I'm trying to change my new tab, and I've already reset Firefox as well as going to about:config, and using search reset. Can someone help?
This has happened a few times, and every so often the new tab would reset itself, and I went back to about:config to put it back. Now it won't change at all! I've already reset Firefox, so please don't mention that. I also tried downloading search reset with no luck either. Please don't mention those two. I need another option!
All Replies (20)
In order to be able to find the correct solution to your problem, we require some more non-personal information from you. Please do the following:
- Click the Firefox button at the top left, then click the Help menu and select Troubleshooting Information from the submenu. If you don't have a Firefox button, click the Help menu at the top and select Troubleshooting Information from the menu.
Now, a new tab containing your troubleshooting information should open.
- At the top of the page, you should see a button that says "Copy text to clipboard". Click it.
- Now, go back to your forum post and click inside the reply box. Press Ctrl+V to paste all the information you copied into the forum post.
If you need further information about the Troubleshooting information page, please read the article Use the Troubleshooting Information page to help fix Firefox issues.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Application Basics
Name Firefox
Version 23.0
User Agent Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 5.1; rv:23.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/23.0
Build Configuration
about:buildconfig
Extensions
Name
Version
Enabled
ID
DoNotTrackMe 2.2.9.618 true donottrackplus@abine.com
Fasterfox 3.9.81 true {c36177c0-224a-11da-8cd6-0800200c9a91}
MaskMe 1.24.296 true idme@abine.com
Java Quick Starter 1.0 false jqs@sun.com
Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant 0.0.0 false {20a82645-c095-46ed-80e3-08825760534b}
OfferMosquito 0.5 false om@offermosquito.com
Secure Speed Dial 1.2.2 false speeddial@instair.net
TopArcadeHits 1.0 false {0113D088-8ED1-468C-B225-585A9C53B5E3}
User Agent Overrider 0.2.1 false useragentoverrider@qixinglu.com
Important Modified Preferences
Name
Value
accessibility.typeaheadfind.flashBar 0
browser.cache.disk.capacity 358400
browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run false
browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max false
browser.cache.disk.smart_size_cached_value 358400
browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion 4
browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID 20130730113002
browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone 23.0
browser.tabs.warnOnClose false
dom.mozApps.used true
extensions.lastAppVersion 23.0
network.cookie.prefsMigrated true
places.database.lastMaintenance 1376667478
places.history.expiration.transient_current_max_pages 26792
plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types application/pdf
plugin.importedState true
privacy.donottrackheader.enabled true
privacy.sanitize.migrateFx3Prefs true
privacy.sanitize.timeSpan 0
storage.vacuum.last.index 1
storage.vacuum.last.places.sqlite 1376088680
Graphics
Adapter Description Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Adapter Drivers ialmrnt5
Adapter RAM Unknown
Device ID 0x2562
Direct2D Enabled Blocked for your graphics driver version.
DirectWrite Enabled false (0.0.0.0)
Driver Date 8-20-2004
Driver Version 6.14.10.3889
GPU #2 Active false
GPU Accelerated Windows 0/1 Basic
Vendor ID 0x8086
AzureCanvasBackend skia
AzureContentBackend none
AzureFallbackCanvasBackend cairo
JavaScript
Incremental GC true
Accessibility
Activated false
Prevent Accessibility 0
Library Versions
Expected minimum version
Version in use
NSPR 4.10 4.10
NSS 3.15 Basic ECC 3.15 Basic ECC
NSSSMIME 3.15 Basic ECC 3.15 Basic ECC
NSSSSL 3.15 Basic ECC 3.15 Basic ECC
NSSUTIL 3.15 3.15
I did all of that. What do you need it for?
What change are you experiencing with your new tab? From default to another page, or from another page back to default?
If you change the browser.newtab.url preference and:
- Your change is ignored when you immediately press Ctrl+t, then: most likely an extension is overriding your preference. I don't recognize most of the active extensions on your list, so I don't know whether any of them is likely to do that. (Usually extensions that override your new tab preference have tab in the name...)
- It works for the rest of your Firefox session but is reset when you start Firefox up again, then: check for a user.js file, as described in this article: How to fix preferences that won't save.
- It works for a while (several new sessions) but eventually is reset, some external software or an extension may be modifying your settings an an undetermined interval. If you notice multiple settings changing back to default, it could be a system cleaner such as CCleaner trying to keep your Firefox profile folder in order. You should be able to make an exception. To get the path of your profile folder, you can use
Help > Troubleshooting Information > "Show Folder" button
and then copy from the address bar of Windows Explorer.
