since updating to version 24 the address bar is useless. Not even about:config does anything. No URL can be reached by typing into the address bar.
Starting in safe mode - no effect Can't reach anywhere using about:config.Firefox health report is completely empty.
Chosen solution
It is quite possible that a problem gets migrated to a new profile via a reset in case the migration includes data that is causing problems (cookies, bookmarks/history data stored in places.sqlite).
When you reset Firefox then a new profile is created and some personal data (bookmarks, history, cookies, passwords, form data) is automatically imported and the current profile folder will be moved to the desktop (Old Firefox Data).
It is possible to recover more data from the old profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Recovering+important+data+from+an+old+profile
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox
All Replies (6)
Does this happen in a new profile?
Also if the new profile works you can transfer some files from the old one to the new one.
This is almost certainly caused by some addon that is not compatible with Firefox 24 or that got corrupted during the upgrade.
Rather than bothering with a new profile, try starting Firefox while holding down the shift key. In the dialog that appears, choose to start Firefox in Safe Mode. See if the URL bar works. If so, one of your addons is the problem.
While still in safe mode, make sure all your addons are up to date, and disable any that you think could cause a problem. Probably it will be an addon that is not too popular. Then close Firefox and start it normally, to see if it resolves the problem. If not, close Firefox again and repeat the Safe mode steps and try disabling other addons.
If you don't have that many addons, and don't mind going back and installing them again, you may prefer to reset Firefox. Go ahead and choose that option instead of the Safe Mode one when starting Firefox with the shift key held down.
The OP wrote above: Starting in safe mode - no effect , so that advice won't help.
Try a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.
Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
- Firefox 24: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
- (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.
It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.
Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.
See:
I did not notice the mention of Safe mode in the OP. But the part about resetting firefox still stands.
The Reset Firefox option exists specifically for this purpose. The button was designed to make it where people don't have to fuss about with profiles to fix corrupted profiles. If it does not work, I would not expect a new profile to work, either.
If a new profile does work when a reset does not, then a bug needs to be filed on the Reset Firefox option, as it is supposed to reset all possibly problematic options to their defaults, as well as completely replace any corrupted profile.
Many thanks for help. The problem was not cured using safe mode nor using reset. I was unable to delete the Mozilla firefox folder using Windows. Finally I was able to delete it by running a Linux Os , finding the folder using that Os and deleting it from the Linux OS. This cured the problem. (This is puzzling since Windows showed the folder to be empty)
Chosen Solution
It is quite possible that a problem gets migrated to a new profile via a reset in case the migration includes data that is causing problems (cookies, bookmarks/history data stored in places.sqlite).
When you reset Firefox then a new profile is created and some personal data (bookmarks, history, cookies, passwords, form data) is automatically imported and the current profile folder will be moved to the desktop (Old Firefox Data).
It is possible to recover more data from the old profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.
Modified