Sorry, by classic home page, do you mean this one?

http://www.google.com/firefox?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official

Does it make any differences whether you are logged in to a Google/Gmail account when you try the search box?

If that is a problem on the default about:home Home page then try this:

Reset the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone pref via the right-click context menu to the default on the about:config page and close and restart Firefox to restore the about:home page to its default.

• Open the about:config page via the location bar
• Type in the Filter bar: mstone
• Right-click the browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone line and select: Reset
• Close and restart Firefox

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

If that didn't help then delete the delete the chromeappsstore.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder and repeat the above.

You can use this button to go to the Firefox profile folder:

• Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Open Containing Folder

This solution seems too complicated. Is there an easier way? What about using my old homepage? wwe.google.com/firefox?client=firefox-acrls=org.mozilla:en-us:official

This is the one that is supposed to be "outdated," but it still works.

I had a "typo." It is supposed to say........

www.google.com/firefox?client=firefox-acrls=org.mozilla:en-us:official

If you don't miss any features of the about:home home page, why not just use the main Google page at http://www.google.com/ ?

This is the one that I am having trouble with. I was using it for a long time as my home page, and now, when I type a name in the "search box".......nothing happens.

I'm not sure why the main page wouldn't work but the google.com/firefox page does work. ??

When you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.

1. Clear Firefox's Cache

orange Firefox button or Tools menu > Options > Advanced

On the Network mini-tab > Offline Storage : "Clear Now"

2. If needed, delete the site's cookies here

While viewing a page on the site, right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"

Then try reloading the page. Does that help?

I think it finally worked! One more question.......what is wrong with using the old Homepage that is supposed to be outdated? Aren't people supposed to use it anymore?

The old page works, it just has a static message about upgrading meant to be viewed by users of Firefox 3.6. Anyone who has upgraded still sees that message every time they go to the page. People complain here about it regularly...

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

"Clear the Cache":

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

"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:

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

Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
You need to scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php - Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• http://www.superantispyware.com/ - SuperAntispyware
• http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx - Microsoft Safety Scanner
• http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx - Windows Defender: Home Page
• http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html - Spybot Search & Destroy

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

• http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked