hello, normally such issues are caused by a firewall/security software which doesn't recognize & therefore blocks new firefox versions: Fix problems connecting to websites after updating Firefox

Thanks Philipp - I tried several of the things from your link (firewall, proxy, IPv6, ... ) and none seemed to work on the day. This morning (Nov 8th), however, Firefox was back to normal. fingers crossed ...

I have this problem too and tried to fix it using the link supplied but unchecking, checking, and removing mozilla/reinstalling does not change the fact that the websites wont load anymore.

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 internet 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

Thank you cor-el. I will try that now. :)

Tried the other solutions. Nothing worked :( Guess I'll just have to use another browser.

Do a malware check with some malware scanning programs on the Windows computer.
Please scan with all programs because each program detects different malware.
All these programs have free versions.

Make sure that you update each program to get the latest version of their databases before doing a scan.

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:
  http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php
• AdwCleaner:
  http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/
  http://www.softpedia.com/get/Antivirus/Removal-Tools/AdwCleaner.shtml
• SuperAntispyware:
  http://www.superantispyware.com/
• Microsoft Safety Scanner:
  http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx
• Windows Defender: Home Page:
  http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
• Spybot Search & Destroy:
  http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
• Kasperky Free Security Scan:
  http://www.kaspersky.com/security-scan

You can also do a check for a rootkit infection with TDSSKiller.

• Anti-rootkit utility TDSSKiller:
  http://support.kaspersky.com/5350?el=88446

See also:

• "Spyware on Windows": http://kb.mozillazine.org/Popups_not_blocked

Thank you cor-el! I do use spybot but when I did a scan using Malware Bytes, it prompted me to reboot, after the scan. After that, I tried Firefox and it worked! I'm not sure if it was changing the settings that helped b4 the reboot or the one scan from malware bytes.Either way, it's up and running! Thanks so much! Bill

You're welcome. Glad that you got it fixed.

UGGGH! Now it wont load my home page. Even though I have it selected, it doesn't open with the web page anymore. I have to click the home button, which is no bettter than just clicking it on my toolbar.

Is this only with startup, but does the page work once you click the home button on the Navigation Toolbar?

What opens instead?

You can check the startup setting:

• Tools > Options > General > Startup: "When Firefox Starts": "Show my home page"

Use "Firefox > Exit" (Windows: Firefox/File > Exit; Mac: Firefox > Quit Firefox; Linux: Firefox/File > Quit) to close Firefox if you are currently doing that by clicking the close X on the Firefox title bar.

It opens up as a blank page. It does open if I click my home button. Under General settings, I have it setup to open my homepage and I have the URL link saved below. However, it opens up a blank page. The startup settings that you refer to below are over my head and I don't even know where to accsess that from. Thanks for your help with this. I wish this update didn't screw everything up so much.

This is the startup setting as you can find in the "Options > General" tab.
That is also the place where you set the Home page.

See:

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Options+window+-+General+panel

You can open the Options windows either via the Firefox menu button or if the menu bar is visible, via the Tools men.

• Press the F10 key or tap the Alt key to bring up the hidden "Menu Bar" temporarily.

Thanks Cor-el, That's actually what I did earlier, I just reached it a different way. I have it set to open my homepage. I have the page link saved as well. It doesn't open the designated page, instead it opens a blank page and it says it's a "new tab" on the top left. It does open if I click ther home icon. I just want it to open automatically, like it used to. Not the end of the world but frustrating, nonetheless..