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Firefox 4 does not search from Location Bar (Awesome Bar)

  • 7 replies
  • 55 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by ever

Daniel & Svetlana
Daniel & Svetlana
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I have searched the knowledge base, and not found anything exactly like my problem. A similar question, Url Keyword guessing does not work is close... but only close. Link below.

I was previously able to type some keywords into the Location (Awesome) Bar, and it would either jump to an appropriate page, or come up with a Google Search page of possible sites.

I have upgraded to FF4, and while I can successfully conduct searches from the dedicated Search Bar, typing keywords into the Location Bar brings this problem. I have used "Mozilla Foundation" as my search keys:

Firefox can't find the file at jar:file:///C:/Program Files/Mozilla Firefox/omni.jar!/chrome/en-US/locale/browser-region/region.propertiesmozilla+foundation.

The portion file:///C:/Program appears blue as if it is a link, but clicking on it, nothing happens. I have attempted multiple search keys, and nothing changes.

I have attempted to use the about:config | keyword.enabled to turn it off, then back on, and it doesn't seem to have worked. I really can't decipher anything about the message that I do get (above). This may or may not matter, but I was surprised to find that my existing Add-On, "Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant 1.2.1" is no longer compatible, and thus not functioning.

Thank you very much for helping.

I have searched the knowledge base, and not found anything exactly like my problem. A similar question, '''[https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/815325 Url Keyword guessing does not work]''' is close... but only close. Link below. I was previously able to type some keywords into the Location (Awesome) Bar, and it would either jump to an appropriate page, or come up with a Google Search page of possible sites. I have upgraded to FF4, and while I can successfully conduct searches from the dedicated Search Bar, typing keywords into the Location Bar brings this problem. I have used "Mozilla Foundation" as my search keys: '''Firefox can't find the file at jar:file:///C:/Program Files/Mozilla Firefox/omni.jar!/chrome/en-US/locale/browser-region/region.propertiesmozilla+foundation.''' The portion '''file:///C:/Program''' appears blue as if it is a link, but clicking on it, nothing happens. I have attempted multiple search keys, and nothing changes. I have attempted to use the about:config | keyword.enabled to turn it off, then back on, and it doesn't seem to have worked. I really can't decipher anything about the message that I do get (above). This may or may not matter, but I was surprised to find that my existing Add-On, "Microsoft .NET Framework Assistant 1.2.1" is no longer compatible, and thus not functioning. Thank you very much for helping.

Modified by Daniel & Svetlana

All Replies (7)

cor-el
cor-el
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You can modify the pref keyword.URL on the about:config page to use Google's "I'm Feeling Lucky" or Google's "Browse By Name".

Daniel & Svetlana
Daniel & Svetlana Question owner
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Thank you, but this is not the issue. It's not whether or not it's using Google, or which specific form of Google, or which search engine period. It's that it doesn't search in any engine at all.

Just comes up with that error message about being unable to find a file.

cor-el
cor-el
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Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

In Firefox 4 you can use one of these to start in Safe mode:

  • Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
  • Hold down the Shift key while double clicking the Firefox desktop shortcut (Windows)
Daniel & Svetlana
Daniel & Svetlana Question owner
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No, unfortunately that did not fix the problem either. I started in safe mode via Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled. It did start with all Add-ons Disabled. Yet still when typing "Mozilla Foundation" (without quotes) into the Location/Awesome Bar, I continue to receive the message:

Firefox can't find the file at jar:file:///C:/Program Files/Mozilla Firefox/omni.jar!/chrome/en-US/locale/browser-region/region.propertiesmozilla+foundation.

The dedicated search box continues to function correctly.

New information.

I can change the search provider to Yahoo! and it works exactly as it should. However, doing a "reset" to default brings it back to the same error message above. Perhaps there is simply an incorrect link to the Google search that came with my software?

Modified by Daniel & Svetlana

Daniel & Svetlana
Daniel & Svetlana Question owner
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I have found a solution to my own problem!

(1) Go to about:config (2) Filter to keyword.URL

When prompted, enter: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=661&q=

This will properly set it to a default Google Search from the Location (Awesome) Bar. However, it does not seem to do have the "I'm Feeling Lucky Link" which may mean that either the initial reply is basically what I just "discovered," or that I have an Add-On that is blocking it.

Either way, it has solved my problem. Thanks to everyone who tried to help out, for helping out.

(Also, to be fair, I think that this is exactly what Cor-El's first post was telling me to do, but I didn't understand...)

Modified by Daniel & Svetlana

storm4444
storm4444
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So glad you posted your solution because it's been driving me crazy since I downloaded 4.0! Thanks!

ever
ever
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thanks a lot you are a genius!!!!!!!!!!!!!