Firefox

1. Run Firefox in safe mode to see if an add-on is causing compatbility problems. To run Firefox in safe mode, click on "Help," and then click "Restart with Add-Ons Disabled." Click on "Continue in Safe Mode." If you are able to successfully change the date on the calendar, the problem was caused by a conflicting plug-in.
2. Re-enable the add-ons one by one to determine which one was causing the problem. With Firefox in safe mode, click on "Firefox," and then select "Add-Ons." Click on "Enable" next to the first add-on, and then try the operation on the site again. Repeat the process until you find the add-on that causes the problem.
3. Verify Firefox is updated to the latest version if you still have problems. You may have compatibility issues with some sites when running an outdated browser. To update to the latest version, click on "Help," and then click on "About." The system will check for an update. If an update is available, click on "Update" to install it.
4. Visit the Mozilla website and download Firefox to re-install it, if you still have problems. Open the installer package and follow through the prompts to re-install the Web browser.

Firefox does not allow you to use a path to a local file on your computer. Instead, it must be stored on a server. For example, if you are creating a Web page, and inserting a link to an image saved on your computer that you want to display on the Web page, you must first upload that image to a server, then use a path to display the image from the server. If your image path links to a computer file, such as "My Pictures," then the path will not work in Firefox, and the image will not display.

Another reason why paths may be broken in Firefox or any other browser is due to issues with the server. For example, if a Web site makes a call to a server via an image path to display an image, and that server is down, then the image will not display, even if the path is coded correctly. If a server is offline, undergoing maintenance or is overloaded due to high Web traffic, it will not display the image or file specified in the path.

Another thing to try if you are having problems with paths in Firefox is to try a different browser. Aside from Firefox, other browser options include Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome. All are free to download and install on your computer. Once you install the browser, go to the same Web page that was giving you trouble, and try the action again. If it works, then the issue is with Firefox, and not the path.

In some cases, Firefox might not follow a path that is determined to be spam, a virus or other security issue. Firefox might alert you with a message that indicates some parts of a Web site might be dangerous, and might prompt you to manually decide how to proceed. If your security settings are set to high, you might see this message more often in Firefox than someone with lower security settings. Also, if a path requires Firefox to download a file, Firefox might not comply, or might prompt you with a security warning.

Before you spend time on troubleshooting steps, take a minute to verify that all your basic settings are correct. Make sure that the volume in the Hulu player and your computer's volume settings are both turned up. Check that your speakers or headphones are properly connected and turned on. Try using programs like iTunes or Windows Media Player to see if they generate sound. Open a new tab in Firefox and try accessing other streaming video sites. If those websites generate sound, then the issue is with the way Hulu is interacting with Firefox. If you hear no sound at all, then Firefox is to blame. Restarting your browser may also kick your videos into shape.

Hulu relies on Flash to play videos. If your version of Flash is outdated, playback issues with Hulu may occur. To correct this problem, shut down Firefox and uninstall Flash from your computer. Then, restart your computer and install the latest version of Flash. You’ll need to restart Firefox after Flash is reinstalled. Once the installation is complete, navigate to Hulu and try watching your video again.

Hulu recommends the following fix for audio problems. Start by right-clicking on the video player in the middle of your Firefox window. Select "Settings" from the drop-down menu that appears. Click the tab marked with a folder to find the "Local Storage" menu. This menu has a slider. Drag the slider down to zero and click "OK." Drag the slider back to "100KB" and click "Close."

Clearing your cache in Firefox can clear up some embedded media playback issues. If you use an ad-blocking extension, you may need to temporarily disable it. If you use an extension that blocks JavaScript, Hulu will need to be added to its whitelist to function normally. Some media player plug-ins, such as the VLC Media Player, can get in the way of media playback. Try disabling such plug-ins until Hulu is working properly.

Web pages you view contain multiple items retrieved from a remote computer called a Web server. These items may consist of images, text, scripts and even video files. Browsers such as Firefox not only construct your Web page using these items, but they store copies of them as well on your hard drive. This storage area is a folder named Cache. Firefox deletes the Cache folder's contents periodically to keep disk usage low. You also have the option to delete the folder's contents.

The Cache folder can help you surf faster. For example, if you visit a new website now, Firefox will download everything it needs to construct your Web page and store the data in your Cache folder. Downloading those items takes time. When you visit the same site later, Firefox will not have to download those items again because it can use the ones in your Cache folder. This makes your Web page load faster.

When you install Firefox, it creates a user profile for you. This profile stores everything related to your browsing session inside a profile folder. This folder contains your bookmarks, history, add-ons, settings and the Cache folder. Someone else who uses your computer can create a separate Firefox profile. Firefox stores their personal data in another profile folder. Each profile has a unique name that matches the name of its user's profile name. If you never create a profile, Firefox creates one for you named "Default" when you install Firefox. It also stores each profile folder in a parent folder named "Profiles."

