If Opera disabled adding custom searches, fine. If Opera did not allow a default search engine switch outside of per-installed, fine. If Opera did not allow the deletion of Scroogle, fine. But this is pure ignorance. Don't waste people's time. Either admit it's a screw up and a bug or say this is permanent.

everything will be more cool, everyone happy .

Leushino, no need to be ashamed for me, I bet you have other chores to take care of
(and please don't behave like my attacks on Opera hurt you like if I were attacking you. I'm full of respect to you

This situation is only partly about Opera.
In wider scope, it's about the BUSINESS you defend,

I don't have as pessimistic a view of Opera's shareholders. They've invested in the company which exists to make money. It's not a good-will charity...right? Hopefully the features we miss will be added in an update (hey, I miss features as well ). I'm just asking (not very well apparently) people to slow down and show a little more patience instead of threatening to quit Opera or bad-mouthing it. Maybe it "is" as black as some have painted it and if that's the case, then I'll have to apologize and look elsewhere. But I'm not ready to give in just yet.

This situation is only partly about Opera.
In wider scope, it's about the BUSINESS you defend, the shareholders doing things beyond ethical and berserking in every aspect of modern world.
you can call the ongoing and artificially fueled wars around the world a business, can't you? Because it's one!

I'm happy for you not having that claustrophobic feeling of watching the good things being squeezed out of existence as impeding the BUSINESS.

It's not like if I don't like the way Opera headed, I'd settle with FF (for example) and it stays good and full of features, and rather evolves than regresses. The awful truth is that everything is headed that way, because the world is run by agre$$ive manager$, so the other day I might be thoroughly baffled of the brand new stripped down, modeled after its shareholders vision, version of FF or whatever other browser that be.

The "HowTo" breaks Google search and is unnecessary to make Ixquick the default search engine. So how can it be considered helpful?

I do not notice any downsides as to how Opera v12.16b1860 behaves now.
Both the StartPage and the IxQuick work just fine.

Even with the "Google2011 Location Provider" field empty the Google Maps work for me. I do not use any other google stuff.

clearly, there's no one left at Opera with such an outdated personal trait as conscience.

What a load of rubbish. You have had a free ride for years (as have I). The company has not charged you to use its suite has it? Opera has always been a niche player in the desktop division and frankly it needed to change in order to survive. It's a BUSINESS not a charity. They have to make money. Shareholders have invested and they expect returns. Do you understand that? Conscience indeed! If you don't like the new Opera, use a former version. If you are concerned about security issues (and you shouldn't be just yet) then use another browser. But don't post such rubbish as you have above. Frankly, I'm ashamed of you.

These two sections are no longer part of Opera's vision:
• We believe in respect for our users
• We believe in privacy (also mentions social responsibility)

The new vision particularly highlights:
• We create value through partnerships

this is the bottom line.

clearly, there's no one left at Opera with such an outdated personal trait as conscience.
it was thrown away together with mail client, bookmarks, notes, well, just about everything
to keep it trendy, stripped-down and minimal.

OK glass, GTFO...

However, I still would like to have an official fix for the "search engine protection" bug.

Because I never had this bug neither in 12.15 nor in 12.16 I have a presumption what the reason is, why my search.ini isn´t affected by the bug.

I modified my search.ini with this tool: SearchEdit. Long time before this bug appeared - actually to change the order in the context-menu. Maybe it damaged the file in that way, that Opera isn´t further able to change it arbitrary?

So please try it an maybe you can give some feedback?

"I may be missing something. Otherwise, back to Opera 12.14."

Hmmmmm. 1st thought is if you have any toolbars installed as they have a tendency to interfere with the functions of any browser, call home a lot and consume resources. When I work on a computer reported as responding slow and performing like molasses, the 1st thing I do is remove toolbars and give the browsers a good cleaning, followed by ensuring only one AVP is running. Then check to make certain the hard drive capacity has not exceeded 80%, remove crapware, run Malwarebytes, then ccleaner, and finally defrag, ONLY after the drive has been checked 1st which requires a reboot. Its been my experience that overall performance is greatly improved.

Did you miss the thread or what? This is not about bugs or slowing, it is about new feature. Google feature. Before, you could choose which search engines you want to use, and now you still can as long as Google is one of them. My PCs are clean and all run flawlessly, problem is same with all of them, no matter if Operas are synchronized or not. Latest try was to assign letter G to another search engine and putting it on speed dial, it reverted to Google and assigned letter R to new one.

These two sections are no longer part of Opera's vision:
• We believe in respect for our users
• We believe in privacy (also mentions social responsibility)

The new vision particularly highlights:
• We create value through partnerships

Thanks for showing us that, that explains a lot.

@ylon I came here to write something like your post, but I doubt it would be any different, except for next choice of browser. :cheers: