Bing Bar
What is Bing Bar?
Bing Bar is a browser extension toolbar for Internet Explorer, developed by Microsoft. Bing Bar was previously supported on Mozilla Firefox but Microsoft discontinued support. Bing Bar incorporates features from Windows Live and from the Bing search engine. The Bing Bar user-interface enables visual effects such as flip, slide and rollover animations, colors and themes. The toolbar features "flyout" content windows, which enables users to view the latest content from the MSN Portal without requiring them to move from the internet page they are currently browsing.
About (from Microsoft)
Enhance your Windows 7 installations with the royalty-free Bing Bar. It is an easy way to provide extra benefits to your customers when you preinstall it on new PCs—and it can be used with Windows Internet Explorer. It provides fast and safe online search, consolidates email accounts, and provides breaking news, direct... Read more
Overview
The most used version is 7.3.132.0, with over 98% of all installations currently using this version. It adds a background controller service that is set to automatically run. Delaying the start of this service is possible through the service manager. The program adds a toolbar to Microsoft Internet Explorer. The main program executable is InstallManager.exe. The software installer includes 40 files and is usually about 494.29 KB (506,151 bytes).
Bing Bar has been found to be bundled with 3rd party software. If you have not purposefully installed this, you should be safe uninstalling it.
Bing Bar is pre-installed on the PC
Such software is installed by the manufacture when delivering the PC to the end user. Some pre-installed programs are considered bloatware as they are simply limited function trials, while others are required for proper PC operation.
Bing Bar is typically pre-installed with Dell computers.
Note: This program has often been considered as bloatware by some users as it is bundled on various manufacturer's new PCs. (Because this might be considered bloatware does not mean the software is bad or harmful, if you use it regularly its worthwhile to have. However, bloatware typically means the program is optional and was simply pre-installed but is not required and can be removed.) Some quick tips to be aware of:
- It is usually licensed for use only on the Dell PC on which it was pre-installed.
- It is often time or functionally (lite version) limited for Dell computers.
- If you do not use this program you might consider remvoing it as it often consumes system resources, even if not actively being run, adversely affecting system responsiveness.
Program details
URL: toolbar.discoverbing.com/en-US
Installation folder: C:\Program Files\Bing Bar Installer
Uninstaller: MsiExec.exe /X{1E03DB52-D5CB-4338-A338-E526DD4D4DB1}
(The Windows Installer is used for the installation, maintenance, and removal.)
Estimated size: 494.29 KB
Language: English (United States)
Files installed by Bing Bar
| Program executable: | InstallManager.exe |
| Name: | Bing Bar |
| Path: | C:\Program Files\Bing Bar Installer\InstallManager.exe |
| MD5: | df593e59266169a30597ba6985a0ea21 |
Additional files:
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InstallManager.exe - Bing Bar
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bbsvc.exe - BingBar Service
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bingapp.exe
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bingbar.exe - Bing Client Extensions
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bingext.dll
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common.dll
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defmgr.dll - Microsoft Default Manager
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seanote.dll - Microsoft Search Note
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seaport.exe - Microsoft SeaPort Search Enhancement Broker
Behaviors exhibited
Internet Explorer BHO
- bingext.dll is installed in Internet Explorer as a BHO (Browser Helper Object) under the name 'Bing Bar Helper' with the class of {d2ce3e00-f94a-4740-988e-03dc2f38c34f}.
Internet Explorer Toolbar
- bingext.dll is loaded as Internet Explorer Toolbar with the name 'Bing Bar' with the class of {8dcb7100-df86-4384-8842-8fa844297b3f} (Bing).
2 Services
- seaport.exe runs as a service named 'BBUpdate' (BBUpdate) "Enables the detection, download and installation of up-to-date configuration files for Bing Bar. Also provides server communication for the customer experience improvement program. Stopping or disabling this service may prevent you from getting the latest updates for Bing Bar, which may expose your computer to security vulnerabilities or functional flaws in the Bing Bar.".
- bbsvc.exe runs as a service named 'BBSvc' (BBSvc) "Keeps Bing Bar up-to-date. Disabling this service might prevent updates and expose your computer to security vulnerabilities or functional flaws in Bing Bar.".
