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Can't get cache to clear

I moved my website to another hosting provider. After dns propagation time I was able to ping the domain and have the correct ip address return. I also did a traceroute and it successfully routed to the new hosting. However, no matter what I do I can't get the browser to point to the new site. I've cleared the cache. I've reset my router. I've flushed dns. Everything I do on the computer related to that website work fine but in firefox I can't get it to point to the new hosting on that domain. I did the "forward this website" option in the browsing history and that didn't help either. Other browsers in the same computer also see the new site fine. Any help is appreciated.

I moved my website to another hosting provider. After dns propagation time I was able to ping the domain and have the correct ip address return. I also did a traceroute and it successfully routed to the new hosting. However, no matter what I do I can't get the browser to point to the new site. I've cleared the cache. I've reset my router. I've flushed dns. Everything I do on the computer related to that website work fine but in firefox I can't get it to point to the new hosting on that domain. I did the "forward this website" option in the browsing history and that didn't help either. Other browsers in the same computer also see the new site fine. Any help is appreciated.

All Replies (3)

Could you check that Firefox uses the DNS provided by Windows and doesn't have a different setting?

"3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced > Network mini-tab > "Settings" button

The default of "Use system proxy settings" should piggyback on the IE "LAN" settings, but you also can try "No proxy" to see whether that works any better.


If that looks normal, could you test in Firefox's Safe Mode? That's a standard diagnostic tool to deactivate extensions and some advanced features of Firefox. More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

If Firefox is not running: Hold down the Shift key when starting Firefox.

If Firefox is running: You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

Both scenarios: A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

Any difference?

Tried all of those just now. Unfortunately, no difference.

Unfortunately, I don't think Firefox 38 reveals the IP address of the site it is visiting, so I'm not aware of a way to check whether Firefox is still hitting the old server without an external tool. Of course, if Firefox is NOT sending requests to that server, it's hard to explain the source of the content... and if Firefox IS using that server, it's hard to explain why, since DNS results generally are cached for a short period of time.

Could you do this three-minute experiment:

Create a new Firefox profile

A new profile will have your system-installed plugins (e.g., Flash) and extensions (e.g., security suite toolbars), but no themes, other extensions, or other customizations. It also should have completely fresh settings databases and a fresh cache folder.

Exit Firefox and start up in the Profile Manager using Start > search box (or Run):

firefox.exe -P

Don't delete anything here!

Any time you want to switch profiles, exit Firefox and return to this dialog.

Click the Create Profile button, assign a name like TEST061115, and skip the option to relocate the profile folder. After creating the profile, select it and start Firefox in that profile.

Any difference?

When returning to the Profile Manager, you might be tempted to use the Delete Profile button. But... it's a bit too easy to accidentally delete your "real" profile, so I recommend resisting the temptation. If you do want to clean up later, I suggest making a backup of all your profiles first in case something were to go wrong.