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.

Have Firefox & Bing and when I open Firefox I get Ref A and string of characters; then when I get to Bing, no toolbar with bookmarks, etc or way to access mail.

  • 2 replies
  • 5 have this problem
  • 128 views
  • Last reply by carolynhs

carolynhs
carolynhs
more options

I made Bing my browser and it was working fine until today. When I open Firefox I get a message Ref A: and then a long string of characters. I click on the home icon and the string changes. After doing this several times I get the Bing search page. I do not get the Firefox start page with the tool bar that has my book marks, history etc. I cannot clear the cache if I cannot not get the history tab. If I go the the mozilla firefox program folder and open it, there is a tool bar but cannot clear recent history, etc. there. I do not have an administrator & password on my home desk top; it is just me. I tried to follow your suggestions, but they do not apply to my situation. I really don't know if this is a firefox or bing problem. I used google before bing and had no problems; just wanted to try bing.

I made Bing my browser and it was working fine until today. When I open Firefox I get a message Ref A: and then a long string of characters. I click on the home icon and the string changes. After doing this several times I get the Bing search page. I do not get the Firefox start page with the tool bar that has my book marks, history etc. I cannot clear the cache if I cannot not get the history tab. If I go the the mozilla firefox program folder and open it, there is a tool bar but cannot clear recent history, etc. there. I do not have an administrator & password on my home desk top; it is just me. I tried to follow your suggestions, but they do not apply to my situation. I really don't know if this is a firefox or bing problem. I used google before bing and had no problems; just wanted to try bing.

Chosen solution

Can you attach a screenshot?

Use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot.

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).

  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window or otherwise make changes.
Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

Can you attach a screenshot?

Use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot.

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).

  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window or otherwise make changes.
carolynhs
carolynhs Question owner
more options

I realized that I had my screen on full screen and that is why I could not see my tool bar. I did the clear history, etc. and think that it is now okay. Thanks for the reply. I don't know why I was getting the Ref A: etc., but must have been something with the history.