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Why is Firefox unresponsive with some links in sites even with Add-ons disabled

  • 7 replies
  • 7 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by Ed

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Firefox is unresponsive with some links in some sites. I've tried disabling all add-ons, resetting Firefox, and uninstalling /reinstalling it all to no avail. Everything works fine with IE, and I find myself using IE more often despite my Firefox preference. I have the latest version. Additionally, when a link does work, it sometimes opens to a blank page. Again, this does not happen with IE.

Firefox is unresponsive with some links in some sites. I've tried disabling all add-ons, resetting Firefox, and uninstalling /reinstalling it all to no avail. Everything works fine with IE, and I find myself using IE more often despite my Firefox preference. I have the latest version. Additionally, when a link does work, it sometimes opens to a blank page. Again, this does not happen with IE.

All Replies (7)

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Could your provide the website URL.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).

To Enable SafeMode

  • You can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or 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 it works in Safe Mode and in normal mode with all extensions (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) disabled then try to find which extension is causing it by enabling one extension at a time until the problem reappears.

Close and restart Firefox after each change via "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: "Firefox > Quit Firefox"; Linux: "Firefox/File > Quit")

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This happens with some links within a page at many sites, so a URL would not be helpful. There is usually at least one link that will not work be it a picture, graphic, or print. I also tried disabling ALL extensions and still had a problem.

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Disable your Firewall and Antivirus and check it out...

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Jay, Thanks for the suggestions, at the same time, I'm not going to do that. If it is my firewall or antivirus, I would not disable either due to the obvious. I'll just use IE. Firefox is fantastic but there appears to be a time consuming issue every time there is an update. I love the browser and regret having to give it up. Thanks again.

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You can try to right-click a not working link and choose Inspect Element to see what gets selected.


If you have made changes to Advanced font settings like increasing the minimum font size then try the default setting "none" in case the current setting is causing problems.

  • Tools > Options > Content : Fonts & Colors > Advanced > Minimum Font Size (none)

Make sure that you allow websites to choose their fonts.

  • Tools > Options > Content : Fonts & Colors > Advanced: [X] "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above"

It is better not to increase the minimum font size, but to use an extension to set the default page zoom to prevent issues with text not being displayed properly.

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Advance font setting are where you instructed. This is not the problem. As far as the Inspect Element is concerned, I do not have a clue as what this does, what the codes mean, or how to alter these codes to fix the problem. The last time I tried to alter a code of any sort, my computer had to be serviced by a friend. Is there a simple fix because I am not very computer literate and do not want to spend hours on this? Thanks, cor-el. Normally, you have quick fixes that actually work.

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Cor-el BTW, that nosquint add-on is fantastic. I wish Firefox would get these 'bugs' out so that I do not get an issue each time I upgrade Firefox. Thanks.