Question for all you Firefox users

[spaceman]

I just downloaded and installed Firefox (first time user) on my XP machine. The browser works just fine, but when I click on File > Import to import my IE favorites, settings, etc Firefox keeps crashing and won't import. Anyone know how I can rectify this? I checked the FAQs but couldn't find a thing. Thanks.

 

[cmascatello]

My Firefox install (.8) a few weeks ago did the IE bookmark retrieval automatically and without issue. Not sure why it would go crazy on you. What are your system specs and security software that you are running? OS? You should try a post on the Mozilla forums -- the guys there tend to be prompt and accurate with their advice. BTW, the browser is awesome and is well worth the time it takes to get used to it. Also, be sure oyu get the AdBlocker extension and browse the Adblocker forums for advice on the filters to use.

 

[Chinchy]

I've been using Firefox for a while, and it is great! I hardly ever use IE now except when I'm too lazy to reinstall an existing plugin.

But I just got that adblock extension. WOW IT IS AWESOME. Man, I just spent about 5 min blocking all the ads from Fark.com. This is wonderful! No more having to scroll down quickly in case someone walking by scopes out the SportsByBrooks girlie pics on the top left. Thanks for that recommendation cmascatello!! Two thumbs up!

 

[cmascatello]

Try these "basic" ad blocker items. Copy the entire list below and paste it into a text file. Then use the AdBlocker menus under Tools in FireFox and choose to Import -- you will get the option to merge with your current list, do it. These have been awesome for me from the get-go. Not really needed to ad any others yet...

Quote:

[AdBlock] */ad/* */ads/* */click/* */fastclick/* *ADV* *adlog* *ads* *adsdk* *adserver* *adtech* *advertising* *annone* *atdmt* *banners* *click.* *doubleclick* *image.ugo.com* *m2* *sob* *spinbox* *viewad*

 

[Welly Wu]

To answer the original posters' issues, I agree you should post as much specific information on the mozillazine.org FireFox forum. Also, you need to tell us which version of FireFox you have installed and other programs / services you keep resident in your memory / swapfile. FireFox is still in developmental stage so it is not unusual to encounter minor glitches here and there until they finally make the big Version 1.0. Lastly, give ThunderBird a try when you resolve your FireFox issues. Together, you'll have a much better Internet Experience (IE, heh) than well...Internet Explorer.

 

[some1x]

Try moving temporarily your favorites folder to a different location- it might be related to a funky link if your favorites folder.

 

[spaceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmascatello Not sure why it would go crazy on you. What are your system specs and security software that you are running? OS? You should try a post on the Mozilla forums -- the guys there tend to be prompt and accurate with their advice.

Ok, the version is 0.9.1 (latest) and I am running XP. Everything is fine with the exception of the import wizard. I have tried the Firefox forum but I keep getting "page cannot be displayed" when I click on both the Support and Firefox forum links. Should I try and install an earlier version and then upgrade to the later version after I import?

 

[wallijonn]

Start up IE, export your favourites to a file, close IE, start Firefox, 9menu) Bookmarks -> manage bookmarks, import your IE favourites from the saved file.

I do know that certain adult websites include hidden codes in their bookmarks. It will usually mess up IE export to IE import. It will say that the file would not be imported into a clean install IE (like another user). So you may end up doing blocks of bookmarks until the malicious coded bookmark is identified.

If you do a 'properties' on each bookmark, is there any with more than 256 characters?

 

[spaceman]

Thanks guys.....all set now.

 

[Welly Wu]

Spaceman:

Get accustomed to it for about one week and you'll never want to go back to IE!

 

[kurisu]

Don't forget to tweak the speed a bit:

put about:config in your address bar.

network.http.pipelining
default value false, right click, "modify", change to true

network.http.pipelining.maxrequests
default value 4, change to 8, not higher apparently, some debate about server load or something, see link below.

network.http.proxy.pipelining
default value false, change to true

You should notice the difference!

I promise it won't bork your computer.

 

[Chinchy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmascatello Try these "basic" ad blocker items. Copy the entire list below and paste it into a text file. Then use the AdBlocker menus under Tools in FireFox and choose to Import -- you will get the option to merge with your current list, do it. These have been awesome for me from the get-go. Not really needed to ad any others yet...

I see your "basic" and I raise it with this:

Quote:

[Adblock] /\D\d{2,3}x\d{2,3}\D/ googlesyndication us.yimg.com/a/ /\/buy_assets\// /[\W\d_](top|bottom|left|right|)?banner(s|id=|\d|_)[\W\d]/ /[\W\d](double|fast)click[\W\d]/ /[\W\d]click(stream|thrutraffic|thru|xchange)[\W\d]/ /[\W\d]value(stream|xchange|click)[\W\d]/ /[\W\d]dime(xchange|click)[\W\d]/ /[\W\d](onlineads?|ad(banner|click|-?flow|frame|ima?g(es?)?|_id|js|log|serv(er|e)?|str eam|_string|s|trix|type|vertisements?|v|vert|xchan ge)?)[\W\d]/

I got this one from my coworker. I can only guess at what it does.

 

[cmascatello]

I have tried to stay away from that Blocking set b/c I have been told and read on other forums that the "2,3" line gives a significantly higher number of false positives. I am not sure about the other items but I will be looking into the RegExp language and trying to figure out the logic and filtering strings.

 

[spaceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Welly Wu Spaceman: Get accustomed to it for about one week and you'll never want to go back to IE!

Wow! I don't think I'll need a week. After my IE hijack fiasco last night, I don't thin I'll be back to IE anytime soon. Thanks to some Registry edits and a few Adaware scans everything is back to normal, but I'm really falling in love with Firefox. I sure hope it is stable.

 

[wallijonn]

If FireFox does "crash", do NOT close all your windows out at once by hitting the 'close' button. Instead go to your other open windows and save your 'progress' so that you can get back to them later.

I find that it is more likely to crash if you go back to encrypted pages or pages that can't be re-loaded because plugins have to be reloaded or malicious code tries to execute. Heck, IE blows up every now and then, also. But FF gives you a chance to save your worki. Just create a new subfolder (downward pointing triangle), close out all the OTHER windows before hitting the 'okay' button on the crashed page. IE just blows up and if you have been link viewing a lot of pages, you're screwed.