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Firefox won't retain my specified homepages (2) since update 7-30-13. Reverts to Google default. Troubleshooting and reinstall do not fix. Help.

  • 10 cavab
  • 4 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by ThorXavier

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If I set homepages in options, then close the browser, it automatically reverts to the default Mozilla Google homepage. When I check in options, the homepages I put in are gone. I have utilized Troubleshooting and completed a reinstall to no avail. I am at a loss. Please help.

If I set homepages in options, then close the browser, it automatically reverts to the default Mozilla Google homepage. When I check in options, the homepages I put in are gone. I have utilized Troubleshooting and completed a reinstall to no avail. I am at a loss. Please help.

All Replies (10)

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You may have a user.js file, see the link below to delete it.

If that doesnt work, you can try to reset firefox.

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You can try to manually changing it by following the steps below:

  1. Open about:config in you Firefox browser
  2. Find browser.startup.homepage
  3. Change its value to the URL of your desired homepage
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I did not have a user file but only had a pref file. I have reset Firefox multiple times with same results - it defaults back to the default homepage of "Mozilla Firefox Start Page."

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Tried manually changing it...again same result. Here is what I see in the config lines:

browser.startup.homepage
browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID
browser.startup.homepage_override.msstone
browser.startup.page

I welcome any other suggestions.

Modified by cor-el

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Sorry...each "Browser" is the start of a command line.

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Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.

(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)

  • Open the Help menu and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.

Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode"

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension.

To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

Please report back with the result.

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Switched to "Safe Mode" and changed the homepage in options...same result. If i change the homepage and then, without closing Firefox, click on the home icon, it works and loads the homepage I specified in the options. Once I close Firefox however, it automatically switches back to the default Mozilla Google homepage. I am to the point of just going back to Internet Explorer with my tail dragging.

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Does Firefox save other pref settings in the prefs.js file (this file only stores prefs that have been changed i.e. show as user set)?

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

Boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.

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I FOUND THE PROBLEM!!! The issue was that I simply had malware that was hijacking my homepage(s). After running malware removal, the issue was resolved. Thanks everyone for the suggestions and ideas. It did not act like malware and when I ran it in safe mode, it still did the exact same thing. The key malware was the Delta Search and I didn't even know I had it. And I had another one or two as well. Woo-hoo...glad to have that behind me. I hope this helps others who are having the issue. Thanks again everyone!!

Modified by ThorXavier