Since installing the latest FF version 14.0.1 the search boxes on the home page don't work with google

Question

The normal google page works fine, but the search boxes on the home page (below firefox logo and the one top RH corner) just go nowhere unless you change the search provider using the dropdown, to yahoo or bing etc, in whcih case it searches fine - just won't work with google, which I prefer to use. I have an older version 3.6.13 on another desktop and that still works fine.
Any ideas team?

Answer 1

golden-grace, to answer some of your questions:
* Firefox 3.6 is no longer supported and will no longer be updated for security vulnerabilities or any other updates.
*On resetting '''browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone''': It's normal for the "welcome to Firefox" tab to open and for that preference to revert back to user-set and show Firefox 14.0.1 afterwards.
*On deleting the chromeappsstore.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder and then resetting that preference again: You can open the Profile folder from the Firefox Help -> Troubleshooting Information page. See the [[Profiles]] article for more information.
* On installing new search engines from http://mycroft.mozdev.org that simply adds new search providers to the [[Search Bar|Search Bar]]. It does not install a new search bar. You will still have a single Search Bar and the "normal" Google will still be listed.
Getting back to Google not working from the about:home homepage or from the upper right corner search box, you said,
''the page tab changes to "connecting" and the little circle starts revolving, just as though it is looking for the page as normal and at the bottom of the home page the message appears "waiting for www.google.com"''. You also said in your original post that, ''The normal google page works fine.'' Which normal google page is that?
If you can go to www.google.com directly, and it works fine:
I would try removing Google from the list of search providers and then use the "Restore Defaults" button in the Search Bar "Manage Search Engine List" dialog to add it back to the list, then select it again as your default. The [[Search Bar|Search Bar]] article explains in detail how to do that. (Alternately, try the [https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/searchreset/ Search Reset] add-on. This should also add back Google and set it as the default.)
If you try going to www.google.com but it never connects, that's a whole other issue. Putting that aside for now, if you would rather use google.co.uk from the Search Bar, you can install it <u>as an additional choice from the Search Bar drop-down menu</u>, by going here:
* http://mycroft.mozdev.org/google-search-plugins.html ... where it's listed as '''''Google UK - the Web (google.co.uk) by Mycroft Project'''''. (You will still have a single Search Bar and the "normal" Google will still be listed.)
If you try going to www.google.com but it never connects, you could troubleshoot that by following the [[Basic Troubleshooting]] article (I would start with clearing cookies and cache) but all of these steps may be frustrating for you. Another option is to simply reset Firefox (which saves your bookmarks, passwords, and some other essential data) to see if that resolves the problem. You can do that from the Firefox Help -> [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/provide-detailed-information-for-firfox-issues#w_accessing-the-troubleshooting-information-page Troubleshooting Information page]. For details, read the [[Reset Firefox – easily fix most problems]] article. You can then go to http://mycroft.mozdev.org/google-search-plugins.html and select your preferred Google search engine to use from the Search Bar.