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The page isn't redirecting properly

  • 12 replies
  • 29 have this problem
  • 133 views
  • Last reply by brynn2

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Hi Friends,

I recently was given permission to edit a website (made with django). When I finished editing, and saved the new edits, I got the following error from Ff:

"The page isn't redirecting properly. Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies"

I have all cookies allowed for this site. And I don't know what else to do. I've contacted the admin for the site, and he says there is no redirect that he knows of. And I've looked at the page source and don't see any redirect in the code.

Note that the edits I made were successfully saved. Also, I have no idea where it might have been redirecting me to or through, since it was my first time doing this. But again, the admin says there are no redirects.

Can you all give me some info about this error message, that will help me to track down the problem?

Thank you very much.

PS -- And please don't reply by posting search results on the topic title. I've already done that and didn't find an answer. Please reply only if you know something about this. Thanks  :-)

Hi Friends, I recently was given permission to edit a website (made with django). When I finished editing, and saved the new edits, I got the following error from Ff: "The page isn't redirecting properly. Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete. This problem can sometimes be caused by disabling or refusing to accept cookies" I have all cookies allowed for this site. And I don't know what else to do. I've contacted the admin for the site, and he says there is no redirect that he knows of. And I've looked at the page source and don't see any redirect in the code. Note that the edits I made were successfully saved. Also, I have no idea where it might have been redirecting me to or through, since it was my first time doing this. But again, the admin says there are no redirects. Can you all give me some info about this error message, that will help me to track down the problem? Thank you very much. PS -- And please don't reply by posting search results on the topic title. I've already done that and didn't find an answer. Please reply only if you know something about this. Thanks :-)

Modified by brynn2

Chosen solution

Note that Firefox has a setting to allow third-party cookies for visited sites.

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"

You can set the Boolean pref network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly to true on the about:config page to have third-party cookies act as session cookies.


Note that you have disabled the referrer (network.http.sendRefererHeader = 0) and it is possible that some websites do not work properly in this case.

  • network.http.sendRefererHeader = 2 (default)
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All Replies (12)

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Your "More System Details" shows two potential issues with cookie acceptance:

(1) Third Party Cookies -- not accepted; this article describes how to liberalize this setting: Websites say cookies are blocked - Unblock them.

(2) DoNotTrackMe extension -- may modify standard Firefox behavior.


And 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?

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Chosen Solution

Note that Firefox has a setting to allow third-party cookies for visited sites.

  • Tools > Options > Privacy > Firefox will: "Use custom settings for history"

You can set the Boolean pref network.cookie.thirdparty.sessionOnly to true on the about:config page to have third-party cookies act as session cookies.


Note that you have disabled the referrer (network.http.sendRefererHeader = 0) and it is possible that some websites do not work properly in this case.

  • network.http.sendRefererHeader = 2 (default)
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Thanks for both of your comments.

For jscher2000's suggestions:

1 - I doubt this site uses 3rd party cookies, but I'll ask.

2 - Actually DNT was my first thought. But I've looked through the DNT settings, and don't see anything about redirecting. So unless DNT blocks redirecting by default, it doesn't seem like it would be part of this problem.

______________

1 - I've cleared the cache as directed, but didn't fix the problem.

2 - I deleted that site's cookies, but didn't fix either.


For cor-el's suggestions:

1 - As before, I doubt if this site uses 3rd party cookies. But I've already asked them, and waiting for reply.

2 - Oh yes, I did disable the referrer header. I'll bet that's the source of the problem. I've sent an email to ask about that. I wonder if the site uses it in some innocuous way, which they can remove. Because I really don't care to reveal that info as a general policy.


I'll wait until I hear back from them, until I mark this problem solved. Although all of the info you have provided will be helpful for anyone with this problem. But at this point, it could either be 3rd party cookies or the referrer header, for me. So I'll let you know  :-)


Thank you very much!

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Did you try to enable the referrer as that is one of the possible causes?

A likely cause is an issue with cookies that are either blocked or corrupted.

It can be a problem with the server, but that is less likely.

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Yes, I just now reset the referrer header thing, and that was definitely what was causing the problem.

The reason I didn't try it already, is because I didn't see any reason for the referrer header situation. I wanted to make sure there wasn't a redirect there, so that's why I wanted to ask the admin. And indeed, after I set it back to allow, all it did was bring me right back to the page I had been on before! I really don't see why it's there in the first place!

But anyway, problem solved.

For the record, I've already disabled it again. I did it for better privacy. And who knows, maybe some industrious Ff plugin writer will make a whitelist for sending the referrer header? Ff does seem to have an active privacy/security community! Until then, I'll just have to deal with not being redirected (which is not necessarily a bad thing anyway, lol).

Thanks again for all you help  :-)

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You're welcome.

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Hey guys, sorry to dig this up again. (posting almost a month later)

I just came across this add-on -- maybe it's what I was wishing for? https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/referrer-control/?src=ss

Because of the broken grammar, I can't quite understand what this add-on does. So I thought I'd ask you guys.

Somehow, it seems to change the referrer heading, or disguises it, or something. I can't quite make it out.

I'm just wondering if it would be of use for me, where I don't want the referrer heading sent. However, some sites won't work properly without it. Will this add-on help me?

Thank you very much.

PS -- oh wait....or maybe this one? https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/refcontrol/ Similar names, different authors?

Modified by brynn2

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I haven't tried either of those. If the reviews look good, why not see whether they help you?

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Well, to answer your literal question -- because good reviews do not necessarily mean that the software is going to do what I want, or is even any good at all. (I could point you to thousands of software with good reviews that are actually malware!)

But to answer why I have not installed them just to find out -- Because of the grammar in the 1st one, I'm not sure exactly what it's supposed to do. I thought someone might be familiar with it, and could say whether it does what I think it sounds like it might do (as this topic explains what I want).

Why install something, until I understand what it's going to do?

I do pretty much understand the 2nd one I found, and I might actually install that. I only found it after I had already posted this message.

So my question now -- Are these similar or even identical add-ons? How do they differ? If I could understand the first one, I wouldn't have to ask.

Thanks again  :-)

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Maybe someone knows more about those extensions. Unfortunately I don't have time to test them myself.

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You can try to create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem

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Thanks cor-el, but the problem is solved, as far as the redirect issue.

Maybe I should have started a new topic.....maybe I will....

I just thought since the issue I was having because I had reset the referrer header, was explained through this thread, it would be easier than explaining it again in a new topic.

At least 1 of those programs I listed, as best I can understand, allows for customized referrer header, site by site. I just can't understand the other one though.

But you know what, I think I'll just start a new topic, and ask if anyone has experience with these, or can explain the one I can't understand.

Thanks again  :-)