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network.http.accept-encoding keeps resetting and won't lock

  • 12 replies
  • 20 have this problem
  • 55 views
  • Last reply by Skeezix

pongsifu
pongsifu

After gmail and a few other google sites stopped working, the fix was to open about:config and change the above setting to default. It worked, but every time I exit and re-open firefox, it goes back to the "user set" option rather than default. I searched through topics and found some on locking a setting or corrupt files but still can't fix it.

I created the files listed here:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locking_preferences

and put them in the correct areas, but they didn't do anything.

I went through the problems here:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

and couldn't find any of the problems, like having it set to read-only, that could cause the issue.

I even tried updating to the beta version (from 13.0.1 to 14.0) and the problem persists.

I've tried turning off all add-ons and setting my "cleanup" program to avoid firefox, but *something* is changing it. Is there a user setting in firefox's options that changes this that is overriding it? A program that messes with it? Will going back to 13.0.0 fix it?

After gmail and a few other google sites stopped working, the fix was to open about:config and change the above setting to default. It worked, but every time I exit and re-open firefox, it goes back to the "user set" option rather than default. I searched through topics and found some on locking a setting or corrupt files but still can't fix it. I created the files listed here: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Locking_preferences and put them in the correct areas, but they didn't do anything. I went through the problems here: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved and couldn't find any of the problems, like having it set to read-only, that could cause the issue. I even tried updating to the beta version (from 13.0.1 to 14.0) and the problem persists. I've tried turning off all add-ons and setting my "cleanup" program to avoid firefox, but *something* is changing it. Is there a user setting in firefox's options that changes this that is overriding it? A program that messes with it? Will going back to 13.0.0 fix it?

Chosen solution

I had the same problem, tried to lock the prefs.js file but that didn't work either. In the same folder of prefs.js there was a user.js which when I opened had a setting which Firefox seemed to be using to override the default on restart. Deleting the line solved the issue.

For me the folder was [userprofile]/appdata/roaming/mozilla/firefox/profiles/[yourprofile]

Read this answer in context 👍 7

All Replies (12)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator

Did you check for extensions that may be changing the prefs if deleting prefs.js file(s) and user.js didn't work?

If you've created the mozilla.cfg in the Firefox program folder and a local-settings.js file in the \defaults\pref folder then the pref(s) should show as locked on the about:config page and you shouldn't be able to change them in any way.


(continued from this post: [/questions/929998])

Modified by cor-el

philipp
philipp
  • Moderator

a user here had the exact same problem (but no solution yet), maybe you can coordinate and tell which addons or external security / tune-up software you both have installed in order to find the answer...

sitarhero
sitarhero

Chosen Solution

I had the same problem, tried to lock the prefs.js file but that didn't work either. In the same folder of prefs.js there was a user.js which when I opened had a setting which Firefox seemed to be using to override the default on restart. Deleting the line solved the issue.

For me the folder was [userprofile]/appdata/roaming/mozilla/firefox/profiles/[yourprofile]

Modified by sitarhero

pongsifu
pongsifu Question owner

Turns out it was the user.js. I'm not sure how I skipped over that (since I remember reading the part about programs altering it). I guess I checked if any cleanup programs had firefox in the settings and moved to the next step.

For those interested, the line in the user.js file that was causing it was:

user_pref("network.http.accept-encoding", "");

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator

That only leaves the question how that file and the line in it ended up there.

Do you have any clues about the cause of the change and if it happened recently or is just now showing up?

pongsifu
pongsifu Question owner

The problem started just after firefox updated to 13.0.1, so I'm not sure why it happened to begin with. I use gmail and google reader every day so I would have noticed it as soon as it occurred.

carponoid
carponoid

Thanks mate! that worked for me. I was bit worried for couple of days I was not able to login into any of google services and was diggin my head what was happening.

Just realised the bugger entry network.http.accept-encoding is causing the prob! Ta

jahski
jahski

Hi there Any chance you could talk me through a step by step to delete the line in the user.js? I've got no problem resetting the network.http.accept-encoding but I'm in the dark after that... Thanks

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator

To jahski

Can you post the full content of the user.js file?

Such a file isn't there by default and is only present if you or another program has created it.

You can usually remove the file without problems.

You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:

jahski
jahski

Thanks cor-el I deleted the user.js file and it seems to be running great now and not resetting itself thanks again Jahski

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator

You're welcome

Skeezix
Skeezix

(Contents deleted by poster.)

Modified by Skeezix