FireFox blog

[Fruss Tray Ted]

I have been using Firefox for awhile now and there's a few problems and oddities I am having with it. Just wondering if any of you who use it are experiencing the same quirks as I am.

1: When I close out of a forum such as pcguide, the taskbar that had a clickable rectangle with pcguide written in it doesn't go away. The lettering does but the block remains until I click on it.

2: When I click on a link with a realplayer clip in it (this happens with more than just RealPlayer), there is a box that says to click here to download the plug-in. If I do, my pc downloads for a second or two then reports 'done' in the lower left of the window but the film doesn't play?!?

3: When downloading pictures such as jpeg's when the D/L is complete the download progress box remains open and needs to be closed by clicking the 'X'. This never happened with 0.8 version.

4: I also tried Kerio firewall and although IE worked fine, I could not get Firefox to access the internet with Kerio enabled.

Anyone with any solutions?

Thanks for readin anyway guys/gals...

[malcore]

Hey FTT,

We all seem to be avoiding you. Don't know exactly what is causing your problems, but a few ideas and suggestions.

Plugins. Usually best to download the programs/plugins separately rather than relying on the click here to download boxes. Most are automatically picked up by firefox. Firefox plugin info here (http://plugindoc.mozdev.org/faqs/firefox-windows.html). The download manager can act a little odd at times. Check you have "Close Download Manager when all downloads are complete" checked in Tools > Options > Downloads.

For some reason, some installs of Firefox don't take well and a reinstall can cure any problems. Or you can delete your Firefox profile and create a new one. Right click your Firefox shortcut, select properties and at the end of the target box add a space and then -p so it looks like ...fiefox.exe -p. Now when you click on it the profile manager will open first. Delete the old one and create a new one. This is a neat trick I use to move my profile/cache off of the C drive. Just create a folder on another drive called FireProfile or whatever and point the new profile to that folder.

As for the Kerio problem,I haven't used it in a while. I do know that when you first open Firefox it wishes to make a loopback connection to 127.0.0.1. On some firewalls it's ok to block this, on others not. I use Outpost Pro. I could block this without problem on version 2.1, but on the new Outpost 2.5 I have to set a rule to allow it. Check whether your kerio settings have a rule for this or not.

Other than that, maybe just wait for the 1.0 final to be released shortly and start fresh.

Hope this helps a bit.

[Mark Miller]

hey Ftt,
Firefox does have it's little peculularities, I am putting a link below that will take you to the mozilla forums where you either do a search for each problem or just read thru people having similar problems. these sites are good because you don't have to join to either read or ask a question .
I would also suggest reading through some of the forums different faqs as that will answer some of your problems with realplayer and other plug ins
malcore is right firefox installations can go south but it is only beta till next week. then we can get real mad :) Enough rambling, here is the link.
http://forums.mozillazine.org/
Let me know if it help
Mark
by the way look at he time of Malcores post, weird !!!

[PrntRhd]

Malcore,
We missed you for a while, are you in Japan now or still in Taiwan?

FTT:
Firefox does have a few quirks, mostly with page rendering but the plugins can sometimes get a bit strange too. I am holding off until the Nov 9 official version before upgrading.
:)

[mike2002]

I've been using Firefox 1.0 for about a week now. The most unusual occurance I'm having is when I go to Yahoo Mail. I Attach a small NotePad file and it's OK. Then I click on to Attach an application with an .exe extension of about 1.8Mb. After taking about 10 minutes to upload it (dial-up connection!) an Error box appears, telling me that 'The file contains no data'. (er?)
When I switch to Internet Explorer, and Attach the same file, it works perfectly.

Seems like I.E. is not fully indispensable!!

[malcore]

I've been using Firefox 1.0 for about a week now. The most unusual occurance I'm having is when I go to Yahoo Mail. I Attach a small NotePad file and it's OK. Then I click on to Attach an application with an .exe extension of about 1.8Mb. After taking about 10 minutes to upload it (dial-up connection!) an Error box appears, telling me that 'The file contains no data'. (er?)
When I switch to Internet Explorer, and Attach the same file, it works perfectly.

