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Google search engine no longer works after upgrading to Firefox 11

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  • 17 have this problem
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  • Last reply by jspicker

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I just upgraded to Firefox 11 earlier this evening. Now I'm trying to do a search with Google. I got the search results and clicked on what I wanted only to get taken to the Google home page with a new Google search engine entry box. There was a google sign-in thing but I shouldn't have to sign in just to do a search. I switched to yahoo search and got the info I wanted then switched back to google to try to figure out what on earth is going on. Now when I click on the item in the results that I want the tab at the top sort of blinks for an instant that says connecting then stops and stays on the results page. If I right-click on the item and select open in a new tab (or new page), I can go to that page, but I shouldn't have to always right click to go to a new tab or new page. It was never that way before I got to Firefox 11. Can this be fixed or do I have to just abandon google?

I just upgraded to Firefox 11 earlier this evening. Now I'm trying to do a search with Google. I got the search results and clicked on what I wanted only to get taken to the Google home page with a new Google search engine entry box. There was a google sign-in thing but I shouldn't have to sign in just to do a search. I switched to yahoo search and got the info I wanted then switched back to google to try to figure out what on earth is going on. Now when I click on the item in the results that I want the tab at the top sort of blinks for an instant that says connecting then stops and stays on the results page. If I right-click on the item and select open in a new tab (or new page), I can go to that page, but I shouldn't have to always right click to go to a new tab or new page. It was never that way before I got to Firefox 11. Can this be fixed or do I have to just abandon google?

Chosen solution

When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.

1. Clear Firefox's Cache

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Options > Advanced

On the Network mini-tab > Offline Storage : "Clear Now"

2. If needed, delete the site's cookies here

While viewing a page on the site, right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?


Also, I think the Ask toolbar (add-on) has been reported to create problems with the links in Google search results. You could try disabling it here:

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Add-ons > Extensions


A search also turned up an issue with the HTTPS Everywhere add-on: Google links redirect to Google homepage, not the link itself! | Firefox Support Forum | Firefox Help.

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Chosen Solution

When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.

1. Clear Firefox's Cache

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Options > Advanced

On the Network mini-tab > Offline Storage : "Clear Now"

2. If needed, delete the site's cookies here

While viewing a page on the site, right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?


Also, I think the Ask toolbar (add-on) has been reported to create problems with the links in Google search results. You could try disabling it here:

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Add-ons > Extensions


A search also turned up an issue with the HTTPS Everywhere add-on: Google links redirect to Google homepage, not the link itself! | Firefox Support Forum | Firefox Help.

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

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You can also do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
You need to scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

See also:

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Thanks for your input. Malware/spyware is probably the least likely source of this problem since there was not a problem with google search immediately before the upgrade to Firefox 11. Unless the malware came with the firefox install, that is. In any case, I hadn't noticed the last suggestion of the previous responder about HTTPS Anywhere and disabling that solved the problem.

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Well, I tried all of your other suggestions and then finally noticed the last one about HTTPS Anywhere. I followed your link and decided it was worth a try. Disabling it solved the problem! Thanks! (Of course, now I do not have secure browsing but that's going to have to wait for another day.)

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The add-on is probably most relevant on unsecured wi-fi connections, especially if you are using sites proven vulnerable to session stealing. In that case, you could use a different search site (such as Duck Duck Go) when the benefits of HTTPS Everywhere outweigh the pain of change.

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I added HTTPS Everywhere and started using Firefox 2-3 years ago when reports were coming out about Firesheep and only firefox had a fix for it. This was not for my home network, since it is secure, but for when I'm on the road for my job and must use hotel connections. I'm not completely freaked out by it since I usually have a VPN connection that is secure, but I don't like the possibility. Whatever, it's over now because it won't work with the new firefox + google search combo.