Following an amazon link and then accessing the page makes firefox open another amazon page in a new tab. How do I stop this
I have this bizarre problem with firefox and Amazon (com and co.uk) If I click a link (open in new tab) to an amazon page the page opens in a new tab. Fine. If I then select that page (click its tab) the page is displayed and then a new amazon page opens in a new tab with the url http://www.amazon.com/?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0&link_code=hom&tag=skipthemalls-20 If I close the new amazon page and return to the original amazon page the phenomenon does not repeat - not new window opens.
This does not happen in any other browser (IE or Chrome) This does not happen on any other website.
I've scanned my PC (Malwarebytes and security essentials) and found nothing sinister
All forefox add ons are disabled. To be sure, I've started 'restarted firefox with add ons disabled' and the problem still occurs. I've even reset Firefox to its original state and still the problem occurs.
So now what? Windows 7 Ultimate Thinkpad R60 4GB
Chosen solution
That page is coded to a particular "affiliate" (skipthemalls) and may have the purpose of setting a cookie to earn a cut of revenue from your purchase. If that is not caused by the site you visited that brought you to Amazon, it's hard to think of a reason for it to open. (Even then, you would think it would be processed transparently in the background.)
More generally, when you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.
(1) Bypass Firefox's Cache
Use Ctrl+Shift+r to reload the page fresh from the server.
Alternately, you also can clear Firefox's cache completely using:
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced
On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now"
If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.
(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, try either:
- right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- Alt+t (open the classic Tools menu) > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
In the dialog that opens, you can remove the site's cookies individually.
Then try reloading the page. Does that help?
Read this answer in context 👍 1All Replies (6)
Try clicking the link using the scroll wheel on your computer's mouse.
Also try the following:
- Open the Firefox options
- Open the Tabs tab
- Check the Open new windows in a new tab instead option
- Click Ok
Please report back soon.
Thanks for your interest. 1. Clicking the wheel does nothing. The wheel moves left/right/up/down OK but clicking it does nothing 2. the Open new windows in a new tab instead option is ticked but greyed out HTH
Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.
(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)
- You can open Firefox 4.0+ in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
- Or open the Help menu and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.
Once you get the pop-up, just select "'Start in Safe Mode"
If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.
To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.
Please report back soon.
Chosen Solution
That page is coded to a particular "affiliate" (skipthemalls) and may have the purpose of setting a cookie to earn a cut of revenue from your purchase. If that is not caused by the site you visited that brought you to Amazon, it's hard to think of a reason for it to open. (Even then, you would think it would be processed transparently in the background.)
More generally, when you have a problem with one particular site, a good "first thing to try" is clearing your Firefox cache and deleting your saved cookies for the site.
(1) Bypass Firefox's Cache
Use Ctrl+Shift+r to reload the page fresh from the server.
Alternately, you also can clear Firefox's cache completely using:
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced
On the Network mini-tab > Cached Web Content : "Clear Now"
If you have a large hard drive, this might take a few minutes.
(2) Remove the site's cookies (save any pending work first). While viewing a page on the site, try either:
- right-click and choose View Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
- Alt+t (open the classic Tools menu) > Page Info > Security > "View Cookies"
In the dialog that opens, you can remove the site's cookies individually.
Then try reloading the page. Does that help?
ComputerWhiz: Thanks but I have already tried safe mode - see original report of problem.
jscher2000: Thanks, clearing the cache seems to have done the trick but I'm pretty sure I did that once before and then the problem came back. I'll keep an eye on it for the next 24 hours or so and if it doesn't come back, its solved.
Modified by Rincewindwiz
Problem still not reappeared so clearing the cache clearly fixed it. Thx to all who pitched in with suggestions