You can find your Firefox folder by typing "about:cache", without the quotes, in the browser's address bar and pressing "Enter." A text string containing the path to your Profile directory appears next to the phrase "Cache Directory." If you paste that text into your Start menu's search box and press "Enter," Windows Explorer will open and display your Cache folder. Double-click that folder to view the files in the Cache folder. The file names probably won't make sense because they will have names such as "0BA94953d01."

Some video and audio files that you view or listen to while in Firefox may also appear in the Cache folder. You won't be able to recognize them by name, but you may be able to identify them by size. If you hear an MP3 you like, for example, you might try to find it in the Cache folder. Simply look for large files with time stamps close to the time you heard the MP3. If you rename some of those files and give them .mp3 file extensions, they may play when you double-click them. If they do, you can drag them to another folder and keep them there safely.

Firefox automatically saves any add-ons or themes you install to a default folder location specified by your Firefox user profile. Instead of saving add-ons to the obvious Extensions folder in the Mozilla folder, your new add-ons are instead saved to the path C:\Users\<Windows user name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles. The browser doesn't include an option for installing add-ons to a different folder when you start the download process, as you would normally be able to do when downloading a file.

By default, the Microsoft Windows operating system hides the AppData folder in the file path to reach your Firefox add-ons, as it contains important system data; however, you can still reach the folder containing your add-ons by using an option within the browser. Click the "Firefox" button and the "Troubleshooting Information" link inside the Help menu, then click the "Open Containing Folder" button next to the Profile Directory heading to view the Firefox Profiles folder.

Although you can't specify the profile folder where files are saved when you download an add-on, you can delete your existing Firefox profile and create a new one in a different location. To access the browser's profile manager, close Firefox and type "Run" in the Start menu's search box. Click the Run icon, type "firefox.exe -profilemanager" in the text box and tap "Enter." Highlight the "Default User" profile and click the "Delete Profile" button.

After deleting your original profile, Firefox lets you create a fresh profile that doesn't have to be placed in the default location. Any future add-ons you install will be saved to the new profile folder's location instead of the original default folder. Click the "Create Profile" button in the Firefox profile manager screen, then click "Next." Open the "Choose Folder" option and double-click the location where you want the new profile folder to be placed.

Firefox features scrolling options under Preferences in the Firefox menu. Click the “Advanced” or gear button and click the General tab. Selecting the check box for “Use smooth scrolling” and clicking “OK” at the bottom of the dialogue box sets the scrolling option.

For more customized scrolling that reduces a jumpy or erratic effect, Firefox also offers an add-on called Yet Another Smooth Scrolling. This extension customizes the sensitivity of the mouse scrolling wheel and the keyboard controls. Once downloaded, this free extension provides an “Options” button that controls the scrolling options.

This extension’s dialogue box features a Main sheet with options that adjust the scrolling motion activated by the mouse wheel and keyboard. The list of options includes four sliding scales: Step Size, Smoothness (Forepart), Smoothness and Acceleration Sensitivity. Step Size controls the number of pixels traversed with a scroll wheel’s tick. A smaller Step Size value results in a slower scrolling motion.

The add-on’s Smoothness (Forepart) option brings up the screen tip “Brake level in forepart of a movement.” Adjusting the slider button to the larger values on the scale makes for a smoother motion when scrolling starts. Hovering over the Smoothness slider button brings up the screen tip “Fade level in end of a movement.” Adjusting the slider button to lower values stops the scrolling action more quickly as the mouse wheel is released.

This extension’s acceleration option also affects scrolling speed. Hovering over the “Acceleration Sensitivity” button brings up the screen tip “How much amplify step size when you flick a wheel quickly.” Adjusting the slider button to a smaller value decreases or slows down the erratic effect.

This plug-in contains the Options sheet that lists three check boxes for smooth scrolling with the keyboard: arrow keys, “Page Up” and "Page Down” keys and “Home” and ”End” keys. Clicking to add a check mark to these three options reduces erratic scrolling. The Bouncy Edge section contains a drop-menu text box. The Bouncy Edge options include Zero, 30 pixels, 60 pixels and 120 pixels. Selecting a lower value makes scrolling more controllable without a jumpy effect.

The first step in troubleshooting proxy issues is checking the properties for the proxy credentials and server. You find the proxy properties by clicking the "Options" menu item in the "Tools" menu. Click the "Advanced" tab and then the "Network" button. Look at the proxy settings in the window. You must also have the correct port. Your proxy administrator provides you with the right credentials, address and port for a proxy server.

The proxy issue occurred with Firefox version 4. To check your version of Firefox, click the "Windows" menu item and select "Help." View the "About" section of the window. This section tells you your Firefox version. If the version is 4 or Beta, then upgrading patches the bug with your version of Firefox.