Seems like I.E. is not fully indispensable!! Try either clearing your cache or creating a new profile as I mentioned above. If that doesn't help, then try this : in the address bar, type about:config , then find the line browser.xul.error_pages.enabled , right click, select modify and change from false to true. If you are using AdBlock, try disabling it.

Malcore,
We missed you for a while, are you in Japan now or still in Taiwan? Thanks PrntRhd. Was in Japan for a month or so, back in Taiwan struggling to finish tests for MCSE, then home to Canada for Christmas (first time in 4 years http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/smile.gif ), then on to Japan in mid January.

FTT, you avoiding us now??http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Malcore,
No,, I'm holding my breath as if I'm real mad but I don't really mean it.... Just wait... I'll explode,, err, explain later... :eek:

Questions that remain:
How does Firefox see .ra's and .mov's? Most extensions I try to install don't do Diddly...

[Donn]

Malcore

Thanks PrntRhd. Was in Japan for a month or so, back in Taiwan struggling to finish tests for MCSE, then home to Canada for Christmas (first time in 4 years http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/smile.gif ), then on to Japan in mid January.


Donn:

Yes you were missed, I and others inquired but no one seemed to know. Going to Japan in January, lucky you. I had a chance to teach English on Shikoku Island, and didn't take it. Still kicking myself about that. Sorry, FTT, didn't mean to hijack your thread. I am reading it with interest as I am still mulling over which to go with. . . :)

[malcore]

Malcore,
No,, I'm holding my breath as if I'm real mad but I don't really mean it.... Just wait... I'll explode,, err, explain later... :eek: Now I'm holding my breath.

Questions that remain:
How does Firefox see .ra's and .mov's? Most extensions I try to install don't do Diddly... Extensions won't do it. Or am I just nitpicking over semantics and you meant plugins. .ra files require RealPlayer and .mov files require QuickTime. I assume you have tried installing these programs? I personally use RealAlternative and QuickTimeAlternative, which use MediaPlayer Classic to play these files. Both work flawlessly for me with Firefox, both ask upon installation if you want to use Mozilla/Firefox/Opera/Netscape plugin, both come without the added dross and both can be downloaded here. (http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm)

Edit- Donn, thanks. There's lots of teaching jobs still to be had all over Japan, offering airfare, accomodations and some even offering transportation (car)http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/cool.gif. If you ever feel like it, drop me a line. No problem to set you up.http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/wink.gif

[mike2002]

Malcore - Hi,

I tried your suggestion of:--

" in the address bar, type about:config , then find the line browser.xul.error_pages.enabled , right click, select modify and change from false to true."

In Firefox 1.0, when you rt-click, it corresponds to the 'Toggle' setting .
I changed it from False to True then went to Yahoo Mail to test some Attachments - IT WORKED - BRILLIANT!! (sorry - I'm not shouting - just happy!!) :)

For some reason, some installs of Firefox don't take well and a reinstall can cure any problems Just out of curiosity, I uninstalled Firefox via Ad/Remove programs. I then ran jv16 Power Tools to remove any invalid Registry items. Finally I did a search for Firefox/Mozilla in the 'Registry Detective' program, and deleted all references that it found.
When I re-installed Firefox, it didn't ask me to Import my Favourites from I.E. It didn't need to - they were already Imported!!
I wonder what was left behind that recorded this info - certainly nothing with a Mozilla or Firefox name.

Thanks again for your help.

[mike2002]

malcore.

There's another thing about Firefox that I forgot to ask you.

When I first installed it, there was an option when viewing web-pages where you could right-click on some text, a frame or image, and remove it. This is handy for saving the page with just the required items.

The function has disappeared and I don't know how to restore it.
Any ideas?

[malcore]

The only default right click option that comes close to doing what you describe is " Block images from....." But this will block all images from the selected website, and only the images.

There is an extension that will do as you describe, removing any "object" on a web page temporarily. Called Nuke Anything (http://update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=79&vid=771).

