I have tried everything suggested to get rid of the "Open a new tab" search page.
I just bought a new computer with Windows7. I downloaded and installed Firefox 18.0.1 about a week ago. I am trying to get the history icon page to open when I click the "Open a new tab". Some of the things I've tried (like resetting Firefox and installing the add-on) worked but only until I shut down. When I load Firefox again, that pesky search page ("Open a new tab") is back. How can I get the history icon page to stay permanently from day to day?
Chosen solution
if your manual changes don't 'stick' after a restart of the browser, please look out for any suspicious extensions (like 3rd-party-toolbars or things you have not installed intentionally) presently installed under firefox/tools > addons > extensions or the programs section of the windows control panel and remove those entries.
in case this doesn't solve the issue please try this: go to firefox > help > troubleshooting information > profile folder - "show folder", then a new window will open up. in this window look out for a file named user.js (it might be used to overwrite your custom settings). in case it is present , delete or rename this file and restart firefox afterwards.
Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page
How to fix preferences that won't save
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Chosen Solution
if your manual changes don't 'stick' after a restart of the browser, please look out for any suspicious extensions (like 3rd-party-toolbars or things you have not installed intentionally) presently installed under firefox/tools > addons > extensions or the programs section of the windows control panel and remove those entries.
in case this doesn't solve the issue please try this: go to firefox > help > troubleshooting information > profile folder - "show folder", then a new window will open up. in this window look out for a file named user.js (it might be used to overwrite your custom settings). in case it is present , delete or rename this file and restart firefox afterwards.
Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page
You can also check if you have a mozilla.cfg file in the Firefox program folder that may be setting preferences.
- (32 bit Windows) C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\
- (64 bit Windows) C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\
If this is the case then do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before reinstalling a fresh copy of Firefox.
Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
- Firefox 18.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will also lose your personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.
If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.
Sunday 20 Jan 13 No addons, extensions or user.js file. Problem persists.
Modified by RDLittle
No "mozilla.cfg file either.
I also read the suggestion from "madperson" to install the "searchreset addon" or manually change "browser.newtab.url" to "about:newtab" but I don't know enough about computers to mess with that. I don't know what it will do. I'm frustrated enough with this problem and don't want to introduce another. To bad there isn't someone around here (Los Alamos, NM) that I could hire to work on this problem here. Good thing this problem is only a minor bother. It is something I may have to learn to live with. Although it would be nice to get my "History Icon" page to stick.
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
See "Creating a profile":
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues
If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.
You can also try to reset Firefox:
Thanks cor-el. I created a new profile and at first thought it had solved the problem. Until I started the "transfer" portion of the procedure and had to open the new profile again. That is when I realized the problem was still there. That damn "babylon" search page when I click "Open a new tab". I've been using computers for over three decades but never had to get this deep into the operating system so I'm really frustrated with this problem. It's been a learning curve I haven't had to deal with since I retired from scientific research twelve years ago. What are the chances that reinstalling Firefox 18 will solve the problem? I have your previous directions for a "clean reinstall". Anyone have any idea as to how this glitch got into the Firefox software in the first place?
If your issue returned after copying files from your previous profile then you have copied a file that caused your issue in that profile and you should remove that file. Possible causes are prefs.js and extensions.
The issue was present in the new profile before I transferred any files. I never did get to the point of transferring files to the new profile so the problem doesn't seem to be in the profiles.
Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before reinstalling a fresh copy of Firefox.
Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
- Firefox 18.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html
Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.
- Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will also lose your personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
- It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox
Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.
Well now I'm really stumped. Please read this carefully. Is my logic flawed? Uninstalled Moxilla Firefox as instructed. Deleted the Firefox folder as instructed. Did a "clean reinstall" as instructed. The damn Babylon search page is still there when I "Open a new tab".
If "Create a new profile" only worked until Firefox was closed and was back when reopened and a "Clean reinstall" didn't get rid of the Babylon search page, then where is the problem? Does creating a new profile eliminate the possibility that the problem is in the profile folder?
Could that pesky Babylon search page be part of the Firefox software or is it just me?
Could the fact that my new computer is a Dell have anything to do with it? I know that Dell puts some of their own software on their computers.
Could any of the settings from IE be bleeding into Firefox? I checked the IE add-ons and Babylon IS an add-on but it is listed as "Not Available". Earlier in this forum it was suggested that I uninstall a program named Babylon, which I did.
Does anyone know anything about Babylon and how to get rid of it?
So many questions, so little knowledge. :(
See:
I uninstalled Babylon earlier in this forum. I just reset IE but it didn't get rid of the "Not Available" IE add-on nor did it get rid of the Firefox "Open a new tab" search page.
I suspect the problem is with IE and/or Babylon so I will do more research to see how to get rid of this pesky add-on.
Perhaps malware may be the problem.
In the mean time I will postpone reporting this as "Solved".
Until then .....