Any luck?
I'm having trouble changing the new tab, it won't let me change it. I have never used Ctrl. t, also, I don't have a user.js file. Also, I'm not doing another reset.
Hi Firefoxhelper123, I will not ask you to do another Reset. You wrote:
I'm having trouble changing the new tab, it won't let me change it.
I need to know which step is not working:
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.
(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste newtab and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the browser.newtab.url preference to open it for editing
- Is there a problem opening the preference for editing?
(4) Enter your desired value, e.g., about:newtab for the default new tab page, or about:blank for a blank page
- Can you type in the dialog?
(5) Click OK to save the change
- Can you click OK?
- After clicking OK, does the about:config page reflect your change?
(6) Open a new tab (e.g., click the + button or press Ctrl+t)
- Is it the page you selected? If not, what did you select and what did you get?
It will not let me edit the URL.
Do you mean in step 4, it won't let you change the text displayed in the dialog?
Yes, that's what I mean.
Can you modify other string preferences, such as browser.startup.homepage or are those also uneditable?
If you can't edit those either, I wonder whether some part of Firefox is corrupted?
I've never tried this myself, but the forum has a standard set of steps for a "clean reinstall" of Firefox. Although you do not remove your personal settings (AKA profile) folder during this process, a backup of that folder still is a good idea in case something goes wrong.
Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:
Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.
- Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
- After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
- Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default:
- Windows:
- C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox
- Mac: Delete Firefox from the Applications folder.
- Linux: If you installed Firefox with the distro-based package manager, you should use the same way to uninstall it - see Install Firefox on Linux. If you downloaded and installed the binary package from the Firefox download page, simply remove the folder firefox in your home directory.
- Windows:
- Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
- Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
- Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.
Please report back to see if this helped you!
What does the Status column of this pref list?
If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see:
I'm having no problems with the home page. And cor-el, I have no clue what you're talking about.
Can you look for a Mozilla.cfg file here:
C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
I was talking about the about:config page when you search for this pref.
I was also suspicious whether this pref might be locked.
A locked pref has locked in the Status column and shows as italic.
cor-el modificouno o
I entered that, and it did show up jscher2000. I'm not sure what to do from there.
If you found a mozilla.cfg file, and your computer is not in an environment administered by an IT department, try renaming it or deleting it so Firefox does not use it.
Edit: See warning in the next post about another file you would need to rename or delete: local-settings.js
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer modificouno o
See:
Note that you won't be able to start Firefox if you delete the mozilla.cfg file. You also need to remove the .js file that specifies that this mozilla.cfg file is used.
Best (easiest) is to do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder to remove all files and (re)install the latest Firefox 23.0.1 version.
You can find the full version of the latest Firefox 23.0.1 release in all languages and for all Operating Systems here:
cor-el modificouno o
I'm having the same issue only my issue is with step 6. I changed it to about:blank; when I opened a new tab, I still got the ask.com home page. Additionally, even when I type a search into the url bar from the mozilla home page, I still get Ask results. I've deleted ask from every about:config option. When i go to my programs to unistall it, ask isn't there. And i've already tried the firefox add-on search reset thing. Help?
Hi girlnxtdoorable, most likely one of your extensions is overriding the built-in preference. Go to the Add-ons page and disable ALL nonessential or unrecognized extensions:
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > in the left column, click Extensions
Usually a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
After that, the internal setting should take effect. Any luck?
I have 3 add-ons of inquiry: 1. "Search-Results Toolbar 1.2.0.0 (disabled)" : the disabled one- -appears as you predicted -also says "*exclamation point within a yellow triangle* Search-Results Toolbar is known to cause security or stability issues." -provides the options of "enable" or "remove" -I'm guessing I should click the "remove"?
2 and 3. "New Tab 5.0.0.7384" and "New Tab 5.0.0.9396": -description is "New Tab for Firefox" -have options to disable or remove 2. ".7384" claims "last updated: June15, 2013" and "homepage: http://www.searchnu.com" 3. ".9396" claims ""last updated: Sept 24, 2013" and "homepage: http://www.search.ask.com/[etc.]"
Recommedations for 2and 3 (obviously 3 is the one with ask.com issues) should i disable or remove? or disable first see if things go awry and then remove? Thanks!