Why won't FireFox open local .html files (when using "open file")?

I teach hand coding and use FireFox to grade my students work. I also tell them to use this browser to review their own work. If they cannot navigate to their files on their desktop I will have to switch to another browser. I know it is something from the latest version... as I have been using FireFox for the last 5 years as my classroom browser of choice.

Firefox should still be able to open files using open files.
I use Windows so things may differ slightly but the option to open files is available but not visible by default, I can get the option to browse for files using: keyboard keys'''Alt , F , O'''
My directory structure and path may differ slightly but I am also able to key directly into the location bar something such as '''''file:///C:/'''''
A third option would be simply to click on the relevant HTML file and use the option to open, or open with Firefox. Such files may also be bookmarked.

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Why won't Firefox let me access Google when it is in the tool bar anyway?

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Hi Chris, if you have never seen that error before, the issuer chain is what connects the site's SSL certificate with a globally trusted certificate. Typically one or more "intermediate" certificates are involved and the server needs to send those to the browser. Novice webmasters sometimes forget, but with Google, that seems unlikely. We should consider other possibilities.
(1) Cache mismatch
You can clear Firefox's cache of previously retrieved pages (not history but the files themselves) 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. When you revisit Google, Firefox should retrieve all the files fresh and hopefully this will clear up the issue.
(2) DNS hijack
Firefox usually relies on Windows to look up the true internet addresses of servers, but this can be overridden by a proxy setting or by an extension, and you might do this if you have signed up with a private VPN service (for anonymous browsing) or are using a TOR add-on.
(A) Proxy setting
You can review/modify your setting here:
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced > Network mini-tab > Settings button
The default setting is "Use system proxy settings" which should cause Firefox to use the same connection settings as IE.
(B) Extensions
You can review, configure, disable, and often remove extensions here:
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > ''in the left column click'' Extensions
Any that specifically target Google, such as privacy-related extensions, would be worth checking and possibly disabling.
Usually a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.
(C) External software
Other software on your computer can change how Windows finds site, including malware. If you are inclined to run a few supplemental scans, this support article recommends some free tools for that: [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]].
(D) Router settings
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Why won't Firefox play mp4 from my website using xplornet satellite?

I can play mp4's on my website using Firefox and dial in. When I try and use xplornet sattellite it doesn't see them .It will open wmv. If I use Explorer and teh satellite I can play them. Many people with different operating systems and browsers can play them.
What do I have to add, change or do for Firefox to play mp4 from my website? We have loaded the latest Firefox and it still doesn't work. It ha sto do with the satellite and Firefox. We must be missing some plug in, add on or something else.
thank You

Hello,
I think the problem is your OS. Firefox supports playback of H264 encoded video (mp4) but only where the ability to decode the stream is already included in the Operating System or in the hardware.
This means that it will work for Windows Vista and above but not for XP since XP doesn't include the decoder.
''"To avoid patent issues, support for MPEG 4, H.264, MP3 and AAC is not built directly into Firefox. Instead it relies on support from the OS or hardware. Firefox supports these formats on the following platforms: Platform Firefox version Windows 7+ 21.0 Windows Vista 22.0 Android 20.0 Firefox OS 15.0"''
See here for more:
* https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/HTML/Supported_media_formats
* https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=799318
I am not sure but it may work if you install the VLC plugin: https://wiki.videolan.org/Windows/#VLC_Plugin_for_Firefox_.28Mozilla.29
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http://www.webmproject.org/
I hope this helps.

Why won't FIREFOX save my HISTORY settings of USE CUSTOM settings?!!!

This is very very annoying. I'm ready to throw this program down the bit bucket.
I use it to access facebook and play farmville. I need it to REMEMBER things so that every time I load farm ville it doesn't have to get stuff from their server..
Every time I open fire fox, and go to face book, and load farmville I get a message that says I can load faster if I allow it to store data on my Computer..
I go to firefox settings and find ONCE AGAIN my History preferences will NOT save "USE CUSTOM SETTINGS".
I have to change it every time. I have both 32 bit and 64 bit Nightly (beta) versions on my computer.
I have totally removed both, restarted windows 7, restarted it again, re-installed fire fox and it STILL happens...
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''cor-el [[#answer-664256|said]]''
<blockquote>
Don't get confused:
If you see "(Never) Remember History" then that means that all history and cookie settings are set to the default value (i.e. cookies are enabled).
The "Use custom settings for history" selection allows to see the current history and cookie settings, but selecting this doesn't make any changes to history and cookie settings.
Firefox shows "Use custom settings for history" as an indication that at least one of the history and cookie settings is not the default to make you aware that changes were made.
If all History settings are default then the custom settings are hidden and you see "Firefox will: (Never) Remember History".
"Never Remember History" means that Private Browsing is active and "Always use private browsing mode" gets a checkmark.
"Use custom settings for history" stays selected if at least one of the History or Cookie settings is not the default to make you aware that changes from the default setting have been made.
</blockquote>
OK so I agree I was confused. What is confusing me even more is the number of times sites tell me I need to set my cookie settings to accept when as far as I can see it already is.

