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Firefox 15: How to prevent automatic plugin update checks

fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member -  
 lotus -
Hello,

Every time I open Firefox, the "blank page" tab (about:_blank) appears as I wish, but since yesterday, without me requesting anything, a second tab automatically opens on the "installed plugins update check" page, which I did not ask for. It's annoying, especially since that page crashes and serves no purpose other than to slow down the browser and clutter it with an unnecessary tab.

I therefore wish to prevent Firefox from automatically opening this second tab. Does anyone have a solution, please?
Thanks in advance.

Configuration: Windows 7 / Firefox 15.0.1

20 answers

  1.
    dubcek Posted messages 18627 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 659
     
    hello
    tools -> add-ons, the gear options in the top right
    3
  2. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
     
    NO, IT IS NOT RESOLVED!!!

    Let at least the person who raised the issue say whether the proposed solution works or not, and in this case, it does not work!!! I have therefore removed the mention of "Resolved"

    I am not asking to neutralize the "Preloading the list of add-ons". I am asking to be able to disable the "checking for updates available for add-ons (extensions, themes)".

    On the same page proposed by kaizersozy23, a manipulation is suggested that was already proposed earlier by Dubcek (1st response): https://support.mozilla.org/fr/kb/comment-empecher-firefox-etablir-automatiquement-connexions#w_vaerification-des-mises-aa-jour-automatiques :

    - In the extension tools, I unchecked "Automatically update add-ons." The command unchecks properly.

    - Then in the same extension tools, I clicked on "Disable automatic updates for all add-ons." But here, clicking on this command does not produce anything, it remains unchanged, it is not disabled, and the second tab still automatically opens on this update check. Even after updating to FF 16.

    The problem remains unsolved!
    3
  3. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
     
    For the initial problem (the second tab that automatically opens when checking for plugin updates), I think I finally found it:

    In "about:config", go to the line: 
    extensions.update.autoUpdateDefault

    and toggle it to: 
    false

    There, I believe it's resolved.
    2
  4. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
     
    I am mentioning once again what I reported but which did not seem to alert you:

    In "about:config" there is a line "plugins.update.notifyUser". Its default value is "False" but for me it is set to "True" which is a "user-defined" value while I did not ask for anything.

    I therefore switched it to its default value "False". Upon relaunching FF, the second tab no longer opens, but when checking in "about:config" the aforementioned line has reverted to the user-defined value "True", so that relaunching FF again causes the second tab to reopen on that damn page.

    It seems that FF accepts the change of the value of the line "plugins.update.notifyUser" in "about:config" but then after relaunching it automatically resets it to the user-defined value "true" without me asking for anything. However, I want FF to retain the default value "False".

    The problem seems to lie at this level.
    2
    1. dubcek Posted messages 18627 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 659
       
      show hidden files
      go to the Firefox profile
      check if this variable is present in the prefs.js file
      0
  6. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
     
    dubcek: No, nothing works. I disabled the "automatically update" command, but the tab still opens automatically every time I start FF and it's really annoying.
    0
  7. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    Hello,

    Tools
    Options
    General tab
    In startup, what appears on Firefox startup and homepage?

    Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      When I opened it, I requested a blank page (about:blank). Firefox opens correctly with a first tab "blank page" but a second tab also opens with that damned page.
      0
  8. dubcek Posted messages 18627 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 659
     
    Look there Disable Firefox extension compatibility
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      Thank you Dubcek, but that doesn't stop this second page from opening automatically when launching Firefox.
      0
  9. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    In the search bar, click on ?
    Restart with add-ons disabled
    Restart
    Click on --> Reset firefox

    Set about:blank as the homepage

    --
    Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      Ouch! I did what you told me: that darn page always opens in a second tab, but on top of that, I've lost all my appearance themes and the modules I usually used...
      0
    2. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      After doing what you told me, I've lost all my extensions! I no longer have a single one, and I'm forced to search for them again wherever I can. The worst part is that the one I used the most for editing my web pages, "view source with," has been removed by its author, so I can't get it back, even though it was very handy and offered a lot of possibilities (editing the source code, detecting and editing style sheets, detecting and editing JavaScript files...). I'm furious... bad move!
      0
    3. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      So now my priority is to find the "view source with" extension because it is essential for me. But I don't know where it is; I have been searching in vain for an hour...
      0
    4. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
       
      This extension? --> https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/view-source-chart/
      0
    5. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      Thank you, kaneagle, but that's not it. I tried it, and it doesn’t suit me. Don’t worry, I just found it again on the Dafizila website, phew!
      0
  10. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    Tools
    Options
    General tab
    In Startup, what is displayed on the home page?

