Hi rprickett,

That does not sound good at all, indeed. I will suggest a slightly extreme solution, but it should solve your problem:

The Refresh feature (called "Reset" in older Firefox versions) can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your bookmarks, history, passwords, cookies, and other essential information.

Note: When you use this feature, you will lose any extensions, toolbar customizations, and some preferences. See the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article for more information.

To Refresh Firefox:

1. Open the Troubleshooting Information page using one of these methods:
   • Click the menu button , click help and select Troubleshooting Information. A new tab containing your troubleshooting information should open.
   • If you're unable to access the Help menu, type about:support in your address bar to bring up the Troubleshooting Information page.
2. At the top right corner of the page, you should see a button that says "Refresh Firefox" ("Reset Firefox" in older Firefox versions). Click on it.
3. Firefox will close. After the refresh process is completed, Firefox will show a window with the information that is imported.
4. Click Finish and Firefox will reopen.

Did this fix the problem? Please let us know!

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift (Mac Options) > key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

Thanks, no, not a help. I've run every virus malware program, and all test good. Called Dell service and he remoted into machine. He ran all kinds of software--no help. Purged registry, deleted disabled all many things. Reset FF-no help. Uninstalled FF and reinstalled--no help. He did not believe it took a full minute to load a tab until he saw it. Once a tab finally opens, it's not full, and takes another minute to show the entire page. Some links take two minutes to open. Lower left says: 'connecting to" but takes forever. When I got this msg from you, it took a full minute to open the mail, another minute to reach the site, and another minute to see the entire page. Dell tech is stumped--me too. Am considering the scorched earth method and use Recovery mode and start over. Hate to do that, but can't have every email take 1-2 minutes to open. Many thanks for any ideas.

It is possible that your security software (firewall, anti-virus) blocks or restricts Firefox or the plugin-container process without informing you, possibly after detecting changes (update) to the Firefox program.

Remove all rules for Firefox and the plugin-container from the permissions list in the firewall and let your firewall ask again for permission to get full, unrestricted, access to install for Firefox and the plugin-container process and the updater process.

See:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Server+not+found
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Firewalls

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/fix-problems-connecting-websites-after-updating

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

• http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/

Many thanks--will try that later tonight. One of the first thing the Dell tech did when he remotely accessed this machine was to disable virus protection and firewall.

It had no effect. Would that be the same as your permission refresh method?

Separate issue--not related to this--is my ongoing problems with Win8.1's highly annoying OneDrive sync. So, Dell tech told me how to recover to default Win8, original configuration. That means entire evenings of re-installing everything, but close to taking that step.