Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

I can't load google.com, other websites load just fine.

  • 7 replies
  • 11 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by vaguedurin

more options

For the past 3 days I have been getting the error message: "The connection has timed out The server at www.google.com is taking too long to respond.

   The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
   If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network connection.
   If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web."

Whenever I try to load google or gmail or any other google related website. I have had no problems loading any other website. No changes were made prior to this error starting, I have run updated antivirus and anti malware programs, cleared cookies cache and browser history, restarted several times, even restarted to last known good configuration, nothing has fixed the problem.

For the past 3 days I have been getting the error message: "The connection has timed out The server at www.google.com is taking too long to respond. The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments. If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network connection. If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web." Whenever I try to load google or gmail or any other google related website. I have had no problems loading any other website. No changes were made prior to this error starting, I have run updated antivirus and anti malware programs, cleared cookies cache and browser history, restarted several times, even restarted to last known good configuration, nothing has fixed the problem.

All Replies (7)

more options

Many site issues can be caused by corrupt cookies or cache.

  • Clear the Cache and
  • Remove Cookies
    Warning ! ! This will log you out of sites you're logged in to.

Type about:preferences<Enter> in the address bar.

  • Cookies; Select Privacy. Under History, select Firefox will Use Custom Settings. Press the button on the right side called Show Cookies. Use the search bar to look for the site. Note; There may be more than one entry. Remove All of them.
  • Cache; Select Advanced > Network. Across from Cached Web Content, Press Clear Now.

If there is still a problem, Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} While you are in safe mode;

Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar.

Under Advanced, Select General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Poke around safe web sites. Are there any problems?

Then restart.


Separate Issue; Your System Details shows;

Installed Plug-ins

Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 12.2.4.194 Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in, version 11.6.4.634
Having more than one version of a program may cause issues. You must remove the older programs. Then get the current full installer.

Shockwave Director: Shockwave Standalone Installer / Uninstaller{web link} Shockwave Director Version Version 12.2.3.183 http://get.adobe.com/shockwave/

more options

Thank you very much for your response, I have followed all the steps you listed, including the shockwave uninstall/update.

However unfortunately I still cannot access google.com. As before, all other websites I try load just fine, but google will not.

more options

First check whether you can access Google related sites on browsers other than Firefox i.e. Chrome, Opera, or IE

If you can't access on other browses too, then its a problem with your ISP, they must have blocked 1e100.net (google's content network) Your firewall or antivirus may have blocked it too, check those too..

Check if google sites are opening with some free proxies like https://hide.me/en/proxy

Modified by version365

more options

Neither Chrome nor IE will load google either but using firefox the free proxy link you provided loaded google instantly!

more options

I had previously checked the windows firewall and my Microsoft Security Essentials, Avast, and Malwarebytes and did not find anything within them pointing to google as a problem or restriction.

If this lies with my ISP is there anything further I can do via my computer or is the proxy solution my only real option until things rectify on their end?

more options

>pointing to google as a problem or restriction

It might not be pointed to Google, it may be pointed to 1e100.net, check that.. Also, contacting your ISP would be a good idea..

more options

Thank you again for the help I'll contact the ISP and see what can be done further.