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Homepage/Address-bar search will not save

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by rundmb

rundmb
rundmb
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Hi Folks!

I've been trying to change both my homepage and my address-bar search to SmartPage, but whenever I restart Firefox, the settings won't save and I'm back to my old homepage. I've tried multiple strategies:

1) I first tried setting the homepage under "Options" , but the homepage wouldn't save.

2) I then tried changing under "about:config" and changing both the "browser.startup.homepage" and "keyword.url" lines. The changes worked for that session, but restarting Firefox would revert the lines back to their old settings

3) I then tried directly editing the "browser.startup.homepage" & "keyword.url" lines from the prefs.js file and saving. Once Firefox closed, however, the prefs.js file would revert back.

4) I then tried to edit the prefs.js file with the new settings, save it to my desktop, and after Firefox closed, replace the prefs.js file in the Mozilla folder with the one on the desktop. The weird thing was that when I copy & pasted the desktop prefs.js file into the Mozilla folder and then opened it, the file had been re-written to the old settings, even though the file on the desktop still had the new settings.

Does anyone know how to fix this?

Hi Folks! I've been trying to change both my homepage and my address-bar search to SmartPage, but whenever I restart Firefox, the settings won't save and I'm back to my old homepage. I've tried multiple strategies: 1) I first tried setting the homepage under "Options" , but the homepage wouldn't save. 2) I then tried changing under "about:config" and changing both the "browser.startup.homepage" and "keyword.url" lines. The changes worked for that session, but restarting Firefox would revert the lines back to their old settings 3) I then tried directly editing the "browser.startup.homepage" & "keyword.url" lines from the prefs.js file and saving. Once Firefox closed, however, the prefs.js file would revert back. 4) I then tried to edit the prefs.js file with the new settings, save it to my desktop, and after Firefox closed, replace the prefs.js file in the Mozilla folder with the one on the desktop. The weird thing was that when I copy & pasted the desktop prefs.js file into the Mozilla folder and then opened it, the file had been re-written to the old settings, even though the file on the desktop still had the new settings. Does anyone know how to fix this?

Chosen solution

Further to cor-el's last post, check the settings for the "Advanced SystemCare Surfing Protection" extension. You can open the Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Look for an Options button to configure what it does, or Disable it.

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All Replies (5)

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Note that your System Details List shows that you have a user.js file in the profile folder to initialize some prefs on each start of Firefox.

The user.js file is only present if you or other software has created it, so normally it wouldn't be there. you can check its content with a plain text editor if you didn't create this file yourself.

The user.js file is read each time you start Firefox and initializes preferences to the value specified in this file, so preferences set via user.js can only be changed temporarily for the current session.

You can rename or delete the prefs.js file and possible numbered prefs-##.js and user.js files to reset all prefs to the default value.

rundmb
rundmb Question owner
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I deleted user.js file & prefs.js file and set the new homepage, which retained so long as my computer was still on. However when I'd shutdown and restart, Firefox would load the old homepage again (user.js was still deleted, but another prefs.js had repopulated).

I remembered that the old homepage was a setting I had imported from Chrome. Could that be an influence?

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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What changes were made in the "new" prefs.js file and what is its date/time stamp (i.e. is is a new file or an older backup)?

Sounds that you do have software that protects this file against changes.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Further to cor-el's last post, check the settings for the "Advanced SystemCare Surfing Protection" extension. You can open the Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons

In the left column, click Extensions. Look for an Options button to configure what it does, or Disable it.

rundmb
rundmb Question owner
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jscher2000, you called it! Turns out it was Advanced SystemCare that was blocking the changes. When I updated it and attempted to change the homepage again, a pop-up came up asking to allow the change. I allowed it and have been good ever since. Thanks for both your help!