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Clean install of windows 7 and firefox 4, java script not working on various websites

  • 13 replies
  • 15 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by John99

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From a clean install of windows 7 and firefox 4 there is a problem with java script, so far noticed it on bbc iplayer (videos wont play) and ebay (pop up menu options on pages like 'my ebay summary' just dont pop up), all working fine in internet explorer? tried safe mode, tried with and without flash and java runtime, tried clearing everying, tried loading internet explorer settings... JUST WONT WORK!?

From a clean install of windows 7 and firefox 4 there is a problem with java script, so far noticed it on bbc iplayer (videos wont play) and ebay (pop up menu options on pages like 'my ebay summary' just dont pop up), all working fine in internet explorer? tried safe mode, tried with and without flash and java runtime, tried clearing everying, tried loading internet explorer settings... JUST WONT WORK!?

Chosen solution

Do you have security software with enhanced settings that may block JavaScript in Firefox?


Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See:

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile (be careful not to copy corrupted files)

See:

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All Replies (13)

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Turn it on in your options. Note it is also possible other things are causing the problem, such as security software blocking scripts.

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Though i know your intentions were good you couldnt of given me a more infuriating answer! That is the answer everyone has said across the web on the various sites i have read trying to fix this before leaving a message here and the short answer to that is... ITS ON BY DEFAULT! I dont have any security software installed, it is a clean install, i have tried disabling windows firewall also and still the same, i have read a LOT of people having the same problem out there and no one has the answer, though it doesnt seem to be affecting people using windows XP?

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Sorry!

I often suggest trying the simplest shortest solutions first.

  • Is it only on certain websites that you have problems ?
    • if so can you list a few that have working javascript
    • what about the BBC diagnostics what exactly happens with that do yo get error messages?
    • and the simple test on this tutorial site ?
  • Javascript may be on by default,
    • but is it fully enabled on all sites ?
    • or have you got exceptions set?
    • Look at page info window and use that to examine the permissions and media for problem pages, are you seeing anything being blocked

You may have multiple problems, but just considering javascript at present, and for now will ignore the potentially misleading js error console.

I may not be on the forum for much over the rest of the week, but the above info should also help anyone else looking at your problems. Good luck.


As you have no security software installed you may well have a malware problem, I hope you are exceptionally lucky, or prepared for a strategy of bare metal system restores with redundant data backup - but that would have given you a strategy for curing the current problems.

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Thanks for the quick response and sorry if I was a little short before but this is seriously frustrating! Like I said originally it is a CLEAN install of windows 7, freshly done today and as I can't stand Internet explorer especially 9 the first thing I installed after all the drivers was firefox and the first thing I tried with it was iplayer as I had this problem previously on my netbook which eventually partially sorted it's self out after upgrading from ff 3.6 to 4, iplayer worked, ebays pop up menus still didn't!? This time round nothing works and am now not going to stop until I get to the bottom of it lol! It might not be java script it's self but on iplayer I get the generic it's not enabled message and on eBay the menus just don't appear, also Facebook has been glitchy at times but I always just put that down to it's weekly crappy UI updates

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Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.

"Clear the Cache":

  • Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"

"Remove the Cookies" from sites causing problems:

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

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erm again thanks cor-el but as i stated in my first post ive tried all that already! Interesting turn of events though is now im home iplayer is working over wifi but still wont work over 3G?! still get the generic java script message over 3G BUT still dont get get pop up menus on ebays over wifi??

A little more about my systems:

home PC - windows 7 ultimate 32bit, firefox 4 (upgraded from vista and firefox probably upgraded from 2.x) all working fine!

netbook - windows 7 pro 32bit, firefox 4 (upgraded from the last version of 3.x), iplayer works from wifi AND 3G but ebay pop up menus dont at all

laptop - windows 7 pro 64bit, firefox 4 (both clean installs) iplayer works form wifi but NOT 3G and no ebay pop menus

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@ john99

the BBC diag show im good for playing TV, the test show the results as they should be and i compared the page info to my working PC at home and its identical :/

really cant work it out, everything works fine in IE! :@

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Chosen Solution

Do you have security software with enhanced settings that may block JavaScript in Firefox?


Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See:

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile (be careful not to copy corrupted files)

See:

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@cor-el

That's ridiculous! ...so ridiculous that it actually worked!?

The only thing I can think of is theres a bug in the installer that under some configuations installs a corrupt profile? I mean seriously everything was BRAND NEW on the system!? And from searching around online I'm not the only person out there that's experienced it!

But indeed thanks for the solution! I can now SSD and 64bit my home PC without having to worry about it happening AGAIN! :)

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You're welcome


Which part of my above post worked?

The security software or the new profile?

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Creating a new profile, makes no sense to me at ALL but yep worked and just to confirm it was that i just did the same on my netbook and i have ebay menus again on that to :)

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Thanks for posting back.

Sounds that something got mixed up in your original profile.

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Glad you got it sorted,

Firefox does make great efforts to retain settings even on what you consider a clean install, it keeps not only your bookmarks and passwords but other settings, the down side is sometimes things are not perfect. If you are saying you had a totally clean install, with no previous Firefox then it does seem decidedly unusual, especially if it happened on two new PCs ? Pointless conjecture really if the problems is fixed, but I wonder if they had bundles of free software and whether that could have had copies of Firefox included.

The make a new profile trick is now relegated to step #8 of the official basic troubleshooting, but it remains a powerful troubleshooting step once you realise how easy it is to do.

As for some modern Security software, under the skin the settings and preferences can be very complex, even if a lot of it is set almost by default with occasional mouse clicks or more likely accepting recommendations by not clicking.