Resource utilization averages
Show technical details
| bbsvc.exe |
| Memory: | 4.16 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0094910521% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00474553% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00474553% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 4,881,840 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 1.88 MB | |
| I/O writes/min: | 3.74 MB | |
| bingapp.exe |
| Memory: | 1.54 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0000499769% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00003421% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00001577% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 2,260 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 20 Bytes | |
| bingbar.exe |
| Memory: | 3.11 MB | |
| Total CPU: | 0.0002438998% | |
| Kernel CPU: | 0.00014145% | |
| User CPU: | 0.00010245% | |
| CPU cycles/sec: | 9,079 | |
| I/O reads/min: | 583 Bytes | |
| I/O writes/min: | 0 Bytes | |
How do I remove Bing Bar?
You can uninstall Bing Bar from your computer by using the Add/Remove Program feature in the Window's Control Panel.
- On the Start menu (for Windows 8, right-click the screen's bottom-left corner), click Control Panel, and then, under Programs, do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall a Program.
- Windows XP: Click Add or Remove Programs.
- When you find the program Bing Bar, click it, and then do one of the following:
- Windows Vista/7/8/10: Click Uninstall.
- Windows XP: Click the Remove or Change/Remove tab (to the right of the program).
- Follow the prompts. A progress bar shows you how long it will take to remove Bing Bar.
How do I reset my web browser?
If your web browser homepage and search settings have been modfied by Bing Bar you can restore them to their previous default settings.
Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Open Internet Explorer and click the Tools button, and then click Internet options.
- Click the Advanced tab, and then click Reset. Select the Delete personal settings check box if you would also like to remove search providers, Accelerators and home pages. When Internet Explorer finishes applying default settings, click Close, and then click OK.
- The changes will take effect the next time you open IE.
Mozilla Firefox
- At the top of the Firefox window, click the Firefox button, go over to the Help sub-menu and select Troubleshooting Information.
- To continue, click Reset Firefox in the confirmation window that opens. It will close and be reset.
- When it's done, a window will list the information that was imported. Click Finish and Firefox will open.
Google Chrome
- Open Chrome and click the Chrome menu on the browser toolbar.
- Select Settings. In the "Search" section, click Manage search engine. Check if (Default) is displayed next to your preferred search engine. If not, mouse over it and click Make default. Mouse over any other suspicious search engine entries that are not familiar and click X to remove them.
- When the "Show Home button" checkbox is selected, a web address appears below it. If you want the Homepage button to open up a different webpage, click Change to enter a link.
- Restart Google Chrome.
OS VERSIONS
Win 7 (SP1) 65%
Win 10 0%
|
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HOW DOES IT RUN?
 |
Plugs into Internet Explorer
|
|
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USER ACTIONS
 |
Uninstall it 27%
Keep it 73%
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Windows
Which Windows OS versions does it run on?
| Windows 7 |
68.18% |
|
| Windows 10 |
21.91% |
|
| Windows Vista |
7.03% |
|
| Windows XP |
2.89% |
|
Which OS releases does it run on? |
| Windows 7 Home Premium |
49.44% |
|
| Windows 7 Professional |
8.17% |
|
| Windows 10 Home |
6.71% |
|
| Windows 7 Ultimate |
6.31% |
|
| Windows 8.1 |
6.16% |
|
| Windows Vista Home Premiu... |
5.60% |
|
Geography
57.18% of installs come from the United States
Which countries install it?
| United States |
57.18% |
| Germany |
6.12% |
| United Kingdom |
4.58% |
| France |
2.69% |
| Canada |
2.69% |
| Italy |
2.36% |
| Brazil |
1.73% |
| Australia |
1.69% |
| Netherlands |
1.27% |
| Belgium |
0.95% |
| Sweden |
0.94% |
| Spain |
0.91% |
| Taiwan |
0.77% |
| India |
0.73% |
PC manufacturers
What PC manufacturers (OEMs) have it installed?
| Hewlett-Packard |
32.93% |
|
| Dell |
21.27% |
|
| Acer |
17.34% |
|
| ASUS |
10.87% |
|
| Toshiba |
5.62% |
|
| Samsung |
5.39% |
|
| GIGABYTE |
2.45% |
|
| Lenovo |
2.05% |
|
| Intel |
0.79% |
|
| Medion |
0.64% |
|
| Sony |
0.64% |
|
Common models |
| HP Pavilion dv6 Notebook ... |
8.41% |
|
| HP Pavilion g6 Notebook P... |
7.11% |
|
| HP Pavilion dv7 Notebook ... |
6.46% |
|
| HP Pavilion g7 Notebook P... |
4.41% |
|
| Dell Inspiron 1545 |
2.65% |
|
| HP 2000 Notebook PC |
2.32% |
|
About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation develops, manufactures, licenses and supports a variety of products and services related to computing.
Publisher URL: www.microsoft.com