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FF-warning after typing in 'about:config' (?)

  • 54 cavab
  • 7 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Happy112

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Just curious,   and wanted to see what   'about:config'   is all about.
Then I get this warning,   that immediately scared me off   (see screenshot)
As it is in Dutch,   I'll translate:

This may be in breach of your guarantee conditions   !
Altering these elaborate prefences may damage the stability, safety and performance of this application.  Only proceed if you know what you're doing.

Show this warning the next time.

I'll be careful,   I promise.

a)   No;   I don't know what I'm doing   .........
b)   I get intimidated very easily and this sure scares me   ........

Can anybody reassure me   ?
Cheers,
Happy112

Just curious, &nbsp; and wanted to see what &nbsp; 'about:config' &nbsp; is all about.<BR> Then I get this warning, &nbsp; that immediately scared me off &nbsp; (see screenshot)<BR> As it is in Dutch, &nbsp; I'll translate:<BR> <B>This may be in breach of your guarantee conditions &nbsp; !<BR> Altering these elaborate prefences may damage the stability, safety and performance of this application.&nbsp; Only proceed if you know what you're doing.<BR> Show this warning the next time.<BR> I'll be careful, &nbsp; I promise. </B><BR> a) &nbsp; No; &nbsp; I don't know what I'm doing &nbsp; ......... <BR> b) &nbsp; I get intimidated very easily and this sure scares me &nbsp; ........ <BR> Can anybody reassure me &nbsp; ? <BR> Cheers,<BR> Happy112 <BR>
Attached screenshots

Modified by Happy112

Chosen solution

about:config has or has had various warnings.

You can certainly break Firefox by changing values in about:config so it is something to be careful with. Anything important and regularly changed may be altered some other way.

If you want to look at about:config and are experimenting changing it then it may be wise to first of all back up the file prefs.js because that is where the prefs are saved - in fact it only stores the none default values. That enables you to return to the previous Firefox settings state instead of sometimes having to return to a default settings state.

Alternatively create a new additional Firefox profile and play around using that. That may be safer, but also has its own dangers. If using multiple profiles it is prudent

  • To play arround only when using the new additional profile
  • To use only the suggested locations for creation of profiles
  • Never to rename or delete profiles. (Mistakes may be dangerous to your data including bookmarks and logins)
  • Also note there is a new about:profiles

See also

I marked Vlammetje's answer as helpful, as you seemed to be trying to do that.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (14)

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Vlammetje, Thanks for trying to help someone who is apparently new to Firefox.

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John99 said

Vlammetje, Thanks for trying to help someone who is apparently new to Firefox.

New to Firefox,   but devoted:
Today,   after a Microsoft update,   I spent quite a few hours and shed many a tear before I finally managed to get Firefox back:   Microsoft tried their best to keep me from ever using  Firefox  again.

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Even though I still don't know what   F x 35 > 48   means   (other than   F = > 1,3   and   F = < 1,4  );
and I still haven't a clue what a   LMGTFY-link   is:
I posted a legit question on  8/4/16:
FF-warning after typing in   'about:config'
My question has been answered  (thanks again,   John99).
This thread has gone more and more off topic ever since and is making me feel like I'm a character in some ridiculous soap.
It's keeping me from posting another (legit)  question.

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I do not Think there is any particular need to close this right now. Forum software eventually closes inactive questions. whilst allowing them to be found easily.

No need to answer other posts unless you wish to. Yes it did stray away from your original topic but people seemed to be enjoying it. No reason not to post another question if you have other Firefox problems. Have you found the links

  • All your questions link that is from your profile and is a search link
  • And the contributors Forum home page. Link from the dropdown on the top edge of the forum.
    • Note it has options along the top edge and side to sort & filter questions. Also the questions tags are clickable searches.


The question is marked solved, so it will not be showing up in contributors filterers as an unsolved question, and it will be found from an external search. That could make this question useful to others, which is the main point of the forum. They will see the solution, immediately without needing to.look through all the posts.

The questions about formatting of forum posts would probably have been better posted in the contributors forum but its not doing any harm here. It may even be useful if people find the posts .

Even though I still don't know what F x 35 > 48 means (other than F = > 1,3 and F = < 1,4 ); and I still haven't a clue what a LMGTFY-link is:

Those are the Google thingys. Note the links start with LMGTFY

Fx is a commonly used abbreviation for Firefox as an alternative to FF. I know it may not have been clear but I intended to show it is seen in Fx35 to Fx48 and used the greater than symbol loosely as a pointer. I suppose correct mathematical use would have been Fx48>=35 or just >=Fx35

Today, after a Microsoft update, I spent quite a few hours and shed many a tear before I finally managed to get Firefox back: Microsoft tried their best to keep me from ever using Firefox again.

