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Solved: Problem connecting to websites via google (compatibility issue with Mcafee Home Protection)

  • 2 replies
  • 8 have this problem
  • 13 views
  • Last reply by dolantj

dolantj
dolantj
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I have a problem with Firefox 4.0.1. If I type a website name (e.g. bbc) into the 'awesome' bar then the browser says 'Connecting...' in the tab name (and shows 'waiting for www.google.com' at the bottom of the screen). Firefox takes several minutes to respond.

However if I type the full URL into the awesome bar (e.g. www.bbc.com) then the browser connects straight away. If I type the website name into the search bar (default is google) then I get the same problem. But if I change the default search engine to 'bing' (say) then it returns with the search results, as expected.

If tried several 'fixes' with no resolution: re-installing Firefox 4; cleared caches; ensured no proxy; running in safe mode; disabling all add-ons & extensions; disabling my mcafee firewall; full virus scan.

If I run IE9 or Chrome then I have no problem - even though google is my default search engine.

This is driving me mad :-). And forcing me to use an alternative browser. Your help would be appreciated.

I'm running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit with mcafee firewall and virus guard.

If I switch on the Firefox web and error console I see:

GET http://bbc/ [undefined 2236ms]

Then:

GET http://www.google.com/search?q=bbc&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 302 Found]

Then (4 minutes later):

GET http://www.google.com/search?q=bbc&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 302 Found 240094ms]

Then:

GET http://www.google.com/search?q=bbc&safe=strict&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 302 Found 267ms]

Then:

GET http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bbc&safe=strict&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 200 OK 431ms

... and Firefox 'connects' and responds with the google results page.

Eventually figured out what was causing the problem... Mcafee Home Protection is blocking the google search. If I disable the 'Turn on safe searching in search results' (found in Websites/Custom/Safe Searching) then the problem goes away.

I found the problem by returning to a save point and watching my system more closely. The Mcafee Home Protection automatic upgrade (with 'safe searching' switched on by default) introduced the problem.

Hope that helps others with the same problem. I'm now happily surfing with Firefox again :-).

I have a problem with Firefox 4.0.1. If I type a website name (e.g. bbc) into the 'awesome' bar then the browser says 'Connecting...' in the tab name (and shows 'waiting for www.google.com' at the bottom of the screen). Firefox takes several minutes to respond. However if I type the full URL into the awesome bar (e.g. www.bbc.com) then the browser connects straight away. If I type the website name into the search bar (default is google) then I get the same problem. But if I change the default search engine to 'bing' (say) then it returns with the search results, as expected. If tried several 'fixes' with no resolution: re-installing Firefox 4; cleared caches; ensured no proxy; running in safe mode; disabling all add-ons & extensions; disabling my mcafee firewall; full virus scan. If I run IE9 or Chrome then I have no problem - even though google is my default search engine. This is driving me mad :-). And forcing me to use an alternative browser. Your help would be appreciated. I'm running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit with mcafee firewall and virus guard. ---- If I switch on the Firefox web and error console I see: GET http://bbc/ [undefined 2236ms] Then: GET http://www.google.com/search?q=bbc&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 302 Found] Then ('''4 minutes later'''): GET http://www.google.com/search?q=bbc&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 302 Found 240094ms] Then: GET http://www.google.com/search?q=bbc&safe=strict&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 302 Found 267ms] Then: GET http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=bbc&safe=strict&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a [HTTP/1.1 200 OK 431ms ... and Firefox 'connects' and responds with the google results page. ---- Eventually figured out what was causing the problem... Mcafee Home Protection is blocking the google search. If I disable the 'Turn on safe searching in search results' (found in Websites/Custom/Safe Searching) then the problem goes away. I found the problem by returning to a save point and watching my system more closely. The Mcafee Home Protection automatic upgrade (with 'safe searching' switched on by default) introduced the problem. Hope that helps others with the same problem. I'm now happily surfing with Firefox again :-).

Modified by dolantj

All Replies (2)

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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Firefox 4 did away with the "Google I'm feeling lucky" search from the Location bar. This extension will restore it, or you can do it manually thru about:config.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/luckybar/

http://kb.mozillazine.org/Keyword.URL

dolantj
dolantj Question owner
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Thanks the-edmesiter for the suggestion but this doesn't fix the problem... The issue isn't that google fails to select a single 'I'm feeling lucky' option but that it doesn't select any option. I just get a 'Connecting' and 'waiting for www.google.com'.