    --
    Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.
    0
  11. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    Go to: C\Users\your username\Appdata\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxdefault\extensions
    Check if there is a folder corresponding to the view source extension

    --
    Humans are at their best when things are at their worst.
    0
  12. Alsem Posted messages 4 Status Member
     
    Hello fiofiojm,
    I've been following the conversation, and I have exactly the same issue. Nothing works to remove the verification that appears in a new tab. It's driving me crazy.
    Uninstalling, reinstalling, updating all plugins. And that damn tab keeps reappearing!
    Did you finally find the solution?
    Thanks
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      No Alsem,
      I thought I had found it in "about:config" by disabling the line "extensions.update.autoUpdateDefault" by switching the value to "False," but it doesn't work; the second tab still opens. I only managed to prevent the second tab from opening on the page in question by going into "about:config" and removing the value of the line "plugins.update.url" (empty string instead of the page address).
      The second tab still opens, but on a blank page; it’s annoying, but much less than before.
      Otherwise, I also tried switching the line "plugins.update.notifyUser" to "false" (which is the default value), but it keeps reverting to "True" on Firefox's first startup with the message "user-defined value." I don't understand this phenomenon.
      Anyway, the problem is not resolved.
      0
    2. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
       
      Update Firefox, we are now at version 16 since yesterday.
      0
    3. Alsem Posted messages 4 Status Member
       
      fiofiojm, thank you for your response. Just so you know, I haven't had the issue since yesterday. If it helps, I had a faulty plugin (acrobat). I deleted it and then reinstalled it. After that, I upgraded to version 16 of Firefox. For now, everything is normal.
      0
  13. dubcek Posted messages 18627 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   5 659
     
    hello
    try to create a new profile: firefox -P
    0
  14. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    Go to the add-ons
    Disable all plugins and extensions
    Restart Firefox and see if the second tab still appears.

    --
    Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      No, the tab still opens.
      0
  15. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    Have you uninstalled Firefox and reinstalled it?
    If you uninstall it, do not check --> delete my files.

    --
    Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      The last manipulation of this kind suggested here caused me to lose important elements of FF without solving the problem, and it took me ages to find what I had lost. I am not going to try that experience again.
      0
    2. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
       
      On the desk, there was this folder --> old firefox data
      So, nothing was lost.
      0
  16. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    There is probably something in the Firefox program or in your profile that is preventing this change.
    That's why I asked you if you had uninstalled it to see if it's really the Firefox program that is causing this issue.

    We might be able to check if there is an adware that would cause this problem:
    Download this utility --> AdwCleaner
    and place it on the desktop.

    Run it as administrator and click on scan.

    Post the report.

    --
    Human beings are at their best when things are at their worst.
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      Here is the report: 
      -\\ Mozilla Firefox v16.0.1 (en) Profile name: default-1349559409037 [Default profile] File: C:\Users\Jean-Marc\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\nda6oat1.default-1349559409037\prefs.js [OK] The file contains no illegitimate entries.


      I still cleaned the files and the registry that seemed polluted. Upon restarting FF, the second tab still opens.
      0
    2. lotus
       
      Great discovery with AdwCleaner, thank you! Between that and the key change, it seems to have worked for me.
      0
  17. MJ*
     
    Hello,

    It seems that the preference changes are not being saved... they are not taken into account.

    This might be due to "privacy" cleaning, like with software or an extension like "Click and Clean" or others... and so the changes we make are not saved.

    Or it could be "Norton," McAfee, Creative Zencast, (third-party programs) that force Firefox to use and keep certain settings. As explained in the next link I’m providing...

    There are solutions, such as deleting certain files in the profile folder... if that's the cause... and other suggestions here > https://support.mozilla.org/fr/kb/corriger-modifications-prefs-non-prises-compte#w_les-praefaerences-spaecifiques-ne-sont-pas-enregistraees

    Maybe a corrupted file?

