Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with firefox and browser

Alternative Browsers

bluelight — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:59:11 -0800

What superior/alternative web browsers to Firefox do you use? I have been using firefox with NoScript and most cookies disabled. When it gets too annoying to enable scripts and cookies, I switch over to Internet Explorer (non-updated version). I really dislike using IE but lately, Firefox has been crashing a LOT.

I was wondering if you had any good experiences with other web browsers such as Safari, Chrome, etc. I plan on keeping firefox but I'd like to explore other options.

I use a PC running Windows XP.

Thanks!

Chrome clone that isn't made of Chrome?

doublehappy — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:35:55 -0800

Are there any browsers that are essentially Chrome clones in function and appearance, but aren't Chrome and don't share any common code? I really like it and find it easy to use, but it kills my computer when I use it (we're talking forcing hard reboots, etc.). So does firefox, incidentally (but less often for some reason).

I tried Iron, but it is the same code, just with the 'send data to google' removed.

What add-ons to Firefox do you find useful?

melodykramer — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:39:47 -0800

I just learned about Firefox add-ons and grease monkey scripts (I know, I know....) There are literally thousands of these things and I was wondering which ones you find useful and how you use them. Any recommendations? I'm really open to anything, from easy to complex -- so I'm not going to write how I use the internet -- because I'm interested in varied responses. What streamlines your browsing? What do you have now that makes life simpler or that you find yourself glad you have?

Thank you in advance. :)

Forget-Me-Not

geekyguy — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:06:24 -0800

Firefox Forget-Me-Not: My browser no longer seems to remember me. When I launch Firefox 3.0.9 I am no longer automatically logged into the sites I have set to load on open. I usually have 25+ tabs open at a time and have Firefox set to 'Show my windows and tabs from last time'.

When I visit a site, like Metafilter, I am no longer automatically logged in. Instead, when I click the [Login] link, my username and password are already there so I haven't lost my saved passwords, just the automatic passing of that information from one session to another.

Incidentally, my browser crashes fairly regularly, at a rate of 3 crashes in a 2 day period. I figure it is due to the high number of tabs I run with. Yes, it is annoying but as long as the browser remembers me, I have been able to live with it.

The laptop in question is a dual 2ghz 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium with 4g RAM. The browser in question is Firefox 3.0.9 running the following add-ons:
Delicious Bookmarks
Evernote Web Clipper
Forecastfox
Greasemonkey
Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant
RealPlayer Browser Record Plugin
Skype Extension for Firefox

How to add Google search engine back to Firefox?

rintako — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:50:40 -0800

I deleted the Google search engine from my Firefox search engine bar. How do I add it back? You know the bar beside the address bar in Firefox? I removed Google and went to the search-engine page to search for Google."com" since my results were showing up as Google."ca

What happened was there was no Google search engine! Now I'm stuck with yahoo. Please tell me how I can add Google back to the bar. I miss it. Thanks.

Why do so many people say FoxFire instead of Firefox?

odinsdream — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:48:59 -0800

Is there some linguistic or cultural explanation for mistakenly calling Firefox FoxFire? I do computer support for a large number of people from various backgrounds and areas. Almost all of them mistakenly refer to the Firefox web browser as "Fox Fire" - repeatedly - even after I refer to the browser correctly while demonstrating it.

I do a majority of my support in the southeast US, but have some clients in the northeast and Washington state. I can't figure out why this is so consistent. Is there some linguistic reason why FoxFire is easier to say or remember?

Is there some existing cultural marker or event that gives Fox Fire a leg up over Firefox and I'm just not aware of it?

How to manage whitelist of websites for a school lab?

those are my balloons — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 04:56:21 -0800

How can I remotely manage a whitelist of allowed websites for a computer lab of 20 iMacs? I run a lab of 20 iMacs used for teaching electronic music, etc. In the past I didn't mind if there was some extraneous web browsing going on but there is a lot of off-task activity now and I'd like to limit browsing to a whitelist of music-related sites that I will manage remotely using Apple Remote Desktop or something else.

The computers all have both Firefox and Safari installed, so whichever one provides the better solution will be the one that remains enabled. Other things to keep in mind...

We are running 10.5.5, and I am the only instructor who uses the lab, I have full access to all machines. I am comfortable editing config files and that sort of thing if necessary
Apple Remote Desktop is used for managing lots of other things in the lab already
the school district has a county-wide proxy that has to be used for any outgoing connections and blocks lots of stuff already...but not enough to keep the lab in use for its intended purpose only
I want to be able to update the whitelist on all machines simultaneously and keep them the same, as I find more sites that should be made available

I have a colleague who uses Parental Controls to manage the Safari allowed-sites list in his lab, but it doesn't seem to be possible to do this on all 20 of my machines at the same time...I want a solution that lets me manage the whitelist immediately and on all machines.

