Join the AMA (Ask Me Anything) with the Firefox leadership team to celebrate Firefox 20th anniversary and discuss Firefox’s future on Mozilla Connect. Mark your calendar on Thursday, November 14, 18:00 - 20:00 UTC!

This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Avatar for Username

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

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Can't access google.com since automatic update to v3.6.16?

  • 3 replies
  • 14 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by Xircal

ctlafler
ctlafler
more options

On 4/3 Firefox automatically installed the update to v3.6.16. Since then, I have been unable to access google.com.

I can get to news.google.com, but not google or gmail. Any attempt brings up the standard "Problem Loading Page / Connection has timed out." message.

Any page that loads a widget from google ends up with a blank spot or a small "Connection has timed out" error message where the app/item should be.

Every other site I've tried loads fine. (findagrave; city, county & state sites, job search sites, facebook, linkedin, etc.)

I've tried (progressively) clearing cookies, clearing cache, restarted FF, rebooted the computer - no change.

Google sites I CAN access: news.google.com translate.google.com maps.google.com blogsearch.google.com scholar.google.com (see the pattern?)

Google sites I can NOT access: google.com gmail.com anything with an address like www.google.com/_____

On 4/3 Firefox automatically installed the update to v3.6.16. Since then, I have been unable to access google.com. I can get to news.google.com, but not google or gmail. Any attempt brings up the standard "Problem Loading Page / Connection has timed out." message. Any page that loads a widget from google ends up with a blank spot or a small "Connection has timed out" error message where the app/item should be. Every other site I've tried loads fine. (findagrave; city, county & state sites, job search sites, facebook, linkedin, etc.) I've tried (progressively) clearing cookies, clearing cache, restarted FF, rebooted the computer - no change. Google sites I CAN access: news.google.com translate.google.com maps.google.com blogsearch.google.com scholar.google.com (see the pattern?) Google sites I can NOT access: google.com gmail.com anything with an address like www.google.com/_____

All Replies (3)

Xircal
Xircal
more options

Try running Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode. If it works correctly in that configuration, then one of your add-ons is the culprit.

If running in Safe Mode doesn't fix the problem, do this:

  1. In the location bar, type: about:config and hit Enter
  2. type: keyword.URL in the filter at the top
  3. Double click the entry and remove whatever's in there. It will change to "Default" and "String".
  4. Close Firefox via File | Exit and then restart it again.

When you type anything in the location bar afterwards, it will search automatically with Google (dot)com

ctlafler
ctlafler Question owner
more options

Forgot to give an update to my original post.

Several days ago, after removing some plug-ins, several reboots, and resetting the cable modem and router a few times with no luck, I tried something that shouldn't have been necessary: went to the command prompt for a round of

ipconfig -release ipconsig -renew

Returned to firefox, and google.com links worked again.

Still no idea what happened, or why, but it's working.

Xircal
Xircal
more options

Well, I'm glad to hear you're up and running again anyway.