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firefox 5 is not compatible with FAFSA website and I need to access it NOW

  • 4 replies
  • 110 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by p0wwww

lizrathke
lizrathke
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I am running Windows XP. I just upgraded to Firefox 5, and I need to access the FAFSA site. Immediately. I find that, according to that website, there is an incompatibility with anything higher than 3.5 or 3.6. I cannot find an earlier version of Mozilla to install instead of the new one. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME MOZILLA 'IMPROVES'. I tried to install Internet Explorer instead because that is compatible. Surprise surprise, Mozilla won't let me install it. Help me as soon as possible please.

I am running Windows XP. I just upgraded to Firefox 5, and I need to access the FAFSA site. Immediately. I find that, according to that website, there is an incompatibility with anything higher than 3.5 or 3.6. I cannot find an earlier version of Mozilla to install instead of the new one. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME MOZILLA 'IMPROVES'. I tried to install Internet Explorer instead because that is compatible. Surprise surprise, Mozilla won't let me install it. Help me as soon as possible please.

Chosen solution

Windows comes with Internet Explorer built-in and virtually uninstallable. You should have another look.

If all else fails you should be able to download Google Chrome or Opera. You might be able to use them directly or you should be able to install Internet Explorer with Opera or Chrome - checking the compatible version numbers.

I've sent FAFSA an email telling them that they are at least three upgrades behind.

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alan_r
alan_r
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Chosen Solution

Windows comes with Internet Explorer built-in and virtually uninstallable. You should have another look.

If all else fails you should be able to download Google Chrome or Opera. You might be able to use them directly or you should be able to install Internet Explorer with Opera or Chrome - checking the compatible version numbers.

I've sent FAFSA an email telling them that they are at least three upgrades behind.

lizrathke
lizrathke Question owner
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I didn't know that IE is virtually uninstallable. That might be my problem, I thought I uninstalled it and there are still some installed features blocking reinstallation. You are right, FAFSA should upgrade. The new version of Firefox came out so recently, tho, maybe they haven't had a chance to keep up. I think I will just wait a little longer for each Firefos upgrade before I use them so that I know websites are compatible, since this happens every time. I switched from IE to Firefox in the first place for similar reasons. I considered switching to Google Chrome and may still yet out of curiosity. In the meantime I did find a site where I could download the 3.6 version of Firefox, and was able to access FAFSA. Too bad, because I was already liking the new Tabs features in 5. Thanks for your input, Alan!

K05T4R
K05T4R
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I wonder if the gov't fired its software upgrade team looking for another $700B in tax cuts for the wealthy.. I have FF5 and IE9, both reported as unsupported, but IE does still take you to the login page.

p0wwww
p0wwww
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What I just did that seemed to work, on Firefox 5.0 on Windows 7 Ultimate (x64), was install the addon User Agent Switcher here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/user-agent-switcher/

Then if you scroll down you'll see a comment that says: Here is a complete list of user agents (it has browser like Chrome, Safari, and Opera): http://techpatterns.com/downloads/download_item.php?folder=firefox&filename=useragentswitcher.xml

Go to that link, download the .xml file. If you haven't already installed the add-on do so now. Restart firefox, then hit the Alt button, go to tools>Default User Agent>Edit User Agents...> Import, Select the file you downloaded, click OK, then close out of firefox, open it up again and then hit Alt, go to tools>Default User Agent>Browsers - Windows> Firefox 3.5.6(Vista), then proceed to the FAFSA website and continue like normal. Works like a charm!