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

unable to use random search

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

more options

Started today. If I type what is coffee like in the address bar I get " URL invalid unable to load page" The only way I could do a general search is if I went to google.com and typed it into the search bar. Tried some of the fixes on Mozilla site. Now if I type horse it automatically takes me to http/www.horse.com instead of giving me a general list of sites. I am using FF 19.0. This frustrating. Also FF loads slow and freezes for a couple of seconds every time I try to do something in ti.

Started today. If I type what is coffee like in the address bar I get " URL invalid unable to load page" The only way I could do a general search is if I went to google.com and typed it into the search bar. Tried some of the fixes on Mozilla site. Now if I type horse it automatically takes me to http/www.horse.com instead of giving me a general list of sites. I am using FF 19.0. This frustrating. Also FF loads slow and freezes for a couple of seconds every time I try to do something in ti.

All Replies (3)

more options

Firefox will try to fix up an incomplete URL via some DNS look ups and add .com and a possible www. prefix.

See:


Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).

  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe mode start window or otherwise make changes.

You can also check for problems with the places.sqlite database file in the Firefox Profile Folder.

more options

All of these fixes work, until I restart FF. I am about ready to dump FF and try chrome. I am making the changes in aboutconfig. But I have to do it EVERY time I open FF. They don't stay set at the new values.

more options

If you do not keep changes after a restart then see:

Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?