Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache. In order to try to fix these problems, the first step is to clear both cookies and the cache. Note: This will temporarily log you out of all sites you're logged in to. To clear cache and cookies do the following:

1. Go to Firefox > History > Clear recent history or (if no Firefox button is shown) go to Tools > Clear recent history.
2. Under "Time range to clear", select "Everything".
3. Now, click the arrow next to Details to toggle the Details list active.
4. From the details list, check Cache and Cookies and uncheck everything else.
5. Now click the Clear now button.

Further information can be found in the Clear your cache, history and other personal information in Firefox article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

If clearing cookies doesn't work then it is possible that the file cookies.sqlite that stores the cookies is corrupted.

Rename (or delete) cookies.sqlite (cookies.sqlite.old) and delete other present cookie files like cookies.sqlite-journal in the Firefox Profile Folder in case the file cookies.sqlite got corrupted.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Cookies

Thanks cor-el. There's a problem

/Users/gene/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles [Roo:Application Support/Firefox/Profiles] gene% ls cookies* ls: No match. [Roo:Application Support/Firefox/Profiles] gene% ls -lt total 0 drwx------ 39 gene admin 1326 Aug 30 10:05 e9rx5b5a.Default User drwx------ 41 gene admin 1394 May 14 12:49 l9jlh3b8.default

Should I delete this: l9jlh3b8.default ?

Thanks, all, for your help. I don't know which fix worked, but I did all of them and a few other tricks, and the problem has disappeared.

No, that is the Firefox Profile Folder and you lose all your personal data in Firefox.

Did you look in that folder to see if there is a file cookies.sqlite?

You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox

Dear cor-el,

Thanks again for your help. I now have the same problem in Safari. The options seem to be different for Safari. I did reset Safari but that did no good. I would be grateful for any advice on how to fix this.

Gene

Did you find the cookies.sqlite file and removed the file?

Are your cookie settings the default to accept at least all normal cookies from websites and do not block cookies via a block exception?

• Firefox > Preferences > Privacy > Cookies
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Cookies

Do you have any security software that may be blocking cookies as it happens in more that one browser?

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting#w_8-make-a-new-profile

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

Thanks for your note. Firefox is working OK. This is a Safari problem.

There are no files with the name cookies* or *.sqlite on the machine, per a spotlight search. The only files with “cookies” in the name are in Adobe apps.

All the options in Safari Preferences are checked except the blocking of pop-up windows, which is not checked. Cookies are always accepted. Third party cookies are not blocked.

Do you believe the expiration dates on the cookies? The Date&Time info on the Mac is OK, 2012. The dates on the cookies are like 01/01/36. I was unable to upload a pdf or tiff of the relevant scrrenshot with "Add Images".

Gene

If you only have a problem with Safari left then it is best to take this to an Apple or Safari oriented forum.