Didn't work well for me either. I uninstalled 4.whatever and reinstalled 3.whatever. Still slow as molasses, but at least it loads now. But I'm on the lookout to replace Mozilla. If I can't trust their updates, I can't trust them.

Official Old Version Release http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html

I just wanted to add my puny voice to this growing avalanche of dissatisfaction.

Firefox was brilliant up until 4. What the fudge are/were you people thinking? It is a bad version of MSIE with more cumbersome "features" and loads of little glitches. I've rolled back to 3.6 but I am just installing Opera now. I suspect that it has come a long way since last I tried it, so maybe that is going to be the browser of choice.

myself was a FF user for last 12 yrs !! even i remember recommending ppl abt it...but FF 4 is a real PAIN IN THE APPROPRIATE PLACE....

it hogs memory...for simple functions (available by default in previous vers) ,now u have to install add-ons for them (like new tab button, FF4 either lets u have a new tab button OR the "+" button near opened tabs..but U CANT HAVE THEM BOTH SAME TIME!! WHAT THE.......

PC hangs/freezes almost everytime i ran FF 4 ..and for that i have lost valuable data..mind u, my machine config is not outdated. I have reverted back to previous vers FF 3.6...and am NOT UPDATING IT SOON....

ALL OF U FOLKS HAVIN PROBS WITH FF4 : easiest solution for all your probs -

1) get rid of FF4 and install the previous vers - http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html after backing up - https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Backing+up+your+information

OR

2) get an alternative browser

yes folks, the above solution will at least give u peace of mind and a more peaceful good night sleep

I Have used Foxfire for years and years. It has been the best by far - BUT - this time around - not so much. "Help" people are not answering the question. They are defensively asking "what do you mean you cant blah, blah, blah...?? VERY NOT helpful! The question is - HOW DO WE GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS VERSION??!! This one sucks and the person(s) who designed it are incompetent at user interface. I will go to SAFARI in a matter of days, maybe hours if someone does not really help and remedy this by giving us A LINK TO AN UNINSTALL THIS 4.0 PIECE OF TRASH.

@jtmudman, the user interface can be switched around to be very similar to version 3.6 and there are even add-ons now to make it easier. I don't think it's so bad that ALL CAPS are required.

But if you prefer, here's the process to roll back:

First, I recommend backing up your Firefox settings in case something goes wrong. See Backing up your information. (You can copy your entire Firefox profile folder somewhere outside of the Mozilla folder.)

Next, download and save Firefox 3.6 to your desktop for future installation. http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/all-older

Close Firefox 4.

You could install Firefox 3.6 over it (many have reported success) or you could uninstall Firefox first. If you uninstall, do not remove your personal data and settings, just the program.

Unless you have installed an incompatible add-on, Firefox 3.6 should pick up where you left off. If there are serious issues, please post back with details.

Note: I haven't actually tried this myself!

I have the same problem, Firefox4 or the 5 beta version won`t load. It did at start but just stopped loading at one time. I`m using Firefox 3 again but now there the add-ons won`t load or upgrade anymore...aaaaaaargh. What the heck have you guys done at Mozilla? Hired some blonds ?

@TheHeinz64, could you start a new question that includes your system details?

@jscher200 These are my system details, 4 was running great at first it just stopped loading at one time, and that`s a petty cause it`s a fast browser.

MS Windows Vista Home Premium 32-bit SP2 Intel Pentium E5200 @ 2.50GHz Wolfdale 45nm Technology 4,00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 333MHz (5-5-5-15) ASUSTeK Computer INC. V-P5G45 (LGA 775) W2234 (1680x1050@60Hz) 512MB GeForce 9500 GT (ASUStek Computer Inc)

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

See:

• Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile

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

See:

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

Also check the firewall.

Remove all rules for Firefox from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full unrestricted access to internet for Firefox and the plugin-container process.