You seem to have posted from Windows 10 so it is not as if you updated from Windows 7 to 10 manually. (That reminds me my Windows 7 machines are now safe from inadvertent Windows 10 updates) I am using WIndows 10 at present, I will restart and see if any update is offered. MS should not be preventing Fx from remaining as the default browser, but I may be proved wrong after a restart.

That is something you could start a new question about, although maybe you have already solved the issue.

----------------

P.S. Truncated links: Anchors & Text

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John99 said

No need to answer other posts unless you wish to. Yes it did stray away from your original topic but people seemed to be enjoying it.

Okay,   as long as people are enjoying it:   count me in   !
After all:   that's what I've always wanted in the first place:   to liven things up a little over here instead of acting like a robot.
But don't you dare give me a slap on the wrist should I overstep   the rules .

Have you found the links
  • All your questions link that is from your profile and is a search link

I'll look into that in a bit   ........

  • And the contributors Forum home page. Link from the dropdown on the top edge of the forum.
    • Note it has options along the top edge and side to sort & filter questions. Also the questions tags are clickable searches.

No clue what you're babbling about,   but I'll look into that as well   (heavy sigh).

The question is marked solved, so it will not be showing up in contributors filterers as an unsolved question, and it will be found from an external search. That could make this question useful to others, which is the main point of the forum. They will see the solution, immediately without needing to.look through all the posts.

Good point.
Of course you're right   (as usual).
I tend to speak and act first     --     then think later   (get myself into a lot of trouble that way  ..... )

The questions about formatting of forum posts would probably have been better posted in the contributors forum but its not doing any harm here. It may even be useful if people find the posts .

Also true.
Who knows:   might even enthuse some folks   ......

I suppose correct mathematical use would have been Fx48>=35 or just >=Fx35

Wise guy   !   Smarty pants   !   Smart Alec   !
(hate to say it:   but you're right,   of course)


I am using WIndows 10 at present, I will restart and see if any update is offered. MS should not be preventing Fx from remaining as the default browser, but I may be proved wrong after a restart. That is something you could start a new question about, although maybe you have already solved the issue.

Like I said:   it took me hours and hours and I shed many a tear,   but I did manage to solve it   (yay   ! )
But those guys at Microsoft HQ are lucky that there's an ocean and a continent between us:   I may be small,   but I sure know how to overcompensate   !

P.S. Truncated links: Anchors & Text

Have mercy   .........

(edited a typo   and probably overlooked some more ....)

Modified by Happy112

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Have you found the links
  • All your questions link that is from your profile and is a search link
  • And the contributors Forum home page. Link from the dropdown on the top edge of the forum.
    • Note it has options along the top edge and side to sort & filter questions. Also the questions tags are clickable searches.

Just checked it out:  
The link from my profile I use most of the time:
the   'show=all Link'   :   'use that as well    --     thanks,   Grumpy   !

Modified by Happy112

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To   John99:

This screenshot may be in Dutch;  but it proofs that I   did   post a question at  Microsoft Support Community  about Microsoft,   after the update,   not allowing Firefox to be my browser anymore;   in fact seemed to have wiped away Firefox from my laptop,   etc..

And when I had finally managed to get Firefox back   (as well as my homepage)   I of course reported it to the Community.

You know what they did   ?

They asked me to tell them how I did it,   so that others might benefit from it.

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Since this thread has gone way off topic I might as well vent another one of my frustrations: A few days ago I discovered  Firefox Notepad   and I was over the moon   ! So many features that   Windows Notepad   doesn't have:   I was so happy   ! Finally a Notepad where I could try and develop some   HTML-skills.
WRONG   !!!
Firefox Notepad is for   JacaScript   only   ........
WHY   ???
'Happy-face' turned into 'Sad-face' again   ..........

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Since this thread has gone way off topic I might as well vent another one of my frustrations:

Just because it is thread is diverging from answering your original question does not mean you should make it even more off topic. If you have separate questions now why not post them as separate questions in their own new question threads or on some appropriate forum if you still have problems


Making Firefox the default browser.

This screenshot may be in Dutch; but it proofs that I did post a question at Microsoft Support Community about Microsoft, after the update, not allowing Firefox to be my browser anymore; in fact seemed to have wiped away Firefox from my laptop, etc..

It appears you solved whatever issue you had. Possibly you also had other issues also relating to the Windows update. I can see your Windows question in Dutch at

I am sure you have already seen

You also have two related questions that you posted and have marked as solved

  1. What does 'default' mean ?
  2. How/where can I see (on any page) that FF really IS my browser ?
  3. Plus a third closed question Microsoft makes it impossible to use Firefox instead of Edge !

In light of you posting in Dutch why not discuss that in the Dutch Firefox forum that you are aware of

Incidentally when I try Google translate I get a contradiction between the heading and the content of your MS Dutch post.

After the update, this afternoon I get Firefox not return as browser
from Na de update vanmiddag krijg ik Firefox niet meer terug als browser 
Then I get to my horror always the message that Firefox is my default browser.
 from Vervolgens krijg ik tot mijn grote schrik steeds het bericht dat Firefox niet mijn standaard browser is.

