Ubuntu

Firefox Will Not Load Most Pages

Asked by Lawrence H. Bulk

Computer: Acer Extensa 5620-6419, Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T5550 [1.83 GHz, 667 MHz FSB, 2 MB L2 Cache], Up to 358 MB Mobile Intel Graphics, Media Accelerator X3100, 3 GB DDR2, 160 GB HDD, DVD-Super Multi DL, 802.11a/b/g WLAN.

Internet services: Verizon DSL (Wireless) or EarthLink Dial-up (through a Wi-flyer wireless router - this handles dial-up internet accounts).

Everything on the computer is functioning normally and I have made no modifications whatsoever with the exception of wiping Windows Vista entirely and replacing it with Ubuntu Linux. That was in June 2008 and the first Ubuntu version I used was 'Hardy.' The wireless routers are also functioning normally.

I had few troubles with 8.04, 8.10, or 9.04.

The following problem has now happened three times and, as it makes absolutely no sense to me, I cannot understand it:

The first day I install 'Karmic,' everything - EVERYTHING - works perfectly. No matter how many times I effect a restart or a complete shutdown, leaving the computer off for an hour or so, and then start it up again, everything works perfectly.

That's the first day (the day of installation).

On the NEXT day, everything works correctly EXCEPT Firefox [3.5.4] WILL NOT load MOST pages. Obviously it has loaded this one - I'm typing this from my computer with 'Karmic' installed; it will also load up most Ubuntu pages - but almost nothing else. For example, < http://www.refdesk.com > will not load; <http://www.amazon.com > will only partially load (after about ten minutes!), and others are the same. Either they don't load at all or they only partially load. (I can't even connect to < http://www.google.com > not even to mention my Gmail!)

The above is with my Verizon wireless DSL.

Now you would say (and I did) that the problem is with Verizon - but no; I also own an Asus EeePC 1000/Linux (uses the modified Xandros OS) and it too is running Firefox 3.5.4 - and every page loads up perfectly! (Obviously both Verizon and my wireless DSL router are also functioning normally.)

So now you might say (and I did) that the problem is with Firefox - but no; when I connect to the internet through EarthLink dial-up (via the Wi-flyer), all desired pages load up perfectly on Firefox (although agonizingly slowly - it is dial-up, after all).

I repeat - every piece of hardware seems to be operating normally and, on the first day I install 'Karmic,' everything is just fine.

But on the second day --- well, that's why I'm here!

And this has happened to me three times now. I first effected a network update from 'Jaunty' and, the first day, everything worked. After Firefox would not load MOST pages on the second day, I 'wiped' the computer with DBAN and reinstalled 'Karmic' from my previously downloaded disc.

I've now done the 'wipe' and reinstall twice, each time with the same result.

I cannot understand how I can be connected to the internet (I have a couple of internet radio stations' URLs stored in my Music folder (for example, one which I have labeled Classic FM UK.m3u which calls up SMPlayer and another labeled WQXR 105.9 MHz.scpls which calls up VLC) and these continue to work perfectly!

Obviously, I am DEFINITELY connected to the internet!

How can I be connected to the internet using 'Karmic' Verizon wireless DSL and yet not have Firefox load pages?

Before I totally 'wipe' my computer again (and reinstall 9.04 'Jaunty') can ANYONE help me? Please? Is this happening to ANYBODY else?

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actionparsnip
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

try renaming ~/.mozilla and rerunning the browser

also try a different browser

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Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#2

I tried both Epiphany and SeaMonkey; neither would load ANY pages.

I do not know how to rename ~/.mozilla and then rerunning the browser. What would that do and why would it help?

Please note that I am a little leery - I tried a "solution" that I found online and, not only did that not fix my problem, it completely froze my computer (that's why I did my second 'wipe' and reinstall).

I just do not understand how I can be positively connected to the internet when I'm usind Verizon DSL Wireless (those internet radio stations I mentioned play just fine) yet Firefox won't load pages. (I'm using Verizon DSL wireless and I'm now using my Asus EeePC/Linux and am having no problem at all; I'm using the same version [3.5.4] of Firefox on this one as I am on my Acer.)

Buit when I use the Wi-flyer, the wireless router which connects to my EarthLink dial-up account, Firefox works just fine (though, as I said, slowly - because of the dial-up account).

And this Firefox/Wireless DSL anomaly does/did not happen at all on the FIRST day of installation (with any of my installs, network upgrade or clean install); I was able to load any page I wanted and I was 'on' the computer practically the whole day; I even shut it off and, later, turned it back on and had absolutely no problems with anything, including Firefox. But on this SECOND day ...