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'''To reset your home page, do the following'''. 
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There is a troubleshooting article with suggestions. Don't know whether you've tried these yet: [http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Firefox%20cannot%20load%20websites%20but%20other%20programs%20can Firefox cannot load websites but other programs can | Troubleshooting | Firefox Help].

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Try disabling the AVG Safe Search extension that you have installed. As '''''John99''''' alluded to, that extension has been reported to cause that problem for other users on 3.6.13 - AVG has some fixing to do with that extension.

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Opening local .html files on iPad

I have created a personal homepage that I have loaded on my Macs at home. Any way I can use this file on my iPad 3?

It is possible to open local HTML files in Safari on iPad2. Easy!
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Why won't FireFox 4 play mp3 files that have been created since the FF update? It will play mp3 files created prior to the FF update. All of the mp3 files have been created in the same manner, as bounces from Logic Pro 9. Thank you.

Hi David,
Thank you for your detailed question. It sounds like the real issue is pdf files. Are there any antivirus/firewalls that might be blocking this specific file type? or are there any preferences in your control panel that might be blocking this?
Do you have any stored preferences for PDF files in Firefox?
*[[Applications panel - Set how Firefox handles different types of files]]

Firefox won't open following update. Can't open Profile Mgr, even when using entire directory path in cmd line

I'm running Firefox on a Windows 7 machine. Firefox won't open following the latest update. I've read the help articles and it seems like I need to create a new profile because my settings have likely been corrupted. I'm unable to open Profile Mgr, even when using entire directory path in cmd line. I've tried the following commands in the command line:
firefox -p
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p
Nothing happens with either command.
I'm also running Norton Internet Security. I read a help article Re Virtual Browsing features possibly causing a problem. The article said to check the virtualization setting in the internet security software and to clear the virtual cache. I went thru all of the settings menus in Norton Internet Security version 21.6.0.32 and I didn't see anything that looked like 'virtualization" settings, so I assumed that this doesn't apply to me.
If you have any ideas, I'd sure appreaciate your expertise!!

''arcandl [[#question-1038482|said]]''
<blockquote>
I'm running Firefox on a Windows 7 machine. Firefox won't open following the latest update. I've read the help articles and it seems like I need to create a new profile because my settings have likely been corrupted. I'm unable to open Profile Mgr, even when using entire directory path in cmd line. I've tried the following commands in the command line:
firefox -p
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p
Nothing happens with either command.
I'm also running Norton Internet Security. I read a help article Re Virtual Browsing features possibly causing a problem. The article said to check the virtualization setting in the internet security software and to clear the virtual cache. I went thru all of the settings menus in Norton Internet Security version 21.6.0.32 and I didn't see anything that looked like 'virtualization" settings, so I assumed that this doesn't apply to me.
If you have any ideas, I'd sure appreaciate your expertise!!
</blockquote>
''philipp [[#answer-670108|said]]''
<blockquote>
hello arcandl, when firefox isn't launching after you double-click on the shortcut this is sometimes also a sign of malware being active on a system.
you might want to try running a scan with some different other security tools like the [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free free version of malwarebytes] and [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ adwcleaner] which are specialised in removing adware and browser hijackers.
[[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]]
</blockquote>
Phillip - You're a genius!!! I ran malwarebytes and it resolved my problem. Thank you so much!!!

Why won't firefox search?

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Also what is the line below this for? if I mouse over it I get a pointy finger, but it is blank and remains blank.

If you can't clear that saved form and search history then there may be nothing to clear.
Start Firefox in [[Safe Mode]] to check if one of your add-ons is causing your problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).
See [[Troubleshooting extensions and themes]] and [[Troubleshooting plugins]]
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You can use "Disable all add-ons" on the [[Safe mode]] start window to disable all extensions.
You have to close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")
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Windows, XP on a Dell Inspiron.

See "Hang at exit":
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Firefox_hangs
* https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Firefox+hangs

Why won't FireFox open local .html files (when using "open file")?

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