Every time Firefox launches it tries to open a non-existent URL
I've been running Firefox Developer Edition for some time, but now that all my extensions have died (Yes, I know why) I've had to switch back to Firefox 55.0.3 or Nightly (55). Every time I open either of them it tries to load a URL that doesn't exist (and fails, of course). I get the usual 'Server not found' message. The URL it's trying to load is 'http://www.5yquwx16.exlunga/'. That's actually the name of a profile (not the one I'm using). I can't understand why or how Fx is picking it up and trying to load it as a URL !
Fx is set to 'Show windows and tabs from last time', which it does, but then tries to load this profile as a URL. Of course I can close the tab, but it's irritating that it happens every time. I have tried moving the old profile out of the 'Profiles' folder, and rebooting, but it makes no difference. I've looked through all the settings I can see, but I can't find anything tht looks like it would make Fx try to load this profile as a web page.
Any help would be much appreciated,
Tim Dawson
Chosen solution
Is it possible your shortcut has some stray characters on the command line?
As you probably know, the Firefox icon can be set up to launch specific pages or a specific profile at startup (or more specifically, when you use the icon). To check whether that is set/corrupted:
First, open the shortcut as follows:
- Desktop shortcut: right-click the icon, choose Properties
- Pinned taskbar icon: right-click the icon, right-click Mozilla Firefox, choose Properties
Windows normally will select the Shortcut tab. If not, go ahead and click the Shortcut tab.
You'll see the Target highlighted. With 64-bit Firefox on 64-bit Windows, that usually is no more and no less than the following:
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
If anything follows after that, try clearing it out.
After OK'ing the Properties dialog, you can test right away to confirm that Firefox now launches only your home page. Either:
- double-click desktop shortcut
- right-click pinned taskbar icon, click Mozilla Firefox
Success?
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (3)
Type about:preferences#general<enter> in the address bar.
There are two settings;
- When Firefox Starts
When the browser is started, what do you want to display? Many of us choose Show My Home Page.
- Home Page
When a new page is opened, what do you want to be displayed?
- Use Current Page. Use what ever page(s) are open at that time.
- Use Bookmark
- Restore To Default. about:home shows a Mozilla home page with tools.
You can use any of these that you wish;
about:home (Firefox default home page), about:newtab (shows the sites most visited), about:blank (a blank page),
or you can enter any webpage or about: page you want.
Chosen Solution
Is it possible your shortcut has some stray characters on the command line?
As you probably know, the Firefox icon can be set up to launch specific pages or a specific profile at startup (or more specifically, when you use the icon). To check whether that is set/corrupted:
First, open the shortcut as follows:
- Desktop shortcut: right-click the icon, choose Properties
- Pinned taskbar icon: right-click the icon, right-click Mozilla Firefox, choose Properties
Windows normally will select the Shortcut tab. If not, go ahead and click the Shortcut tab.
You'll see the Target highlighted. With 64-bit Firefox on 64-bit Windows, that usually is no more and no less than the following:
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
If anything follows after that, try clearing it out.
After OK'ing the Properties dialog, you can test right away to confirm that Firefox now launches only your home page. Either:
- double-click desktop shortcut
- right-click pinned taskbar icon, click Mozilla Firefox
Success?
Yes, stray characters on the taskbar shortcut. Now sorted, thank you.