I should distinguish between JavaScript, a script language used on nearly all websites, and Java, a less widely used programming language used to create interactive applets. JavaScript is interpreted directly by Firefox, without using the Java plugin.

Please note that there is a security update available (16.0.1). Not sure that will make any difference.

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) Bypass Firefox's Cache

Use Ctrl+Shift+r to reload the page fresh from the server.

(You also can clear Firefox's cache completely using:

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Options > Advanced

On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now")

(2) Remove your bing.com cookies (save any pending work first) using either of these. While viewing a page on the site:

• right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
• Alt+t (open the classic Tools menu) > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).

• Do not click the Reset button on the Safe mode start window or otherwise make changes.

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Try to create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

You can also try to reset Firefox:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting

Thank you, both to jscher2000 and cor-el. I have tried all your solutions, some I admit I never thought of, but to no avail. I have come to the conclusion that Bing (owned by Microsoft) has decided to prevent anyone using FireFox (and likely other browsers) from maintaining or accessing an account on Bing. So unless I switch to using Internet Explorer, I will be unable to access my Rewards points or avail myself of other features on Bing which I like. But I will not give up FireFox for those benefits. Perhaps when enough people experience this same problem, there will be a class action suit against Microsoft (which they have tried to prevent by adding a codicil to their user agreements that arbitration must be used and MS product users are precluded from any class actions against MS.) Thanks again.

Hi gruff, I am positive that Microsoft desperately wants your search business, whatever browser you use.

So the problem is that you arrive at Bing and click the sign in link or the information next to it, and you don't get the drop-down showing the different options to sign in? Does it flash quickly (open-close) or just do nothing at all?

If you click the gear icon to go to the settings page, does that work? Does the sign-in there work any better than the main page?

Any difference on the rewards dashboard page: http://www.bing.com/rewards/dashboard

If you sign in to Windows Live first (or Facebook, as the case may be), does that make any difference?

Hi Jscher2000. Thanks for your reply. However none of your suggestions worked. However, I may have given you some misleading information. I can still run Bing searches without signing in. It's just that signing in accrues Rewards points for each search. I don't get that when I am unable to sign in. In fact, each day my search points will go up to 5 and then are reset to 0. They do not accrue.

I can sign in to Bing using Internet Explorer, but that sign in does not transfer over to Bing when I use FireFox. I've even had FireFox opened to the Bing search page and signed in to my Facebook account on a second tab and that doens't carry over either.

I'm really convinced that I am not allowed to sign in and use my Bing account unless I'm using Internet Explorer. I have sent Bing support an email to that effect but the reply is already a day overdue. Maybe I'll hear back on Monday, but I'm not counting on it. It's not the first time Microsoft has ignored my queries and complaints.

Thanks again. If you have any other ideas please post them for me and I'll try them.

Hello again jscher2000. I've received an answer from Bing Customer Service. I reproduce it here in its entirety. I hope you can come up with another suggestion or two. Thanks.

Hello Edward,

My name is Mark from Bing Rewards Customer Support and I will be assisting you with Service Request 1185731812.

We appreciate your reply. We would like to inform you that Bing Rewards program will work on IE, Google Chrome and even with Firefox. Since you mentioned that when you hover your cursor over the lower-left corner of your browser, it says javascript:void(0). It is possible that it is a browser issue since we have reproduced the issue and it is working fine on our end, we are able to log in to Bing Rewards using Firefox. We would suggest that you contact Firefox support for further assistance. They will be experts in your field of inquiry and would be in a better position to address your issue. You can contact Firefox support via this link: http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/home

We appreciate your continued support as we strive to provide you with the highest quality service. Thank you very much for choosing Bing. Have a wonderful day!

Kindest regards,

Mark

Bing Rewards Team - www.bing.com/rewards

Thanks to all who made suggestions to help me clear up my problem with Bing. I had tried all of them and none seemed to work to restore my ability to sign on to my Bing account. However, I tried a few of them again, and one in particular -- re-opening Firefox with all Add-ons disabled -- worked the second time around. Then I restarted Firefox with all Add-ons enabled and my Bing sign on still works. I don't know what happened, but at least if it happens again, I'll know what to do.

Thank you all very much for your help.

/ed tomchin