    It’s possible that resetting Firefox might be the best solution...

    Good luck!

    “The fear of needles can't be cured by acupuncture.”
    0
  18. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
     
    I think I have found a beginning of an answer:

    In fact, it is the command "Tools>Add-ons" that triggers the switch to the value "True" of the line "plugins.update.notifyUser".

    When FF is closed while the add-ons page has been opened in the browser, upon restarting FF, a second tab automatically opens for checking add-on updates. When FF is closed without this add-ons page being opened in the browser, upon restarting FF, the second tab no longer opens. Therefore, it is this page "Tools>Add-ons" that causes the problem. Since I have the extension "All in Slidebar" which keeps this page "tools>add-ons" loaded in the background, every time FF closes it behaves as if this page was open in the browser and the inherent problem with this add-ons page manifests itself every time FF is opened. It was by disabling this module "All in Slidebar" that I figured this out.

    The problem is therefore that the command "Tools>Add-ons" changes the line "plugins.update.notifyUser" by automatically switching it to the value "true" without asking anyone. The question then becomes, how to prevent this?

    EDIT: The problem also occurs when certain web pages have been opened in the browser, such as Facebook or this forum page, for example.
    0
  19. Alsem Posted messages 4 Status Member
     
    Hello fiofiojm,

    For my part, I no longer have any issues with that pesky tab!!!

    As I mentioned before, I had a problem with a plugin (Adobe Acrobat Reader). I completely uninstalled this software from the PC and updated everything else. No more problems since then. I also removed unnecessary plugins (just in case).

    Regarding your last post, you’re right, as soon as we open the plugin update verification page, the value of the line plugins.update.notifyUser will switch to true and will remain so until all plugins are up to date.

    It seems to me that it’s the developers' intention to automatically warn users about the presence of obsolete plugins that have security vulnerabilities.

    As for the other solutions I tried, nothing worked. I completely uninstalled FF, reset FF, disabled the plugins, ran everything through antivirus, anti-malware, anti-everything. Nothing helped.

    I also switched to version 16, but I don't know if that made a difference.

    You didn’t specify if your plugins were up to date (I know, silly question but still)

    Anyway, good luck!
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      I think you are right about the fact that it is actually the modules with outdated updates that generate the problem as soon as a webpage that might use one of these outdated modules has been opened in the browser. I have three modules with outdated updates but I can't remove them. They appear as present in the browser (Tools > Add-ons), their "Remove" button is grayed out and non-functional. However, they do not appear in the "Extensions" folder via Windows Explorer while the other modules are there. I have followed the various operations proposed by Mozilla to remove them (via the browser in safe mode, via the Windows control panel, and through manual deletion directly in the "Extensions" folder). Nothing works, in FF I cannot delete them and in the "Extensions" folder of Windows Explorer they do not appear anywhere. Yet I think like you: if I delete these modules the problem will be solved but how can I delete them since the four methods proposed by Mozilla do not work even with FF 16. It's enough to pull your hair out.
      0
    2. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      I'm sorry, I can't assist with that.
      0
    3. Alsem Posted messages 4 Status Member
       
      I think we will need to uninstall everything related to DivX. Then do a registry cleanup. If that doesn't work, we need to identify the registry keys related to DivX Web Player and delete them manually. Remember to back up the registry first.
      0
  20. kaneagle Posted messages 86278 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   14 682
     
    Go to: C\Users\your username\Appdata\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\xxxxxdefault\extensions
    Check if it is present in the list.
    --
    Humanity is at its best when things are at their worst.
    0
    1. fiofiojm Posted messages 92 Status Member 13
       
      I said it above. The outdated modules and extensions do not appear either in the "extensions" folder in Windows Explorer via the path you indicate or in "Programs and Features" in the Windows control panel.
      0
  21. AcroSticH Posted messages 996 Status Member 7
     
    Hello,

    it's your Adobe Acrobat plugins that are conflicting..
    Remove them in: (C:)>Programs>Mozilla Firefox>plugins
    then update.

    There you go, it works ;)

    --
    The more we know, the more we love. "Leonardo da Vinci"
    0