Clicked something random, now I can't view a site in FF3?

SputnikSweetheart — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:35:48 -0800

Help! I clicked something without realizing, now I can't view one of my favorite websites. What did I do? For starters:
I use Firefox 3.
The website in question is qwantz.com, a webcomic, but I doubt it matters.

Anyway, the other night, I was looking for a specific strip in the archives. I think this is what happened:

I opened a new strip and accidentally right-clicked and then left-clicked in rapid succession, thus selecting something from the dropdown menu that appeared. Now, none of the strips will load, leaving me with white space between the top menu and the bottom columns. As a test, I opened it in Safari - no problems there.

So, first, I can't figure out what I clicked, and second, I have no idea how to go about fixing it.

The right-click menu's options are:
Back
Forward
Reload
Stop
_
Add to Kaboodle ((firefox add-on, don't think that's what I clicked))
Bookmark this Page
Save Page As...
Send Link...
Shareaholic ((also an add-on, not one I'm used to/familiar with yet, though))
_
View Background Image
Select All
_
View Page Source
View Page Info
_
Community Links

I'm not very technical - but it doesn't seem like any of those would cause that to happen. Am I wrong?

It's not exactly an emergency... as I said before, I can open it in Safari, but as I don't use Safari very frequently, I'd rather be able to open it with all of my other daily comics without opening another browser.

Any help will be appreciated! Thank you.

Firefox update hosed my No Squint

mikeand1 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:52:36 -0800

[Firefox Filter] The latest Firefox update seems to have hosed my No Squint add on. How to repair? I rely heavily on the No Squint add on. Unfortunately, when I updated to Firefox 3.0.4 today, No Squint stopped working. In fact, trying to manage the add on from the Options window causes the window to freeze.

Is there any way I can revert to the previous version of Firefox, preferably without having to re-do everything?

Thanks

Retaining Firefox as default web browser

ozred — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 07:49:47 -0800

Firstly I am elderly,and not computer experienced..I have set Firefox as my default web browser,and yet I constantly receive messages from Firefox saying they are no longer my default. Please in simple terms could someone advise how I can set Firefox without interruption.Thank you

Does IE7-like RSS Reader exist for FireFox?

karizma — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:35:49 -0800

I love IE7's built-in RSS/feed reader. I hate, hate, hate IE7's slowness and general, overal crapiness. I would love to use FireFox, but I want the same kind of RSS reader functionality. Is there is a plugin or extension for Firefox that exists and works just like IE7's RSS reader? I am looking for the exact same or as close as possible functionality for an RSS reader in FireFox as found build-in in IE7. I'd like it to integrate into the browser. I can't stand FireFox's live bookmarks.

Things I'm not looking for: Web-based RSS readers, desktop RSS clients, or FireFox extensions/plugins that don't work like how IE7's functionality does.

Does this kind of tool/functionality/plugin/extension exist for Firefox?

(btw, I'm running the current version of Firefox).

Thanks.

Why won't Firefox let me login anywhere?

cocoagirl — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:20:32 -0800

Firefox brings me back to any website's login screen, ad infinitum. Help me make it stop. Three days ago Firefox stopped keeping me logged in and, more infuriatingly, refuses to log me in to any website that requires it, despite numerous correct attempts. Every attempt brings me right back to a login screen. It even pre-populates the username/password boxes with the correct info, but on Submit just brings me back to the login screen. I thought it was a plug-in I'd installed, so I uninstalled that. Nope. I rechecked my passwords to make sure they're correct (yes), searched the FF/Mozilla forums (couldn't find this particular issue), successfully used said passwords in Safari, and finally uninstalled and reinstalled FF. No luck - same behavior. I would just ditch FF and use Safari, but there are a few things I do that require FF. Help?

Further, maybe relevant, details:
- When some websites launch they do show me as logged in (e.g., Metafilter in the upper right) but when I do anything that requires login (e.g., post a question), then it brings me to the login page. Cue loop of login despair...
- I couldn't find my Firefox Profile in the logical place, nor anywhere on my computer.
- Using Terminal to try to create a new Profile wouldn't work (I always lose focus to type in Terminal and it instead types in the underlying application--in this case MSWord, which I had open to read the instructions on how to create a new Profile). Arg!!!

How should I go about moving to Firefox?

mr_felix_t_cat — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:38:03 -0800

Where is the best place/what is the best way to download Firefox and appropriate extensions? I am ready to make the switch, but am so far behind the times. Whereat is the best way to download, get extensions (in a group one would assume), etc.