Yet everything else works perfectly! And, I repeat, I am POSITIVELY connected to the internet via Verizon Wireless DSL. I'm sorry to keep repeating myself but I'm trying to write this so you and others can appreciate just what is happening to my computer. What good is 'Karmic' to me, as beautiful and as fast as it is (and I really like it!), if I can't even get my (web-based) e-mail? And why is this problem only beginning on the second day?

There has got to be some definite answer!

Revision history for this message
Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

mv ~/.mozilla ~/.mozilla_old

Then rerun the browser

Revision history for this message
Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#4

Okay, I just did that. I now have a fresh Mozilla Firefox - but it still won't connect to < http://www.google.com >. With the clean Mozilla installation, it did load "Welcome to Firefox" but it would not load the second tab trying to load < http://www.mozilla.org >.

I shut down the computer completely and then, after a minute, I started it up again and I reran your terminal instruction.

STILL no go.

Thanks for trying; I hope that you or someone else has a definite answer.

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wojox (wojox) said : 		#5

1. Type about:config in the address bar, press Enter.
2. Find network.dns.disableIPv6 in the list.
3. Right-click -> Toggle. Set to true
4. Restart your Mozilla application and try again.

Revision history for this message
Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#6

I turned off the computer and left it off for a few hours. I then turned it back on because I at least wanted to try copying a CD to see if that worked correctly (it did).

I then decided to try Firefox again (the "brand-new" one I got when I followed "Actionparsnip's" instructions - and this time it connected just fine!

I cannot understand this. I reconfigured Firefox to my tastes and I imported my Bookmarks (from a saved file).

I reentered my desired extensions, this time from their home pages. Two of the extensions would not load from their sites: ColorfulTabs and DictionarySearch. So I ignored these. I also did not install Adblock Plus Element Hiding Helper. (The two former ones would install when I searched for them within the addons extensions. That's how I had installed them with my original Firefox installation.)

I don't believe, however, that these extensions could have had anything to do with my problem; when I signed on with my wireless Wi-flyer (which connects to EarthLink dial-up service via my telephone line) Firefox worked perfectly. But it would not when connected wirelessly to my Verizon DSL wireless router.

But I left them off anyway just to see what will happen.

It certainly doesn't explain why neither Epiphany nor SeaMonkey would connect. Neither of them had any extensions installed.

Firefox is continuing to work satisfactorily just now. But I'll know more tomorrow morning!

Thanks for all help.

Revision history for this message
Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#7

To Wojox:

Should the same problem with Firefox recur tomorrow (the problem only seems to happen on the second day!), I'll try your solution.

I did look and I found that "network.dns.disableIPv6" in the list and it is indeed set to False. Please tell me what changing that will do - and please tell me if it will, in any way, freeze or set my computer so that I can't change it back if it doesn't help (that's what happened with a "solution" I read somewhere on the web).

Thank you for your suggestion. Frankly, I hope I don't have to use it - but I will if I have the same problem tomorrow.

And an especial thanks to Actionparsnip for sending me the method of setting up a completely new Firefox. That worked perfectly even if, at first, it didn't solve the problem - but maybe it actually has. Maybe my computer just needed a rest period!

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Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#8

To Actionparsnip and Wojox:

As I said, last night Firefox was running like a champ. I shut down the computer (completely) several times and, when I started it up again, everything, including Firefox, was operating normally.

This morning, I turned on the computer and - nothing! with Firefox.

This is the strangest thing I've ever seen on ANY computer, regardless of the operating system.

So first, again, I followed your instructions, Actionparsnip. I ran the terminal instruction and, immediately after, and without trying Firefox, I shut down the computer.

When I restarted it, there was a "brand-new" Firefox - but it still would not load any pages (including Ubuntu pages today even though yesterday, when I was having the problem, it WOULD load them!)

So I then tried your suggestion Wojox - and Firefox immediately loaded up pages. It seems to be working perfectly now. Of course, I wonder what will happen tomorrow morning!

I hope this is the solution to the problem, though I can't understand why a Firefox "default" would cause this problem when it had never done so before. Nor can I understand why Firefox was working perfectly last night even though I had NOT changed the network.dns.disableiPv6 to True.

As I said, this is STRANGE but at least I know now how to "fix" the problem should it recur. (I hope I don't have to do this every day!)

Thanks again VERY much to both of you for helping me. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your consideration and concern.

Lawrence

P.S. I really love these forums; with only one exception, I have never failed to receive solutions to any problems or concerns I may have had in using Ubuntu.

Revision history for this message
Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#9

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#10

To Wojox:

Unfortunately this forum will allow me to thank only one person but I want you to know that I think that it was your answer that helped the most and I'm sorry (I didn't know) that I can only "officially" thank only one person.

Thank you VERY MUCH for your help.

Lawrence