When I re-installed Firefox, it didn't ask me to Import my Favourites from I.E. It didn't need to - they were already Imported!!
I wonder what was left behind that recorded this info - certainly nothing with a Mozilla or Firefox name.
What was probably left behind was your profile, the default location being (XP) C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\default.xxx\ or (9x) C:\WINDOWS\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\default.xxx\

[mike2002]

malcore.

Nuke Anything - THAT'S the one!
Yes I did have it - afterwards I forgot the fact that I'd downloaded it as a separate addition.

Thanks again. :D

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Malcore,
Breathe... I was wondering if this thread would get off the ground. Wright brothers nervousness and all... :)

'Nuke-anything',
Does that work for those annoying Flash ads on webpages to one side that you're trying to read through and ignore? :rolleyes:

[malcore]

No, Nuke Anything won't remove Flash. Once Flash has started to run in a web page, it will have its own right click context menu. Use Flash Click to View (http://update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=326&vid=993) to replace Flash ads with a button you can press to view if you wish, as per image attached. Then you can use Nuke Anything to remove the button.http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Big breath.

[mike2002]

malcore.

Re: Flash. I could save flash movies and tutotials by grabbing them from my Temporary Internet Files. Can this be done in Firefox? I've not found a location for them.Also - Cookies. I get blasted with far more of these than I did with I.E.
As an example, in I.E. a particular site used to send me one (which was rejected) and no more. The next page was still viewable. But in Firefox, it sends me three Cookies, and won't let me view the next page until I 'accept'
the things.

[malcore]

If you have your cookies set to prompt in Firefox, make sure you tick the box for "Use my choice for all cookies from this site"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/melcore/ScreenShot006.jpg


To save Flash in Firefox, right click on the page with the Flash movie (not inside the flash frame) choose "View Page Info", hit the "Media" tab, find the .swf file and click "save as". Save it to where you want.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/melcore/ScreenShot005.jpg


Works for embedded flash, but not objects.

You can also view what's in the cache by typing about:cache in the address bar.

[mike2002]

malore,

Re: Saving Flash. Got it, it worked a treat. Easier than I.E. actually!

You quoted earlier on:
"No, Nuke Anything won't remove Flash. Once Flash has started to run in a web page, it will have its own right click context menu."

Funnily enough, out of curiousity, I right-clicked outside one Flash on a page and 'Nuked' it. It Nuked it all right - it 'took out' the whole page!! :eek:

[mike2002]

malcore.

Re. Cookies - again!

I downloaded and Saved a webpage called 'A semi comprehensive look at Firefox' from speedguide.net.
When OFFLINE I loaded the page in Firefox - and it tried to set eight cookies.
Here are their names:

BSUID, ASLTRG, DSESTEST, DFRQSTR, DWIDYMD, DKIDYMD, DVISKAM, DVISWEB.

When I opened the same page in I.E. - no cookies!
Some Saved webpages have this cookie function built into them in HTML code which, when you view the page in NotePad, you can search for 'cookie' and edit the function out. That done, when you open it from your files - no cookie pop-ups.
I couln't find any such HTML coding in this particular page, hence the reason why it loads fine in I.E.
Where is Firefox getting the ability to load them from?

[malcore]

mike2002

Not sure why you are having cookie problems. How have you set your cookie management? Allow, but ask for each one? If so, and you have ticked "Use my choice for all cookies from this site", then you should only be asked once and FF will remember. Have a look at your settings and your cookie exceptions.

BSUID and ASLTRG are common forums cookies. Again, make sure you tick the box to remember your choices. Do you have cookies set to prompt in IE?

Just wanted to add, if anyone is looking for Flash Click to View for Firefox 1.0, get it here (http://downloads.mozdev.org/flashblock/flashblock-1.0RC2.xpi) (direct download).

[Mark Miller]

Hey guys,
Just to add to the blog.
I have to say this is the best issue of firefox yet.
Everything is working great and thanks to the extension mirror I was able to update everything.
By the way if you are having trouble with flash or shockplayer, download them again as Macromedia has updated in the middle of Oct [same version numbers] and they work very well with firefox now.
First time I did not have to reload them and as I said they work on sites that they did not before [usa today]
Just my 2 cents.
Mark :)