What other advice would you offer regarding changing over and/or re-starting up?

Thank you for your input.

Fixing FF3

allkindsoftime — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:40:14 -0800

FireFox3-filter: New pop-up windows open but don't display anything. Help? I've had a number of probs with getting FF3 tweaked back to how I had my FF2 streamlined, however one that I still can't seem to get sorted is the pop-up windows. When I click on a link that needs to open a new window (i.e. a chat-window for customer service with my bank, etc.), the window opens, but there's no address in the address bar and no page loads. Here's a site I recently StumbleUpon'd that gives the same issue when I click on the "enter" link. Any ideas? TIA.

why am i so forgettable?

msconduct — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 07:55:15 -0800

how do i get firefox to ask me *again* to remember my password? sometimes when i'm unsure of a password, i tell the firefox prompt 'not right now' when it asks me if i want it to remember my password. problem is, after i figure out the %@^* password, it never asks me again. i currently keep my passwords in a text file so i can log in to different sites, but i'd much rather have it stored in the browser. thanks in advance for any help.

Opera 9.5: Add parameter to nickname?

jjsonp — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:32:12 -0800

Opera 9.5: Add parameters to a bookmark's nickname? I am switching from Firefox 3.0 to Opera 9.5, mostly for fun.

In FF I can make a quicksearch bookmark to Amazon (or Google, etc.), add keyword of 'a' or 'amz' or whatever in the properties, then in the address bar type 'amz my book title', hit enter and I'm on Amazon with 'my book title' search executed.

Opera's nickname feature is similar. But the quicksearch only works if the nickname is a single letter. 'a' + parameter will work if pointed toward this URL, but 'amz' + title won't work.

Is there a way to do this in Opera? I use it constantly in FF.

Thanks.

XP Filter: I set up a non admin account for safer computing -- Am I safe enough now?

dancestoblue — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:06:12 -0800

I've read so much here lately 1 2 3 about not browsing as an admin, decided to check it out and yepper, I surely was using an admin account. I've set up a non admin account, made a few other changes (described inside), hoping to find out from The Hive Mind if I am now safe enough to breathe easy(er). Ya'll put the fear of computer death into me, I finally decided to check and yeah, I was doing it wrong wrong wrong. So I set about trying to get my mind (and puter) right in the eyes of The Hive Mind.

I set up an account without Admin rights, and will use this for most everything from now on.

I left both accounts without passwords because of reading this post -- is this a good plan, or is this guy off the wall?

I am using a fairly fresh XP install (maybe two months) and I'm pretty sure I'm still clean -- I've run Spybot and AdAware, updated as needed, maybe every couple weeks.

I'm using AVG Anti-Virus Free and update it as it says it's needed.

I'm using the ZoneAlarm free firewall -- I LOVE that it allows me to determine when software decides to 'call home' and I get to decide -- Apple is pretty determined with this, I've found, and so is Open Office, a few others.

I've got Windows Auto Update turned on but not to auto download and install -- I want it to prompt me and let me decide if and when.

I'm using MS Windows Defender and upgrading as it suggests.

I'm using Firefox 3 upgraded automatically any time they suggest, and running AdBlock Plus and NoScript, updated when suggested.

If any site gives me problems in Firefox, I first try Opera (updated as needed) and then IE7, last resort. I run IE Tab through Firefox rather than firing up IE7, and I only use it on sites that demand IE7 (NetFlix, Sprint, a couple of others) -- I'm hoping this helps me but I don't actually know if it adds safety or not. I update IE7 as Windows Update suggests, pretty sure I'm always current.

I'm using Foxit PDF rather than Adope bloatware.

"Aye" suggested Disabliing all AutoRun and AutoPlay options with TweakUI (a Microsoft PowerToy) is this needed/wanted?

What have I missed? Where have I gone overboard? I want safety but don't want to live locked down so hard I cannot move.

Thanx in advance.

Peace.

dancestoblue

Change searching in windows in Firefox

Mo Nickels — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 07:25:56 -0800

How can I change the behavior of searching in windows in Firefox? The Firefox search-in-browser bar is, and has always has been, awful. [I posted this to the Firefox forums and got no response.]

I am not referring to searches done using URL shortcuts nor am I referring to searches done using search box in the upper right corner of the browser window.

The search-in-browser bar is what I am calling the bar that appears at the bottom of the browser window when you search for content inside of the page that is currently loaded by hitting ctrl-F on Windows or command-F on Mac. I use Firefox 3.0 for both platforms.