Firefox automatically downloads and installs the latest patch for the browser, but you can also manually patch the software. In the "Help" window you opened previously, click the "Apply Update." The software downloads and installs on your computer. Click "Restart" after the installation for the patch changes to take effect.

The error also occurs if you no longer have access to the proxy server. Proxy server administrators have the option to block IP addresses or usernames on the server. If you can no longer access the server and the issue is not with Firefox, then you might be blocked from accessing the server.

1. Go to the Firefox Add-ons page at Addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/.
2. Type “optimize SQL,” “SQLite optimization,” “SQL manager” or “vacuum” in the "Search for Add-ons" field and then click the green “Search” button marked with the white right arrow.
3. Review the search results and click an add-on title to see details about the add-on, including whether it works with your version of Firefox. Repeat this process until you find the add-on you need. Examples of add-ons that optimize the Places SQLite database include “CheckPlaces,” “PlacesCleaner,” “Vacuum Places Improved” and “Places Maintenance.”
4. Click the green “+ Add to Firefox” button on an add-on detail page when you’re ready to add it to Firefox. The Software Installation window appears.
5. Click the “Install Now” button and then click “Restart Now” or “Open Add-ons Manager” when prompted. The browser restarts and automatically enables the add-on, or the Add-ons Manager opens in a separate tab. If the Add-ons Manager opens, click “Extensions,” locate the add-on and then click the “Enable” button.
6. Optimize the Places SQLite database using your add-on tools. Click the add-on icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen on the Add-on Bar if available, and then wait for the optimization to occur automatically or a window of options to appear. If a window appears, select options such as checking for duplicates or empty folders or cleaning and compacting the database, and then click “Check,” “Execute” or a similar button to begin the optimization process.

1. Go to the Firefox Add-ons page at Addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox to locate the iMacros add-on.
2. Enter “iMacros” in the Search for Add-ons field and then select “iMacros for Firefox” from the drop-down menu, or click the Search button and select “iMacros for Firefox” from the search results list.
3. Click the “+ Add to Firefox” button to open the Software Installation window and then click “Install Now."
4. Check the top of the screen for a “Restart Now” prompt once the installation is complete. Click this button to restart Firefox.

1. Click the “iOpus iMacros” button to the left of the address bar in Firefox. The iMacros window opens on the left side of the browser.
2. Type the address of a website that has drop-down menus you use often in the Firefox address bar. Click “Enter” on your computer keyboard, or the green arrow button at the end of the bar, to go to the website.
3. Select the “Rec” tab in the iMacros window to see the macro recording options.
4. Click the “Record” button to begin recording your actions on the site.
5. Fill out the form on the website as needed. Select options from drop-down menus. Enter text in fields if applicable.
6. Click the button that uses your drop-down menu selections to perform a search, or submit a request if the page doesn't automatically update as you make the selections. When the next page loads, click the “Stop” button in the iMacros window to stop recording.
7. Click the “Save” button to open the Save File window. Type a name for the macro and then click the “OK” button to save it.

1. Locate the macro by name under Favorites in the iMacros window. Click the macro to select it.
2. Select the “Play” tab to show the macro play options and then click the “Play” button to play the macro. The website you previously visited automatically loads, and iMacros automatically replays your actions including filling in the drop-down menu selections.
3. Replay your recorded actions in a loop to refresh a Web page or submit a request repeatedly every few seconds. Locate the Repeat Macro area in the Play section under the buttons. Enter a maximum number of times you want the macro to repeat and then click the “Play (Loop)” button.

Search engines such as Google and Bing are great for finding text, but you can't give those search engines an image and ask them to find copies of it on the Web. The Firefox TinEye add-on, available for Firefox and Opera, gives you that ability. Simply visit the TinEye website, click install and surf the Web as you normally do. When you discover an image you would like to research, click the TinEye icon and select the image. The program searches the Web for copies and displays results at the TinEye website.

Whether you're a college student researching a thesis or simply a Web surfer browsing the Internet, you probably bookmark sites you encounter. Webnotes, an add-on for Firefox allows you to not only bookmark pages, but attach notes to them as well. You can even highlight parts of pages and share them with friends. Opera users can also use Webnotes by dragging a Webnotes bookmarklet to their Personal Bar. After bookmarking or annotating pages, you can visit the Webnotes website and view everything you've collected in your personal library.

Online auction fans and those needing continuous browser updates often install Firefox's ReloadEvery add-on. When installed, Firefox refreshes a selected browser page periodically according to user settings. To adjust the settings, right-click the Web page you'd like to refresh and select how often you wish to reload the page. Opera users can perform this task as well by right-clicking any page and selecting a refresh value. Firefox and Opera users also have the option to enter their own custom refresh values in the settings menu.

