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Why do some sites say my browser is out of date (v 3.6) when I am using Firefox 17.0.1 and am on the release update channel for automatic updates?

  • 3 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 17 views
  • Last reply by ideato

pamclements
pamclements
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In Facebook and while trying to access an online support mechanism at HP, I receive messages telling me that my browser is out of date. The HP site identified my version as 3.6, when I am actually using version 17.0.1. At least when I click on Help, About Firefox, it tells me I am using v. 17.0.1. Why does this happen? On the HP site, I could not fill in the online registration info as I was receiving javascript errors, along with the browser outdate error.

Even your own analysis below, sees my browser as v. 3. What gives?

In Facebook and while trying to access an online support mechanism at HP, I receive messages telling me that my browser is out of date. The HP site identified my version as 3.6, when I am actually using version 17.0.1. At least when I click on Help, About Firefox, it tells me I am using v. 17.0.1. Why does this happen? On the HP site, I could not fill in the online registration info as I was receiving javascript errors, along with the browser outdate error. Even your own analysis below, sees my browser as v. 3. What gives?

All Replies (3)

user633449
user633449
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Try the steps at How to reset the default user agent on Firefox, your user agent is corrupted

Cheng Wang
Cheng Wang
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Hi, what's going on is that you have a "stuck" user agent. The user agent is what your browser tells websites so the sites can identify things like version and operating system.

At some point around Firefox 3.6.18 you installed the Fast Browser Search toolbar (likely through some third party program, and possibly not intentionally). It changed a setting in Firefox and "locked" the user agent. Even though you're updating the browser, the user agent isn't updating.

There are two ways to get it fixed:

You can either reset Firefox settings (easier) or change the settings manually:

The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.

Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Or, you can just change the user agent settings manually:

  1. In the Location bar, type about:config and press Enter. The about:config "This might void your warranty!" warning page may appear.
  2. Click I'll be careful, I promise!, to continue to the about:config page.
  3. In the search box, type "general.useragent" (without quotes)
  4. Right click on each bolded item that shows up and select Reset from the menu.
ideato
ideato
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Hello pamclements, see also : http://help.fastbrowsersearch.com/

for me try to reset the useragent, as Tylerdowner said in his reply AND Cww said as second solution, it is easy you can do it.


thank you