The search-in-browser bar is broken (or, if you prefer, intentionally coded in such a way that it behaves in a broken fashion) in that it:

a. Continues to appear on the screen even long after it has last been used.

b. Continues to appear on the screen when a link is clicked and a new page is loaded.

c. "Match case" seems to be arbitrarily selected in between searches.

d. Takes up an inordinate amount of screen real estate, especially in a browser window that fills the monitor. This is particularly problematic on a laptop with a small screen.

What I would like to find is a way to change this behavior. I have looked for things to change in about:config and for an appropriate extension but found no joy.

What I'd like to have happen in Firefox:

1. The search-in-browser bar should disappear in user-settable amount of time after it has last been used, either X amount of time after the last search is made or after the last time a related search key command is entered. I know that you can sometimes hit escape to get the search-in-browser bar to disappear, but that doesn't always work either--it sometimes stupidly requires that you click back into the search field and *then* hit escape--not even rehitting ctrl-F/command-F and then hitting escape works.

2. The search-in-browser bar should disappear when a link is clicked and a new page is loaded.

3. "Match case" should never be selected by default or at the start of a search; or, it should be a user preference as to whether it is a default or not.

4. Ideally, the search-in-browser bar should be able to be turned off. It should return to being a pop-up window as it was on previous versions of Firefox, or it should be a user preference as to whether it should be attached to the window or should be a free-standing pop-up window.

How do i use two instances of firefox at the same time?

freddymetz — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:58:51 -0800

How do i use two separate instances of firefox at the same time? The thing it, it has to be firefox (because of greasemonkey) so i cant use a different browser (or can i?) and i have to be able to log-in to the same website with two different accounts.
Any ideas?

Make links in pdf files open in Firefox?

Wet Spot — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 10:28:23 -0800

Why do links in pdf documents open in Explorer instead of Firefox? I'm using Acrobat 6.0 to display documents containing links to web pages. Clicking on the links in the Acrobat window opens the corresponding web pages in Explorer instead of Firefox, my default browser. How can I make them open in Firefox, always?

(Dell Latitude D600, XP SP 2)

Google in Internet Explorer but not Firefox?

AdamOddo — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:13:23 -0800

Google search problems here. I've asked around the local tech circle and no one can think up an explanation for this one. Google will load in FF and IE7 - but - I can only execute a search from IE. I'm running XP with the latest final of FF. I have Google as an exemption, so I know it's not a problem with cookies. I've also ran Spybot and Adaware, and both came up clean. Google pings with zero packet loss. This one has got me baffled.

No, Firefox! That's a bad Firefox!

fishmasta — Wed, 07 May 2008 20:19:14 -0800

How can I get Firefox to stop opening new windows maximized? I'm using Firefox 3 beta 5 on Mac OS X Leopard (if it makes a difference). Whenever I start Firefox, or open new windows if it's already running, it opens maximized, which isn't the way I like it so I have to resize it each time. Is there a way to get it to automatically open new windows at the same size as the current window, or the same size as the last open window if it's being opened for the first time?

Page view limit exceeded why?

invitapriore — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 00:05:39 -0800

This page (a website for public domain scores) tells me that my daily allotment of download page visits (2 per day per IP, I imagine) has been exceeded the first time I go to one of those pages. I'm using Firefox 2.0.0.14 on OS X 10.5.1. I mostly want to know if it is browser behavior, such as pre-caching of pages. I don't think any other problem is within my power to resolve.

An additional note is that this page has worked for me before, but not for about a week. I'm not sure if this coincides with an update or not.

My Firefox navigation buttons are disappearing one by one.

oldlies — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:31:48 -0800

The navigation buttons are disappearing from my Firefox. What's going on? I know next to nothing about computers, so please excuse my inability to explain my problem with accurate terminology. I'm running Firefox 2.0.0.13 on Mac OSX Leopard. Every time I quit Firefox and reopen it, something from the navigation bar is missing. At first the search engine box next to the box where I can type in a URL disappeared. Then the little box where I type in a URL disappeared. Then the little buttons to go forward, backward, home, and reload disappeared. I checked View>Toolbars and everything is checked. What's going on?

I can has gud spelling?

Phire — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:59:21 -0800

Why is Firefox refusing to spellcheck? I got my laptop in August and one of the first things I downloaded was Firefox. As far as I can remember, Firefox has never spellchecked on it. The option to check spelling as I type is enabled. I've tried re-installing Firefox and re-installing multiple versions of Firefox, but it just won't spell check.

Can I fix this? How? (Currently running version 3 beta 4.)

And a tag-along question. Searching AskMe archives suggest a built in MeFi spellchecker. Jessamyn also made reference to this a few days ago, something about it being a little button that looks like 'ABC'. Have never seen this. What?