Firefox won't let me change my homepage from the default
I have recently formatted my computer (doing a full system wipe, not just a settings wipe) and now Firefox isn't behaving. If I change my Firefox homepage to another homepage (IE Google) it will save it until I close out all my Firefox windows, then it goes back to the default homepage. I have tried doing a full Firefox uninstall, and deleting my profile and it's not working. I set the files to 'read only' and changed my homepage, and it still went back to the default. I have even deleted the prefs to no avail. I'm positive it's not malware as I have just formatted my computer (It was doing the same thing for a while last time I formatted as well but it somehow fixed itself) I do have Adblock and Status-4-ever installed, but those have been in my PC since before I formatted last time and have never caused a problem. They're also on my other computer, and it works fine as well. Any ideas on what I can do to fix this?
PS. Sorry if I'm in the wrong area. I'm a little bubblebrained today. =P
தீர்வு தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டது
You are in the right area, this is the support forum.
You should not make the profile read only, that will cause problems, for instance you will not be able to change settings or add bookmarks.
Before you go any further try to make a copy of the current profile including the sub folders and files, and any accessible previous profile. (For instance are you using a disk image of the hdd prior to it being wiped, does that have the old profile on it) this suggestion is made because some of that information is likely to be useful, but is being put at risk of being deleted or overwritten.
Have a look at
A potential problem is that you may have tried to restore from a Windows backup, they do not always work, and may need another clean re-install, but note do NOT delete the profile it is the program files that may need deleting.
Try the following in this order, testing after each stage
- return the profile settings to their standard privileges
- use firefox in safe mode
no need to make changes in the options dialogue window, just click on continue - try a new profile
- see Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems_8-make-a-new-profile
- back up your profiles (see above) then try a clean reinstall http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall
All Replies (7)
தீர்வு தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டது
You are in the right area, this is the support forum.
You should not make the profile read only, that will cause problems, for instance you will not be able to change settings or add bookmarks.
Before you go any further try to make a copy of the current profile including the sub folders and files, and any accessible previous profile. (For instance are you using a disk image of the hdd prior to it being wiped, does that have the old profile on it) this suggestion is made because some of that information is likely to be useful, but is being put at risk of being deleted or overwritten.
Have a look at
A potential problem is that you may have tried to restore from a Windows backup, they do not always work, and may need another clean re-install, but note do NOT delete the profile it is the program files that may need deleting.
Try the following in this order, testing after each stage
- return the profile settings to their standard privileges
- use firefox in safe mode
no need to make changes in the options dialogue window, just click on continue - try a new profile
- see Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems_8-make-a-new-profile
- back up your profiles (see above) then try a clean reinstall http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall
Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?
Some security software has virtualization features that can cause problems by protecting and restoring files in the Firefox profile folder.
I use Avast anti-virus. As for a firewall I'm not exactly sure. Our router or something has a built in firewall so each computer doesn't need one. Those have also been the same since the dawn of time.
I'll try the other things and get back to you all. :)
Remember security software/hardware may need updating with what is the latest version of Firefox; and what the default browser should be. Settings will not remain the same since the dawn of time (or if they do you could expect problems).
I got it fixed! Thank you, John99! I had to edit my user.js file myself. That seemed to do the trick. :) Hopefully Firefox will behave now. Thank you to everyone else for all your awesome answers as well. :)
The user.js file is read every time Firefox is started and prefs set in user.js will override settings from the previous session saved in prefs.js.
Prefs that are set via user.js can't be changed permanently and changes made in Firefox to such prefs only last for the current session.