Firefox always opens with firstrun page
A few weeks ago I have reinstalled both my desktop and laptop with fresh copy Windows 10. Both devices had been running Windows 10 for over a year but as an upgrade of Windows 8.1.
After the clean W10 install I reinstalled Firefox 50.1.0 on both devices and on my desktop it runs without a problem with all my extensions and addons. But on my laptop though Firefox keeps starting with the 'firstrun' page after each reboot, thereby losing most of my settings and extensions etc. etc..
I have tried: - reinstalling FF - uninstalling and (manually) removing all leftover FF folders and registry settings - copied all the settings from my desktop FF to the laptop FF folders. - Made a new local user account (with local admin rights) and tried all of the above again but to no avail,
It is driving me nuts, before the W10 reinstall FF ran fine on the laptop with W10.
Anyone have the golden tip for me how to solve this? I really do not want to switch to Chrome or Opera.
Kind regards, Edwin
All Replies (6)
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save
Note: Some software, like Advanced SystemCare with Surfing Protection, can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.
You can check the home page setting.
- Options/Preferences -> General -> Startup: Home page
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page
Firefox supports multiple home pages separated by '|' (pipe) symbols.
cor-el said
You can check the home page setting.Firefox supports multiple home pages separated by '|' (pipe) symbols.
- Options/Preferences -> General -> Startup: Home page
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page
Already tried setting a different homepage, was one of the answers I found with Google. Sadly that doesn't solve the issue.
You can check for problems with preferences.
Delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases.
You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder - http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
You can check the target line in the Firefox desktop shortcut (right-click: Properties) to make sure nothing is appended after the path to the Firefox program.
FredMcD said
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save Note: Some software, like Advanced SystemCare with Surfing Protection, can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.
Tried the refresh option, didn't solve it eiher. After reboot FF displays the firstrun page again as if I just installed it. The .js file was no longer present after the refresh option so that does not seem to be the cause either.
I have AVG Zen running on the laptop, but that was also installed before the re-installation. As a test I disabled AVG, rebooted... same issue, I get greeted by the 'Almost done!' page and the 'Most visited' bookmark is back again. :-(
It isn't that FF doesn't save the settings and add-ons/extensions, it just disables them while starting after a reboot. I can enable them from the add-ons menu.
So infuriating as FF runs flawlessly on my desktop.
Edwin
cor-el said
You can check for problems with preferences. Delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases. You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:You can check the target line in the Firefox desktop shortcut (right-click: Properties) to make sure nothing is appended after the path to the Firefox program.
- Help -> Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Directory:
Windows: Show Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder- http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
The prefs.js file had already been renewed then I tried the 'Refresh' option suggested by FredMcD. Just for the heck of it I deleted it manually and when I start FF I get the 'Almost done!' page and the 'Most visited' bookmark were back. Delete the bookmark and close the almost done tab. Close FF, start it again and they are both still gone. So far nothing new under the sun, as long as i don't reboot FF seems to remember the settings. Reboot the laptop..... lo and behold the tab and bookmark are back again. :-(
Checked the shortcut on my desktop, no weird extra's present in the path. As I expected as the issue only appears after a reboot and not during closing and opening of FF in the same session.
Scratches his head......
Edwin