Javascript not apparently working in Firefox 3.6

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JavaScript not apparently working in Firefox 3.6.3, Windows 7 Pro. Many sites have a printer-friendly button, which uses it to clean up the clutter. It’s not working for some reason.
I’ve checked the FF options & it is enabled. I’ve even checked the About:config & reset several defaults, all to no avail. Works find in other computers. I don’t think Windows 7 is the problem, because it has worked previously. I have clicked on the button, & nothing happens.

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Many sites have a printer-friendly button, which uses it to clean up the clutter. It’s not working for some reason.

Do you think this is a site-specific problem, or does it affect all scripts on all sites? For example, this page uses JavaScript to place slide show controls over the lower right of the frame containing VGA-sized images. If scripts are disabled, you won’t see the five little white buttons: Maui Photos: A Few Days in Ka’anapali 2007.

To diagnose problems with add-ons or settings in your profile, you can try Firefox’s safe mode, or creating a blank new profile in Firefox. On SuMo: Safe Mode (be careful not to “reset” anything permanently), Managing profiles.

If it turns out to be site-specific, you could check the Error Console to see whether Firefox is choking on the particular script. Open Tools > Error Console, click the Clear button, then try the page or feature that generates the problem and see whether there are any “errors” (there often are lots of “warnings” that you can ignore for now).

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If it’s only some sites and not others, I’d have you consider how recently you updated Java or JRE on your computer. The current version is JRE 6 or Java SE 6, Update 20. Some sites have not yet updated to be compatible with Update 20, or even the recent Update 19. Give them a week or so, and things may clear up. In any event, for security reasons, your Java should be Update 20 on your computer. Also double-check that Javascript is enabled in Firefox, and that the No Script add on is not an issue.

-- rc primak

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If it’s only some sites and not others, I’d have you consider how recently you updated Java or JRE on your computer.

He thinks the problem is Javascript – this is not the same as Java.

Paul: Have you verified the problem using Firefox “safe” mode (to eliminate extension/theme interference)?

A specific example (or two) which do not require a login would be helpful ..

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It’s back to not-working, this time, just blinks at me. It is not site-specific, I have tried tricks with the security system (Zonealarm, Symantec EndPoint Antivirus, Windows 7 Firewall, etc.) I have tried tricks with the Firefox installation, adding new profiles, etc. On the same system, with all security enabled, it works in IE8, so it’s not the level of JavaScript installed (I have that monitored with the Secunia PSI). This definitely points to Firefox…I have posted on the Firefox forums, but the only question was “Do I have the NoScript extension installed—which I do not).

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Problem was fixed by completely blowing away Firefox & all profiles (I believe it was some corruption in all of them), then reinstalling FF & all extensions using an Infolister profile to know what extensions it needed. I used Revouninstaller for the “blow away” task, which deleted registry entries & local storage including the profile. I had to do some about:config work to customize the search to always open in new tab (I don’t know why it is not the default).

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Problem was fixed by completely blowing away Firefox & all profiles (I believe it was some corruption in all of them), then reinstalling FF & all extensions using an Infolister profile to know what extensions it needed. I used Revouninstaller for the “blow away” task, which deleted registry entries & local storage including the profile. I had to do some about:config work to customize the search to always open in new tab (I don’t know why it is not the default).

If you have ever been through a Firefox Profile rebuild, you know how difficult and time-consuming it can be. That is why I use the Firefox FEBE Backup Extension, which will back up your profile data to a special folder. I then copy or move the FEBE Backup Folder to another partition or another drive. (A Flash Drive will also suffice.) When completely deleting Firefox with Revo Uninstaller, the entire Profile, or the parts you choose (such as Extensions only, or just a few Extensions at a time), can be restored from the FEBE Backup in just one or a few operations. Anyway, the old profile data are there in one place, so you do not have to jump through hoops to do the Firefox restoration.

-- rc primak

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If you have ever been through a Firefox Profile rebuild, you know how difficult and time-consuming it can be. That is why I use the Firefox FEBE Backup Extension, which will back up your profile data to a special folder. I then copy or move the FEBE Backup Folder to another partition or another drive. (A Flash Drive will also suffice.) When completely deleting Firefox with Revo Uninstaller, the entire Profile, or the parts you choose (such as Extensions only, or just a few Extensions at a time), can be restored from the FEBE Backup in just one or a few operations. Anyway, the old profile data are there in one place, so you do not have to jump through hoops to do the Firefox restoration.

I’m using Mozbackup to save the data after I get Firefox like I want it, which restores profiles, settings, extensions & all. Through the use of a “Dropbox” I can even restore profiles & all from another machine. It did take me some time this time, but the Mozbackup restore from another (working) machine, didn’t do it this time, so I knew that there was something independent somehow. I suspect, but could not probe that use of the FEBE Backup Extension would not have straightened it out, especially if I had backed up a corrupted profile.

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I’m using Mozbackup to save the data after I get Firefox like I want it, which restores profiles, settings, extensions & all. Through the use of a “Dropbox” I can even restore profiles & all from another machine. It did take me some time this time, but the Mozbackup restore from another (working) machine, didn’t do it this time, so I knew that there was something independent somehow. I suspect, but could not probe that use of the FEBE Backup Extension would not have straightened it out, especially if I had backed up a corrupted profile.

No, FEBE does not straighten out a corrupted profile. FEBE, or MozBackup, will work when it is run before a disaster. I included the advice to make future restorations easier than doing a rebuild from scratch. You obviously have this aspect well in hand.

-- rc primak

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Hi Paul
Nice to hear you found a solution. But you say you did some “about:config” work to get search to open in a new tab. Is it possible to let us know what it was you did as this would be very useful to a lot of us.

regards
Clive

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I open a blank tab first, then type in the about:config. It will give you a warning, but you can bypass it. At the top set the filter to search. Among other things you will see browser.search.openintab on the left. Right click, & select toggle so the Boolean switches to True

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