The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.

Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

Thank you very much!!

Maybe also do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
You need to scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
  http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
• SuperAntispyware:
  http://www.superantispyware.com/
• Microsoft Safety Scanner:
  http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
• Windows Defender: Home Page:
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
• Spybot Search & Destroy:
  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
• Kasperky Free Security Scan:
  http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

• http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/solutions?qid=208280684

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

I have this problem too. I tried resetting Firefox and it didn't work. Whenever I open a new tab, I get this:

http://www.[r;;iåvÞyevq¾qîx»òki.com/

I've been having the same problem for the last few days... Did a reset, did an un-install/re-install, did a Microsoft Security Scan last night and still get the server error message when I open a new tab...

Did you do a malware check with all recommended scanners?

Did you try do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before reinstalling a fresh copy of Firefox?

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

• Firefox 18.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html

Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

• Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will also lose your personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

• It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.

If you keep having problems then also create a new profile.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall

Seems quite a few people have this problem since issue of Firefox 18, unable to reset start page, new tabs with http://www.[r;;iåvÞyevq¾qîx»òki.com/ URL.

I can reset during a session with about:config for new tab URL but reverts to Firefox/Google restart page and this new tab URL on PC restart. I have tried various solutions include new install of Firefox (though as yet with out complete reinstall as last suggested by corel)

Isn't about time it was established whether this problem is as a result of some bug in Firefox 18 or something malicious (I have done a critical areas scan with Kaspersky but nothing found). Worry is whether anything else has happened other than these obvious symptoms. I have had some slow down when accessing sites, especially where big corporate sites pulling in elements of page from other sites (e.g. BBC news) but this may be totally coincidental.

If you do not keep changes after a restart then see:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

Check for the presence of a mozilla.cfg file in the Firefox program folder to initialize some prefs.

This also involves the presence of a .js (JScript) file, probably in "defaults\pref" folder, that specifies to read this mozilla.cfg file.

If you have .js files apart from the channel-prefs.js file, that sets app.update.channel, in the defaultspref folder then open this file in an editor like Notepad and please post its content. Also please post the content of the mozilla.cfg file.

If you have this mozilla.cfg file then best is to do a clean reinstall of Firefox and remove the Firefox program folder.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved#Other_solutions

After a lot of testing, things seem to be working for now... Hopefully, it will last!

EDIT: Well, I may have spoken too quickly... I finally have the preferences sticking but upon reboot of the computer, I still have the tabs problem... It's like Atty says; you do a reset and everything is fine but then, upon restart of the computer, you're back to getting the error message when opening new tabs. Getting sick of all this and as long as the rest is working, I'll leave it alone...

EDIT 2 = Just did a clean reinstall and same problem... I give up...

I can't find any mozilla.cfg or extra .js file

and I still have the same problem as ever after every reboot

Which security software (firewall, anti-virus) do you have?

Some security software has virtualization or sandbox features that may cause problems by protecting and restoring files in the Firefox profile folder.

Kaspersky internet security.

I don't see how anything of this nature would give rise to the URL in new tabs of "www.[r;;iåvÞyevq¾qîx»òki.com"?

Google results for www.[r;;iåvÞyevq¾qîx»òki.com I think have gone up from 6 pages to 10 pages today

Having lived in anticipation that 19 would fix this problem sorry to report that it hasn't

Not only that but 18.2 and now 19 are consistently not starting up, takes several attempts to do so (firefox.exe is running as processes but only in background)

Having been a firm supporter (consmuser and website php/flash developer) since inception of Firefox v IE and very skeptical of Google's plan for the world and therefore Chrome, I am afraid unless Firefox/Mozilla community can get this problem sorted going to have to switch to Chrome. Have to say since now using Chrome fairly regularly Firefox has fallen behind in terms of looks and some usability.

yours Andy F

Try to boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.

I finally tried a "clean reinstall" i.e. deleting C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox before re-installing

It didn't work

I then tried disabling all "Add-ons/plugins" - this did work

I then progressively re-enabled plugins and by process of elimination basic Java plugin (just upgraded today to 10.15.2.3) is the culprit or is implementing something which is the culprit on Firefox startup.

WRONG = reverted to problem now - 21/2/13 - but since did provide some temporary relief, for the first time, still think question of add-ons worth investigating

yours Andy Forbes

I have had 3 reboots now with my homepage and new tab settings finally getting saved between sessions

May be linked to having run Adw Cleaner application but can't be sure

yours Andy F