I Hate IE But . . .
June 27, 2010 5:47 PM Subscribe
What is wrong with Firefox? When I use it, I can't favorite in MetaFilter, look at Yahoo! inbox except in old Classic mode, see any of my gadgets on igoogle, or even tweet in Twitter. Why does every update make it more dysfunctional, and how do I fix these specific problems?
To see if a specific Firefox add-on is causing the problem, try starting in Safe Mode. Or to see if it's problem with your settings, you can try creating a new profile.
posted by mbrubeck at 6:05 PM on June 27, 2010
posted by mbrubeck at 6:05 PM on June 27, 2010
Best answer: Try "Tools...Clear Recent History...Everything" Mine was messed up when I updated til I cleared the cache, cookies, etc.
posted by lee at 6:05 PM on June 27, 2010
posted by lee at 6:05 PM on June 27, 2010
I believe the newer Yahoo Mail requires Flash. Are you certain the Flash plugin is installed?
As mentioned by others, there is an addon called NoScript that, by default, blocks most javascript and content that uses plugins. If that is installed you would get the symptoms you described.
Check both of these things under Tools > Addons.
posted by MrFish at 6:10 PM on June 27, 2010
As mentioned by others, there is an addon called NoScript that, by default, blocks most javascript and content that uses plugins. If that is installed you would get the symptoms you described.
Check both of these things under Tools > Addons.
posted by MrFish at 6:10 PM on June 27, 2010
Nthing potential NoScript issues. I've found that when NoScript updates, things often go utterly and irredeemably wonky for a few days ("what do you mean, I can't update my blog?!"), then work themselves out.
posted by thomas j wise at 6:16 PM on June 27, 2010
posted by thomas j wise at 6:16 PM on June 27, 2010
Addressing your broader question (why does every update make it more dysfunctional) I take the conservative/curmudgeonly route, and never ever install any extensions, ever. In my experience, using the browser since its earliest days, extensions only cause more problems down the line than they solve.
I've never had a problem with an update screwing things up. Coincidence? Luck? Perhaps a little. But seriously, 99% of the time, extensions and add-ons are what breaks it.
posted by ErikaB at 6:17 PM on June 27, 2010
I've never had a problem with an update screwing things up. Coincidence? Luck? Perhaps a little. But seriously, 99% of the time, extensions and add-ons are what breaks it.
posted by ErikaB at 6:17 PM on June 27, 2010
Best answer: bearwife: “What is wrong with Firefox? When I use it, I can't favorite in MetaFilter, look at Yahoo! inbox except in old Classic mode, see any of my gadgets on igoogle, or even tweet in Twitter. Why does every update make it more dysfunctional, and how do I fix these specific problems?”
The only thing I can think of that all of those problems have in common is Javascript. It sounds distinctly as though you have Javascript turned off, or have a plugin which blocks Javascript like NoScript installed.
Here is the standard cross-check that I'd do in this situation:
1. Go to Tools -> Add-ons, and go down the list, disabling all of them. Close the Add-ons window.
2. Go to Tools -> Clear Recent History, select only Cookies and Cache, set the Time Range to "Everything," and click "Clear Now."
3. Go to Tools -> Preferences, click on the Content tab, and make sure that the box next to "Enable Javascript" is checked.
4. Close Firefox completely and restart it.
If you do those things, 90% of the most likely causes of this problem will be taken care of.
posted by koeselitz at 6:24 PM on June 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
The only thing I can think of that all of those problems have in common is Javascript. It sounds distinctly as though you have Javascript turned off, or have a plugin which blocks Javascript like NoScript installed.
Here is the standard cross-check that I'd do in this situation:
1. Go to Tools -> Add-ons, and go down the list, disabling all of them. Close the Add-ons window.
2. Go to Tools -> Clear Recent History, select only Cookies and Cache, set the Time Range to "Everything," and click "Clear Now."
3. Go to Tools -> Preferences, click on the Content tab, and make sure that the box next to "Enable Javascript" is checked.
4. Close Firefox completely and restart it.
If you do those things, 90% of the most likely causes of this problem will be taken care of.
posted by koeselitz at 6:24 PM on June 27, 2010 [1 favorite]
Is JavaScript disabled? Go to Preferences --> Content --> Enable JavaScript on a Mac, or Tools --> Options --> Enable JavaScript on a PC. Is the box next to that checked, or no?
posted by limeonaire at 6:26 PM on June 27, 2010
posted by limeonaire at 6:26 PM on June 27, 2010
Response by poster: Many thanks. I didn't have NoScript but there was something in my cache that was causing the problem. Clearing recent history and restarting seems to have fixed the problem.
Much happier now!
posted by bearwife at 1:45 PM on June 28, 2010
Much happier now!
posted by bearwife at 1:45 PM on June 28, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 5:49 PM on June 27, 2010