See:

• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Server+not+found
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Firewalls

@cor-el Thanks for the tip, created a new profile and Firefox4 loads and works perfectly, thanks mate!!

You're welcome

I have used Firefox since it first came out, and always loved it. Firefox 4.0.1 is a different story. This must be one of the worst software upgrades across the board, of any software package I have ever used. I have stuck with it for a few weeks, and I have now finally given up.

Constant crashes, constant freezes, many plugins no longer work, my favorite among them, i.e PDF plugin to see PDF files inside the browser. AppTabs disappear over and over.

I have downgraded back to 3.6.17 and hope things will be better again.

@jscher2000 "I don't think it's so bad that ALL CAPS are required." I'm not sure you understand. Our whole internet system is ruined. Words can't describe how much of a screw-up this is. Freezes, whole thing closing down. And OUR VIRUS CHECK HAS GONE TROPPO! Every 20 minutes I'm getting updates 17 more cookies being detected. A few hours ago it was 44 cookies detected. EVERY 20 MINUTES since this "upgrade" was installed last night (24 hours ago). and dont tell me its my anti virus- i go on 3 sites religiously, only, and since your upgrade our computer is exploding with virus problems. I have a mother who is FURIOUS with me because Ive ruined the computer because of this update. I'm in trouble because of you. She's talking about getting someone out to fix this problem. Oh, and we can't afford it. Until you can provide me with a 100% way to reverse this huge mistake on mozilla's part, I'm going to jump up and down because I dont like being in trouble when its your mistake, not mine. And how dare you say to someone to not use capitals. Your mistake, we darn well want to use capitals. FIX IT! 100% assurance, nothing else of our computer ruined, just what it was 24 hours ago. Shameful.

@Zews how did you downgrade? What steps did you take exactly (if you can remember).

@west96, scroll up this page and look for "roll back".

I've been programming computers for a long time. I wrote my first network application 50 years ago. I was grad student at MIT, working on a grant from the Department of Defense, for the development of a digital communications link. It took six of us, two years to complete the project, -- a hundred pages of 8 bit assembly code. It took the DOD five additional years draft the seven thousand pages of standards, required for it's deployment and operation. Crazy, Eh?

Not really, because because our software was going to become a part of NORAD's ICBM launch control network. Therefore, it had to be 100% reliable which meant that it had to be 100% COMPATIBLE with every other part of the system. That's why the DOD needed seven thousand pages of standards. Standards are a blueprint.

If you understand what I'm saying you'll also understand that trying fix Firefox is a monumental waste of time. Foxfire, Internet Explorer, Opera, etc... none of these applications will ever function reliably because there are no enforceable standards in effect, governing user level interface and communications protocols. There is no blueprint.

There are however, a lot of people out there who call themselves programmers. They entitle themselves to this status based on the fact that they know how to arrange the words and symbols of a high level programming language in a fashion that produces a desired visual result with some level of functionality. Anybody can learn how to arrange words.

Understanding how those words affect the the overall operation of of the underlying system is another matter entirely. People who write buggy software don't know what they're doing.

Good software requires a blueprint

....... good luck

There are "standards" W3C. While no browser is 100%, many are damn close.

The world doesn't work the same as it did 50 years ago. And isn't it those "perfect" 100% reliable government programmers who were working with "standards" who almost left a man out in space in the late 60's?

If you want to put the buttons back to the old arrangement, you can do that. I was not happy with the new position of the reload and home buttons, so I moved them. I did not want the tabs on top, so I unchecked that option. I do not mind the loss of the status bar because I still get the same information that I got on the status bar, and the add-ons bar works fine. With a Mac, I did not get the hassle of the menu bar being missing, since that is not controlled by the application. It is possible to put back the menu bar with Windows Firefox, though. I like the new bookmarks menu on the bookmark toolbar because it is themed by Firefox rather than by Mac OS. It is also more configurable because it is controlled by Firefox.

I think that the default theme is downright ugly, so I use themes to improve the appearance of the Firefox interface.