Donate SIGN UP

Firefox Add-Ons

Avatar Image
anotheoldgit | 11:50 Wed 12th Feb 2014 | Technology
9 Answers
Recently my Firefox browser was up-dated to 27.0 automatically, I then found that some of my add-ons did not work, so I re-set Firefox and all my add-ons disappeared.

I then reloaded certain ones but the one that reloads all tabs as my Homepage still doesn't work, also when I click on Tools and then add-ons they don't show all the add-ons that I have, which they once did.

Is there anyone who will help me out please?

Gravatar

Answers

1 to 9 of 9rss feed

Best Answer

No best answer has yet been selected by anotheoldgit. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.

For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.
To set the home page for all new tabs, similar instructions as given in your previous posts:

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Technology/Question1313765.html

but instead of entering the text parameter 'about:home:' , enter the actual address of the desired home page.

e.g.

Within your Firefox browser web address bar enter the following address:

about:config

That should display a warning about voiding warranty/ stability and the need to be careful! (Nothing to be concerned about but just be careful to only change the parameter given below! )

Accept the warning and the Browser will then display a multiple of Advanced config parameters. You need to scroll down and locate the following parameter text:

browser.newtab.url

Double click on the text 'browser.newtab.url' and it should open up a small text box window with some text shown, most likely something like 'about:newtab'. Change the text to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk (or whatever your desired home page address)

then click 'Ok' to accept the change.

Now any New tabs in Firefox should now open up displaying your home page.
Question Author
Once again thank you so much, that worked perfectly, and your step by step instructions were great.

Have you any ideas regarding the other issues?
Question Author
Just another point, if I change my homepage at any time should I go through this procedure again?
Good to hear that the Tabs / home page works now.

As regards, the add-ons query, I have just updated my Firefox browser to 27.0 and it has kept my add-ons intact and I can list them all ok. So, not sure what problem you have encountered!

Presumably you are checking the list of add-on/plugins via Firefox 'Tools>Add-ons' and selecting 'Plugins' option to display the list of Plugins?

If any expected Plugins are missing in the list you most likely will need to reinstall them.
Question Author
Thanks for your reply.

It was because the Tools/Add-Ons was set on Get Add-Ons instead of Extensions, the three that I have loaded since re setting firefox are there along with some disabled ones.

The three that I have are Adblock Plus 2.4.1, Adblock Plus Pop-Up Add on 0.9.1 and new tab Homepage 0.4.3, which doesn't seem to work but then I dont need it since you told me how to repeat my homepage, so should i delete that one?

When I press Plugins there are loads there which I don't understand so I will leave well alone.

Are there any useful add-ons (extensions) that I should download?


>>>Are there any useful add-ons (extensions) that I should download?

You've not mentioned the British English Dictionary in your list:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/british-english-dictionary/
(Without it Firefox will spellcheck using its native American dictionary).

After installing it you might need to activate it. Type 'colour color' (followed by a space) in an AB answer box. If 'color' is underlined as incorrect then the British dictionary is activated and you don't need to do anything else. If 'colour' is underlined, right-click on it and then on 'Languages > English (United Kingdom)'. Firefox will then use the British dictionary by default.

Some people like to save Youtube videos to their hard drive. This extension works well for me:
https://addons.mozilla.org/mk/firefox/addon/easy-youtube-video-download/
I reckon that since the new tab homepage add-on is not working you can remove it.

For some reason known only to Firefox developers (as far as I have been able to determine!) the about:home parameter setting is now defaulting to the original Firefox home page. So, for any future home page changes you might make within the latest Firefox version 27.0, it will require you to manually change the 'browser.newtab.url' to your desired home page address for new tabs.

As for 'what Plugins', the more usual plugins to have installed I would recommend Adobe Shockwave Flash, Sun Java, Microsoft Silverlight, Adobe Acrobat, Apple Quicktime and some Microsoft office plugins.

You could also consider installing a Macfee Site Advisor security extension that provides for a more secure surf and search experience. See:

http://www.siteadvisor.com/download/windows.html

The free version download link is located at the bottom of the MacAfee webpage. If you install it you will need to restart Firefox to complete and activate the package.

All depends on your surfing habits and as to what some web sites may require your browser to have in order to display the content. If you don't have the required plugin a website will usually inform you of the missing plugin.

Hope that helps.
Question Author
Buenchico

That's great thank you, yes British English Dictionary was one of my add-ons before I reset Firefox, I wondered why I was getting some spellings wrong when I added a 'S' instead of a 'Z'.

Thanks once again.
Question Author
Thank you pinkyboyid, but I don't think I am IT technically minded enough to start playing with plug-Ins, don't know how they work or what they do.

I am always afraid of those things that work silently under cover, I like to see definite fixes.

But thank you for help just the same.

1 to 9 of 9rss feed

Do you know the answer?

Firefox Add-Ons

Answer Question >>