FireFox 10 does not work with Amazon "Look Inside!" and certain web page features
On Amazon, the Javascript-driven (?) buttons for Amazon's Look Inside! feature no longer work after upgrading to Firefox 10. The previous version 9 did work with the Amazon feature.
Amazon's Look Inside! feature permits a prospective customer to sample multiple pages of a book before buying. Very often, this feature spares the customer wasted time and money with a book whose promotion looks promising, but whose pages turn out disappointing.
In addition to dysfunctional "Look Inside!" buttons, I have found I cannot move a selection already placed in my cart into "Save for Later". The button is unresponsive.
I have complained to Amazon about keeping up-to-date with Firefox, due to the security issue of letting browser page compatibility fall behind the current browser standard. Of course, Amazon does not usually answer the complaint, perhaps reasoning that this is merely a customer issue.
In any case, check out the failure of Firefox 10 to work with Amazon pages. I have reviewed my own Javascript and cookies configuration already, and my Firefox 10 is as wide-open as can be-- I do not even clear cookies or history after a session.
الحل المُختار
' S U C C E S S ! ! ! ! ! '
Rather than bite the bullet and reinstall Firefox and/or its various versions until I found one that worked with the Amazon "Look Inside" feature, it was serendipity that brought a solution.
While checking my Plug-Ins and Add-ons for the millionth time, I decided to check for updates. Immediately, my Java indicators went red-- apparently there is a new release. In reviewing the installation procedure, the first step is to remove the existing Java runtime. Most people do not do this, and manage to live happily ever after. But sometimes, a failure to remove all previous instances of Oracle-Sun Java can bite a user hard.
In my case, the removal of all Java runtimes from Settings--Add/Remove was the solution (translation-- remove all items which read "Java"). As soon as the removal occurred, I got a prompt to visit an Oracle Java page for installation of the latest Java (JRE), and the balky Amazon page suddenly reverted to normal behavior.
Thanks for all your help-- having somebody second-guess a diagnostic is very, very helpful. You told me my options and what to check, which narrowed the field of possibilities to something I could manage.
To other Firefox users whose Java quietly stops working, the first sign of trouble is when a web page obviously driven by Java balks at a common command. You may get strange messages, but check the Add-Ons first. At the top menu, choose Tools/Add-Ons, and click on an icon which resembles a gear (cog wheel) to provide a drop-down menu with an option to check for updates on all Add-Ons. A huge time-saver.
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Hi,
Please try a Ctrl + F5 refresh on the page. This helps to bring in the page afresh. You can also check if this happens in Safe Mode to rule out the possibility of add-ons (Tools (Alt + T) > Add-ons) interfering.
Troubleshooting Extensions and Themes
If the problem persists also try after deleting the cookies for Amazon: Tools (Alt + T) > Options > Privacy > Show Cookies > Remove Cookies (after selecting the amazon entry).
Thanks for your help! Here are the steps taken, so far--
1. In Firefox Safe Mode, I went through your diagnostic, first enabling the disabled Plug-Ins, one by one, and testing each instance against the problematic Amazon page. No joy.
2. In Firefox 10.x safe mode, all the extensions / Add-ons were disabled, anyway. On checking (to be sure), each had a "(Disabled)" label above it.
3. One anomaly surfaced-- I had an "eBay" search engine in a search bar which I did not install. When I tried to remove the eBay engine, using the search window's drop-down menu, and "Manage Tool Bars", I could select the eBay engine (which turned dark blue), but the "Remove" button remained grey and unresponsive.
Next, I attempted to drag the eBay mutant into the "View/Toolbars/Customize" window, and that removed both the eBay search engine and the search window, itself-- which is fine by me. The address bar lengthened to assume remaining width on the Navigation bar. But still the Amazon page would not permit "Look Inside".
4. I cleared the Firefox cache from Tools/Options/Advanced/Network, and restarted Firefox. No change.
5. I checked the box under Options/Privacy/Show Cookies, and removed the Amazon cookies (all three with the name of Amazon). But I did not remove all cookies, nor check the box for "Clear History When Firefox Closes", since the history is important.
6. My Firefox runs on the default theme, and that was disabled during this diagnostic.
Discussion--
It has occurred to me to reinstall from zero-- that is, completely uninstall Firefox and reinstall it. But I would need time to do that in order to save items (which are important) to a holding folder, since they may be jeopardized by the uninstall.