OperaView, a Firefox add-on takes a unique approach to Firefox and Opera communication by allowing you to launch Opera pages from within Firefox. This add-on comes in handy when you are viewing an interesting video page in Firefox, for instance, and want to see what it looks like in Opera. After installing the add-on in Firefox, right-click any page you're viewing and select "View This Page in Opera." Opera launches and displays the page. If Opera is already open, it becomes the foreground window and allows you to view the Web page.

Many items that you see on Web pages reside in Div containers. Divs are HTML elements that allow you to group other elements, as shown in the following example:

<div>

<input type="text" />

<input img src="someImage.jpg" />

This div contains a text box and an image. If the images size exceeds the size of the div, horizontal and vertical scrollbars may appear allowing you to scroll the div container. You can change the color of these scrollbars using jQuery, a free JavaScript library that works with all browsers.

JScrollPane is a useful jQuery plug-in that changes the way Firefox's default scrollbars work. JQuery plug--ins are small bits of jQuery code you can use along with the basic jQuery library. Make this library available to an HTML document by adding the following JavaScript code to the HTML document's head section:

<script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1/jquery.min.js"></script>

You can then use the jScrollPane plugin to color scrollbars by downloading the plug-in from the jScroll pane website. The site also provides a "Support" link at the top of the page that can assist you when adding the plug-in to your Web page.

FleXcroll, another jQuery plug-in, also makes Web pages stand out by applying customize colors to div scrollbars. When you visit the fleXcroll website, you can view samples of the plug-in in action by clicking one of the links in the Live Example section. Each example demonstrates a different styling effect you can use when customizing your own scrollbars. If you need assistance using the plug-in, click the "Programming Guide" link located at the top of the page.

The RangeInput website presents an impressive white scrollbar that appears at the bottom of it div container. This div uses the Rangeinput plug-in to change the scrollbars color and shape. If you'd like to use this plug-in to add a dash of color to your Firefox scrollbars, review the documentation provided on the RangeInput Web page and click the "Standalone Version" link near the bottom of the page. A new Web page opens that displays a div using the plug-in. You are free to view the page's source code, copy it and add the code to your own HTML document.

When your browser crashes, it means that it has stopped working without you closing out of it. A download that ends when you exit out of the browser is expected. What indicates that a problem is occurring is if you re-open your browser, restart the download and find that the browser crashes again almost immediately.

The reason downloads cause Firefox to shut down has to do with a conflict with certain virus protection software, according to the official Firefox website. As a standard security measure, the virus protection software forces applications that display any signs of malicious software to close immediately. Unfortunately, some of these are falsely recognized as being malicious, which can leads to programs closing unexpectedly and at inconvenient times.

It is possible to disable virus protection within Firefox in order to make sure the download completes successfully the second time around. To get started, type "about:config" into the Firefox Address Bar, then hit "Enter." Choose "I'll Be Careful, I Promise" to acknowledge Firefox's warning about accessing your browser settings, then scroll to the "browser.download.manager.scanWhenDone" element and set the value next to it to "False." Hit "Save."

Turning off virus protection within Firefox carriers potential risks, the first of which being that most malicious software comes from the Internet, so turning off your virus protection leaves your computer almost completely vulnerable to attacks. If your computer gets a virus after you turn off virus protection, customer service professionals who work for the virus protection software developer might not be able to help you, since you weren't using the software properly.

When you attempt to log in with WordPress and it redirects in Firefox, it may be because you have specified a different administrative directory in your settings than the directory where you actually uploaded your WordPress files. This will prevent you, as an administrator, or any other contributor from logging in to your WordPress dashboard because WordPress is looking for the administrative files in a place where they do not exist.

If you are already logged in to WordPress, you may be able to directly access your administrative panel from a specific URL such as "/wp-admin/options-general.php" rather than using a login form on your website itself. Note that if you are not logged in, this will take you to the dedicated login page that is part of your dashboard, and Firefox may show that WordPress is redirecting.

The WordPress Codex recommends uploading a new copy of the file "login.php" to your WordPress installation as random redirection or other login problems may be due to a corrupted WordPress file. If your login file is out of date and disrupting a successful login, this may also solve the problem. You can obtain a file from the WordPress website in the provided installation download. Upload only the WordPress file via FTP or browser-based file manager, then attempt to log in to WordPress in Firefox once more.

If you know that WordPress is redirecting in Firefox because you have recently changed the location of your installation files or changed the blog URL in your dashboard, you can edit those settings in your database. Log in to your hosting control panel and access your database with a tool such as PHPMyAdmin. Enter your WordPress database and click to browse the "wp-options" table. Locate the entry "siteurl" and click to edit. This should be the URL of your WordPress installation. If you have your WordPress files in a separate directory, put the URL into that directory here and press "Go" in PHPMyAdmin to save the options.