That's really strange. Since you used Refresh, I think we can rule out problems in the cache.

(1) Did you try clearing your Google cookies?

While viewing a page on the site, even if it's blank, try either:

• right-click the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• click the padlock or globe icon in the address bar > More Information > "View Cookies"

In the dialog that opens, you can remove the site's cookies individually.

Then try reloading the page. Does that make any difference?

(2) Does Firefox's Network Monitor show anything unusual? You can load this by pressing Ctrl+Shift+k to open the Web Console in the lower part of the tab, then clicking the word "Network" along the top edge of the console. Then click in the page and use Ctrl+Shift+r to reload bypassing cache. You should see a number of requests with status code 200 (success) as the page loads. Anything unusual?

(3) Does the Download List show anything from Google? Occasionally users have trouble with background (AJAX) requests during Google searches with Firefox displaying a confused download dialog. You didn't mention a dialog, but please check whether anything is getting auto-saved that is supposed to be loading into the page.

(4) I assume you are using https://www.google.com/ -- any difference with https://encrypted.google.com/ ?

Hi, thanks for the help - solution 1 worked the first time & once after that then no more. solution 2 showed all the 200s as green (good I assume) 3 - nothing weird in the downloads 4 - encrypted wouldn't work on google.com.au though it did work twice on google.com & then noooooo.

It's back to blank pages. The only way I can google search now is use IE or in Firefox I can use the small search box beside the address bar.

Hmm, the search box may be doing a redirect through .com first. Maybe that's part of the difference.

I can't seem to replicate the problem. Do you notice any better/worse results on these different starting points:

• Google AU "webhp" results page: https://www.google.com.au/webhp#q=firefox

• Google AU "search" results page: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=firefox

Does the problem resolve if you change the Google Instant predictions setting to "Never use Instant results" here: https://www.google.com.au/preferences ?

https://www.google.com.au/webhp#q=firefox >>> returned a blank again

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=firefox >>> returned a normal page, when I clicked on my Google button (to open in the same tab) the search again failed

https://www.google.com.au/preferences ? <<< is so far WORKING - will shut down & do few restarts & confirm a little later this morning, ta.

Many thanks jscher2000, the "Never use Instant results" seems to have done the trick.