Firefox Notepad I have no idea what you have discovered. Some addon or third party software presumably. This sounds like totally out of scope for this forum, but a brief comment.

I try to avoid using Windows normally but there are bound to be simple text editors that handle HTML better than MS Notepad see wikipedia.org/wiki/Source_code_editor . Slightly more complex but multi purpose the cross platform, free, Libre Office from libreoffice.org will specifically handle creation & editing of HTML web documents. Or consider full blown IDEs wikipedia.org/wiki/Integrated_development_environment

Also do not forget Firefox's extensive range of built in tools including the Page Inspector https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Tools/Page_Inspector/How_to/Examine_and_edit_HTML

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John99 said

Just because it is thread is diverging from answering your original question does not mean you should make it even more off topic.

You encouraged me to do so,   for Pete's sake   !


In light of you posting in Dutch why not discuss that in the Dutch Firefox forum that you are aware of

I apologized   ....... You're bringing that up again   ?

Incidentally when I try Google translate I get a contradiction between the heading and the content of your MS Dutch post. After the update, this afternoon I get Firefox not return as browser from Na de update vanmiddag krijg ik Firefox niet meer terug als browser Then I get to my horror always the message that Firefox is my default browser. from Vervolgens krijg ik tot mijn grote schrik steeds het bericht dat Firefox niet mijn standaard browser is.

Are you blaming me for Google's translations being inaccurate or are you calling me a liar   ?

Firefox Notepad I have no idea what you have discovered. Some addon or third party software presumably.

Eager to learn I went to the 3-bar menu and   (for the first time)   I clicked on that thing that I quess people use for loosening or tightening bolts   (a spanner   ?)  and there it was: Firefox Notepad   ........


You really seem to have it in for me  ........ You want me to leave the forum   ? Just say the word and I will.

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Happy112 said

John99 said
Just because it is thread is diverging from answering your original question does not mean you should make it even more off topic.
You encouraged me to do so,   for Pete's sake   !

I was only trying to say it is understandable if the question does not stick wholly to the subject in the title. Later I was explaining that it is a good idea to keep new subjects in new threads, and that possibly some of the subjects may be better addressed elsewhere.

In light of you posting in Dutch why not discuss that in the Dutch Firefox forum that you are aware of
I apologized   ....... You're bringing that up again   ?

Incidentally when I try Google translate I get a contradiction between the heading and the content of your MS Dutch post.

After the update, this afternoon I get Firefox not return as browser
from Na de update vanmiddag krijg ik Firefox niet meer terug als browser 
Then I get to my horror always the message that Firefox is my default browser.
from Vervolgens krijg ik tot mijn grote schrik steeds het bericht dat Firefox niet mijn standaard browser is.
Are you blaming me for Google's translations being inaccurate or are you calling me a liar   ?

I am trying to point out that you posted a Firefox related question on a MS forum in Dutch and suggesting if you wish to discuss that it is probably best to do so in the Dutch Firefox forum where everyone understands the language being used. I know Google Translate can give variable results. As you had taken the trouble to post the screenshot I was trying to see what subjects it was likely to have been about rather than just ignore the screenshot.

Firefox Notepad I have no idea what you have discovered. Some addon or third party software presumably.
Eager to learn I went to the 3-bar menu and   (for the first time)   I clicked on that thing that I quess people use for loosening or tightening bolts   (a spanner   ?)  and there it was: Firefox Notepad   ........

You really seem to have it in for me  ........ You want me to leave the forum   ? Just say the word and I will.

Yes us English call that a spanner, I think Yanks may know it as a wrench. So what you found was probably the Scratchpad.

I was trying to help you and answer your posts, not upset you. No I do not want you to leave the Forum !! We are here to help people, and you yourself make posts now answering questions so thanks. As a one of the forum Moderators I do make judgements about what does and does not seem on topic, and when it may be best to start new threads, that is just intended as friendly and useful advice.

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John99 said

Yes us English call that a spanner, I think Yanks may know it as a wrench. So what you found was probably the Scratchpad.

Yes,   the Americans call it a   'wrench';   I haven't the foggiest how it's called here in the Netherlands.
Clicking on it showed me a lot of things I hadn't seen before, and quite frankly:   I wish I hadn't seen some of them.
But I'm flying off at a tangent;   back to what made me so happy when I first saw it.
It says:   Kladblok,   which translates into   Notepad&nbsp .....


(edited a typo and looked up   'spanner/wrench':   in Dutch it's called a   moersleutel )

Modified by Happy112

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Did you intend to post that in this thread ?


So in the light of Happy's reply I have removed the errant post

Modified by John99

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John99 said

Did you intend to post that in this thread ?

NO   !!!!!
I accidently clicked the   'post' button   .........
I goofed again   ........
I'm gonna crawl under a rock now   ........

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