Tech question....Firefox browser **update...fixed**

[Dan Murphy]

I have used Firefox for several years now, VERY much pleased in using it over IE. Recently, a couple days ago, each time I start the Firefox browser, it initially loads as if it is the first time after a Firefox initial install.....Firefox as home page, legal page, etc. I change to my normal home page, save it, etc, and all is fine until I exit Firefox and reload again at some point, start all over.

Any tech type folks have any thoughts, ideas? Much appreciated.


Dan

 

[bicker]

I don't know why that would happen, but if it happened to me, I would uninstall it (using Add/Remove Programs, from the Control Panel), and then reinstall it. That might reset the bit of the registry that got corrupted...

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks, Bicker, I have done that, a number of times, to no avail. I am thinking along those lines though, a corrupt file somewhere, which apparently may not be getting purged with the uninstall. I have Googled lookig for a fix, can't seem to locate one.

 

[bicker]

I've had some problems with Firefox 3.0 that I didn't have with 2.0. For example, many times when I "Minimize" Firefox, I cannot "Restore" it. I can "Maximize" it, but "Restore" does nothing. The work-around I found was to use Windows Vista's "Show Desktop" command twice. That results in "Restore"-ing Firefox, but as the smallest possible window you can get it to, about 1/2 inch high, by 1 1/2 inches wide! (Then I can restretch it to the right size.)

As a result, I have waited to upgrade from 2.0 to 3.0 on some of my computers. However, that's getting dangerous, since they're not updating 2.0 any more for security problems.

 

[wdwmom2]

Hi Bicker

Question for ya!!! I know, from seeing your posts, that you are quite computer smart!!! Me, I know just enough to get me in trouble !!!! In a situation like Dan's, would there be any point in also doing a system restore??? I too would uninstall and then reinstall. But to reset the computer to an earlier date BEFORE the problems began. Would there be a benefit to this??

 

[bicker]

My personal experience is that that may (or may not) resolve the specific problem, but could cause others, that are less readily work-around-able. I personally would use System Restore only right after I install something, if that installation itself caused some instability in the system. After you've installed or upgraded other programs, I'd be too scared to use System Restore.

 

[bicker]

My wife: "The way you should use System Restore is to explicitly set a System Restore point right before you install something, then install it, and then if you don't like what the installation did, use System Restore, then. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend using it."

 

[bicker]

My wife: "The way you should use System Restore is to explicitly set a System Restore point right before you install something, then install it, and then if you don't like what the installation did, use System Restore, then. Otherwise, I wouldn't recommend using it."

 

[wdwmom2]

My personal experience is that that may (or may not) resolve the specific problem, but could cause others, that are less readily work-around-able. I personally would use System Restore only right after I install something, if that installation itself caused some instability in the system. After you've installed or upgraded other programs, I'd be too scared to use System Restore.

Gotcha !!!!!

 

[Dan Murphy]

Hi Sharon.

I also do not like restore. As said, seems like it often creates more headaches than it corrects.

 

[wdwmom2]

Hi Sharon.

I also do not like restore. As said, seems like it often creates more headaches than it corrects.

Morning Dan

Hope everything is well with you and your family!!! Like I said to Bicker, I know just enough to get me in trouble!!!!! I wasn't kidding . Hope you can get your problem worked out. Computer problems are never fun !!!

 

[robinb]

Dan, what version of Firefox are you using? Do multiple home pages show up, or just the Firefox start page?

 

[Dan Murphy]

Version 3.0.5.

I get two pages at startup,


http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.0.5/firstrun/


http://www.google.com/firefox?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official


Not sure if those will work on anybody's PC, or are cookie or similar dependent.

 

[bicker]

My quick look-see didn't yield a likely suspect in the Windows Registry. That leads me to believe that this is dependent on something on the hard drive, in a file Mozilla tracks.

Let me ask something.... when you uninstalled Firefox, did you make sure that all the data files were deleted? They'd be found in
C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

If there is a corrupted file there, and uninstall doesn't delete it, then that could be the problem.

 

[suprgrlx]

My quick look-see didn't yield a likely suspect in the Windows Registry. That leads me to believe that this is dependent on something on the hard drive, in a file Mozilla tracks.

Let me ask something.... when you uninstalled Firefox, did you make sure that all the data files were deleted? They'd be found in
C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

If there is a corrupted file there, and uninstall doesn't delete it, then that could be the problem.

My husband recommended this (going as far as making sure they're deleted from the Recycle Bin) and then rebooting the computer before you reinstalled. Good luck!

 

[JARNJ3]

Firefox has a lot of help out there.

I had a problem (kinda still do) with slow page loading.

They had me create new bookmarks - then disable all extensions.

Its working better - but not optimally. I've been living with it.

It won't remember any of my passwords - and I have always sign into all my message boards and groups. I guess that's the best for security

Here's a link to the help - you can leave your problem there - and some one respond

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Knowledge_Base

 

[robinb]

Version 3.0.5.

I get two pages at startup,


http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/3.0.5/firstrun/


http://www.google.com/firefox?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official


Not sure if those will work on anybody's PC, or are cookie or similar dependent.

So, do you want Google as your home page? One of the features of the new Firefox is that it allows multiple "home pages". They are separated by a "|". When you set your home page to Google make sure there are no other URLs in the "Home Page" field in Tools/Options/Main. You also want "When Firefox Starts Up" to be "Show My Homepage".

 

[Dan Murphy]

My quick look-see didn't yield a likely suspect in the Windows Registry. That leads me to believe that this is dependent on something on the hard drive, in a file Mozilla tracks.

Let me ask something.... when you uninstalled Firefox, did you make sure that all the data files were deleted? They'd be found in
C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles

If there is a corrupted file there, and uninstall doesn't delete it, then that could be the problem.

My husband recommended this (going as far as making sure they're deleted from the Recycle Bin) and then rebooting the computer before you reinstalled. Good luck!

I did all of that, no change.

Firefox has a lot of help out there.

I had a problem (kinda still do) with slow page loading.

They had me create new bookmarks - then disable all extensions.

Its working better - but not optimally. I've been living with it.

It won't remember any of my passwords - and I have always sign into all my message boards and groups. I guess that's the best for security

Here's a link to the help - you can leave your problem there - and some one respond

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Knowledge_Base

I will stop there and see if anyone can help

So, do you want Google as your home page? One of the features of the new Firefox is that it allows multiple "home pages". They are separated by a "|". When you set your home page to Google make sure there are no other URLs in the "Home Page" field in Tools/Options/Main. You also want "When Firefox Starts Up" to be "Show My Homepage".

I was aware of that, Robin. I set it to just MSNBC, only, and the Show my Home page at startup, still ignores that and reloads those other two.


Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Firefox has a lot of help out there.

I had a problem (kinda still do) with slow page loading.

They had me create new bookmarks - then disable all extensions.

Its working better - but not optimally. I've been living with it.

It won't remember any of my passwords - and I have always sign into all my message boards and groups. I guess that's the best for security

Here's a link to the help - you can leave your problem there - and some one respond

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Knowledge_Base

Working well now after some excellent tech help there on that site. Thanks for the link.

Here is a link to the discussion....apparently a corrupted profile file that was in a 'Roaming' subfolder. Several of you here were sure on the right track with the profile ideas.


http://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?forumId=1&comments_parentId=267899