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Firefox doesn’t know how to open this address, because one of the following protocols (javascript) isn’t associated with any program or is not allowed i

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  • 2 have this problem
  • 2919 views
  • Last reply by cavelamb

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All of a sudden I can not open my "suspect email" folders on Earthlink webmail.

Clicking on the select box returns error message

The address wasn’t understood

Firefox doesn’t know how to open this address, because one of the following protocols (javascript) isn’t associated with any program or is not allowed in this context.

   You might need to install other software to open this address.


I'm having to run Chrome to do this. Bummer

All of a sudden I can not open my "suspect email" folders on Earthlink webmail. Clicking on the select box returns error message The address wasn’t understood Firefox doesn’t know how to open this address, because one of the following protocols (javascript) isn’t associated with any program or is not allowed in this context. You might need to install other software to open this address. I'm having to run Chrome to do this. Bummer

Chosen solution

You can check this pref on the about:config page and make sure it is default and not user set (bold).

  • network.protocol-handler.external.javascript = false

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

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All Replies (5)

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That's strange. Does it seem that Earthlink has been making changes on its webmail site?

If a site is generally known to work in Firefox, these are standard suggestions to try when it stops working normally:

Double-check content blockers: Firefox's Content Blocking feature and extensions that counter ads and tracking may break websites that embed third party content (meaning, from a secondary server).

(A) Do you see a shield icon toward the left end of the address bar, near the lock icon? More info on managing the Tracking Protection feature in this article: Content Blocking.

(B) Extensions such as Adblock Plus, Blur, Disconnect, Ghostery, NoScript, Privacy Badger, uBlock Origin or uMatrix should provide toolbar buttons to manage blocked content in a page. There may or may not be a number on the icon indicating the number of blocked items; you may need to click the button to see what's going on and test whether you need to make an exception for this site.

Cache and Cookies: When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.

(1) Clear Firefox's Cache

See: How to clear the Firefox cache

If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.

(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, try either:

  • right-click (on Mac Ctrl+click) a blank area of the page and choose View Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
  • (menu bar) Tools > Page Info > Security > "Clear Cookies and Site Data"
  • click the padlock or "i" icon in the address bar, then the ">" button, then More Information, and finally the "Clear Cookies and Site Data" button

In the dialog that opens, you will see one or more matches to the current address so you can remove the site's cookies individually without affecting other sites.

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?

Testing in Firefox's Safe Mode: In its Safe Mode, Firefox temporarily deactivates extensions, hardware acceleration, and some other advanced features to help you assess whether these are causing the problem.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox. (On Mac, hold down the option/alt key instead of the Shift key.)

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • (menu bar) Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any improvement?

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Chosen Solution

You can check this pref on the about:config page and make sure it is default and not user set (bold).

  • network.protocol-handler.external.javascript = false

You can open the about:config page via the location/address bar. You can accept the warning and click "I accept the risk!" to continue.

Modified by cor-el

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That suggestion is all over the web and I did try it several times to no success. (network.protocol-handler.external.javascript = false)

Searching for the string never found that entry. Came up blank every time.

But YOUR solution seems to have worked! I found the string (!) and set if false.

And now it works the way it was supposed to. Maybe the spelling is a bit different here, or something?

Anyway... Thank you, thanks you, thank you all.

I ♥ Firefox and was really bummed out having to install Chrome. (ps: I started browsing with Netscape - ages ago)

Now, about that auto-update check? Five or six times a day??? Is there an option to turn that off??? Or should that question be another post?

Modified by cavelamb

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That is weird.

How/where did you previously looked for this pref that you didn't find it?

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Google "Firefox doesn’t know how to open this address, because one of the following protocols (javascript) isn’t associated with any program or is not allowed in this context. "

Answers go back as far as 2012