It also has occurred to me to install a "parallel", fully functional but earlier version of Firefox, such as version 3.x. But since all versions of Firefox attempt to use the single Windows registry, there may be problems with that approach.
Suggestions?
You can try a new profile and start Firefox in that profile. If it is okay, you can later copy important data from the old profile - eg. places.sqlite stores the bookmarks and history, key3.db + signons.sqlite are needed to successfully restore stored website usernames/passwords etc. - and delete the old profile. You may have to install all the required add-ons again.
1. More evidence of what might be behind Firefox failure to work on Amazon pages. Got an error message about Javascript-- "We’re sorry but our Call Me service isn’t available for your browser*. .. *Call Me requires Internet Explorer, Firefox or Safari with JavaScript enabled."
Yet, as mentioned above, my Javascript has no problem with other web pages, and is fully enabled.
2. Once again, I need to know whether there is a way to run two versions of Firefox on the same (boot) partition. I hope to run an earlier version of FF on the Amazon website, because I suspect its pages do not function properly with ALL versions of FF-- especially 10.x.
3. Can you tell me whether you observe any Javascript or other problems running FF10.x on this page?
Modified by alphaa10
The site functionality seems to be okay in the latest Firefox 10.0.1 (XP). If there are issues even in a new profile, please also check in Windows Safe Mode with Networking Support.
You can try the portable version: http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable/localization#legacy36
As soon as I get the chance, I'll do the safe mode (with networking) session to see what happens, and failing that, do the rummaging required to fix my profile.
On my question about parallel installations of Firefox, I do not expect to find a workaround, particularly because each version uses the same registry and folder.
The portable Firefox has a separate folder structure and doesn't use the Windows registry to store configuration. You can try both the latest portable Firefox and also the legacy 3.6.
I would be delighted to try FF3.6 up to version 8.x, since I did not have the current problem while using that range.
Do you have suggestions about how to retrograde, as you suggest I might?
Do I leave FF10.0.2 in place, and simply install FF8.x "over it"? That is, hoping FF8.x will pull all its settings, bookmarks, and configuration files from the newer version, FF10.0.2.
Even if that will not work, and I need to uninstall FF10.0.2, first, and install FF8.x afterward. the add-on FEBE should work to restore every configuration under FF8.x.
You can keep the current Firefox installation intact to later check in the Windows Safe Mode, or uninstall it. The portable Firefox is unzipped into a separate location of your choosing and usually it won't affect the current installation in any way. Both the installed Firefox and the portable Firefox will exist and behave as separate programs. It would be better to go with the 10.0.2 or the 3.6 versions because only these versions would have the security and bug fixes.
If you have any security software please also see this for possible hints to the currently installed Firefox issues.
الحل المُختار
' S U C C E S S ! ! ! ! ! '
Rather than bite the bullet and reinstall Firefox and/or its various versions until I found one that worked with the Amazon "Look Inside" feature, it was serendipity that brought a solution.
While checking my Plug-Ins and Add-ons for the millionth time, I decided to check for updates. Immediately, my Java indicators went red-- apparently there is a new release. In reviewing the installation procedure, the first step is to remove the existing Java runtime. Most people do not do this, and manage to live happily ever after. But sometimes, a failure to remove all previous instances of Oracle-Sun Java can bite a user hard.
In my case, the removal of all Java runtimes from Settings--Add/Remove was the solution (translation-- remove all items which read "Java"). As soon as the removal occurred, I got a prompt to visit an Oracle Java page for installation of the latest Java (JRE), and the balky Amazon page suddenly reverted to normal behavior.
Thanks for all your help-- having somebody second-guess a diagnostic is very, very helpful. You told me my options and what to check, which narrowed the field of possibilities to something I could manage.
To other Firefox users whose Java quietly stops working, the first sign of trouble is when a web page obviously driven by Java balks at a common command. You may get strange messages, but check the Add-Ons first. At the top menu, choose Tools/Add-Ons, and click on an icon which resembles a gear (cog wheel) to provide a drop-down menu with an option to check for updates on all Add-Ons. A huge time-saver.
Modified by alphaa10
Glad you got it sorted out :) Thank you for posting back the details.