Sdp...Do you know Firefox?

---

Because I'm having issues with it, and google fu isn't helping me this time.

Or in general, do you know how http referers work? That's the main issue...

Sorry.. no I don't

Whenever your browser puts in a get request for a file from a server, including each page file, each frame file, and each image, it sends a lot of information. The information it sends includes what is your operating system, what browser you are using, and what page the browser is currently on. This last is the http referrer, whose official header title is the misspelt HTTP_REFERER (a mistake of Phillip Hallam-Baker and Roy Fielding, now set in stone - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTTP_referrer and compare 'Google', a misspelling by Larry Page and Sergey Brin of 'googol' that they only realised after they had bought the domain name).The http referrer is used by some sites to prevent direct linking to pages or images - it makes it possible to set the server so a page or an image will only be sent if it comes from a specific page (e.g. one with the site's advertising). However it can be a privacy issue, since you are sending another site the page you are currently on.Firefox enables you to switch the referrer off, or switch it off for images only: see http://cafe.elharo.com/privacy/privacy-tip-3-block-referer-headers-in-firefox/ Note however that if switched off some sites may not work.

sdp: Thanks, figured I'd ask, since I knew you were IT-ish. Pete: Alright, if you know of these things, ish, my problem is: I know you can switch 'em on and off in FF. But that's the thing, the setting in FF that controls it is always set to "off", even after I set it back to "on". I can do screenshots, just not now. I thought it was my AV software that did it (some forums said that it would), it wasn't, I don't have a virus (again, forums, and Google listings), and I don't for the life of me know how to get it to stop. If you know of anything right now, that'd be good, and/or I'll be back with screenshots in any case later.

While I know nothing technical I have been having a lot of issues with Firefox as well. I'm to the point I'm about ready to dump it but I'm not sure what to go to. Opera was giving me problems before I started using Firefox and Google Chrome as far as I can tell sucks ass.

I would recommend downgrading to a lesser version, if you don't like it currently, just for that reason, it's the best browser out there, but it's got so many new things that I don't like about it now!

That's what I've done but it does that automatic update thing after a couple of days and then I have to go backwards again. The system I have at work is shit anyway, which complicates all of the new Firefox issues ten fold.

I seem to be teaching my grandmother to suck eggs, but I have one idea. When you tell the software to change a setting, the real change is to some file. I don't know where Firefox keeps its settings, but it will either be in a file in its directory in Program Files, or (as encouraged by Windows) in the Registry.It may be that you have some protection setting that stops changes in one or both of those areas. I know some anti-virus packages include that option, which provides very strong protection, but can be a nuisance when you want to change something. They may work silently, so you get no message (except perhaps on a log file) that they have blocked a change. If you do have something like that, you can probably add a rule that allows changes by Firefox, or just turn it off temporarily.

Scott: You can do this. It's easy enough to explain, just go into the tools menu>advanced tab> [find section about updates], but this is a detailed explanation, the link that is. I'm sorry you have such a decrepit computer at work. Never fun. I'm surprised they let you choose your browser, though. :laughing:

Pete: I hadn't thought of looking for a log file, maybe I should. I'll check the registry too, maybe something had a previous rule that kept it from changing, even if I've deleted the program since then. ( I recently changed AV software )

we haven't had a "my browser's red hot, your browser aint doodly-sqat" thread in ages!I've been using Chrome for over a year with very few issues.

Did we make your day, Mr. U? Oh yeah, screen-shots, and log files. Good thing I rechecked, I forgot. . .blech Chrome!

Screen shots, finally.
I change the underlined value to 2, which is the default, which allows everything (1 is block images, 0 is block all), and it changes itself back all the time. I have this application (the one with **** written) that does what FF won't, and not that it's a huge deal, but it'd be nice if I didn't have to use it. Does this shed any more light on things for you guys?
1
2
3
4

It doesn't help me, except that this is exactly the behaviour you get when something is blocking the file from changing. It could be as little as that the file concerned has been inadvertently made read-only. That the other application can do it may be because it stores data in a different place; or it may have special permission to make changes, if the blocking is the result of a protection program.I've hunted around, and it looks like this preference is stored by Firefox in a script file Program Files [or Program Files (x86)]/Mozilla Firefox/greprefs/all.js The file can be viewed and presumably edited in Notepad.

That's a great idea Pete, I didn't think to check if the config. file was made read only. That is probably the reason the app works, and the changes don't. That's the only change to the config. I've tried to make recently. I'll give that a shot. >> sigh Ughughugh Anymore ideas Pete? What would make it different in the in-browser config., than in the actual settings file? It's set to the default. . .