FIREFOX - Possible Windows Error Dialog on Launch

This is about an occasional problem with the Firefox browser.

This problem happened to me after:

1. Upgrading from Firefox 6 to Firefox 7


2. Then after installing a new Add-on

I did some research on the Firefox Support Forum I found the solution.

The problem is getting a Windows error dialog when Firefox cold-launches using your [Favorites] menu. By "cold-lunch" I mean when Firefox is NOT already running.

(click for larger view)


I stress this is a Windows dialog that appears BEFORE Firefox opens.

This is the fix found on the support site and it does work:

Firefox Win Error Fix

Registry Editor (regedit)

CAUTION: Editing the registry incorrectly can damage your system. Do not attempt these steps if you are inexperienced or uncomfortable using the Registry Editor.

BEFORE making changes, from the tree hierarchy on left of REGEDIT, backup the "open" folder for EACH entry listed below by righ-clicking the folder and using [Export]. Save the result as the branch-name but change "\" to dashes.

NOTE: Make the changes in the order they appear on the tree. (order shown here)

Use the directory tree hierarchy to navigate to the following and DELETE the "ddeexec" registry key:

1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\ddeexec


2. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL\shell\open\ddeexec


3. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec


4. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTPS\shell\open\ddeexec

After making the changes and closing the Registry Editor, Log Off then Log On.

Now use your [Favorites] menu to launch a site. The Windows error dialog should not appear.

Note that others have had this problem, and why it happens is not known.

WINXP - WEB Browser Evaluations

What follows is my very personal evaluations of various WEB Browsers I've "played" with. My evaluations are not highly technical, which is why I used the term "played."

The evaluations were performed on 3 WinXP SP3 systems with IE8, 2 at work and my home.

One system at work is an IT Test Station (slow with low resources) with a vanilla WinXP SP3.

One system at work (my office desktop), and my home system, both run RoboForm and Star Downloader.

Browsers (my-rating):

• IE8 (3/5)


• Firefox (4/5)


• Opera (3/5)


• Safari for Windows (1/5)

IE8:

While IE8 has been improved since it initial release, like everything Microsoft, it is still a resource hog. And from what I see, slower than the other browsers I've looked at.

CAUTIONS:

To make IE8 fully safe, there are things you should set/enable.

• Use Microsoft Update

If you are not using it now, just open Windows Update and look in the lower-right corner, you'll see the offer to upgrade to Microsoft Update. Use the link to open another window to install.


• Open Internet Options, Advanced tab, and ensure Automatically check for Internet Explorer updates is checked.

Firefox 3.6:

I really like Firefox, especially since it automatically integrated RoboForm and can use Star Downloader.

It has the capability of installing Add-ons (Plug-ins & Extensions).

Plug-ins = additional code, usually a DLL file (like the ones for Star Downloader or Google Updater).

Extensions = Files that you can download/install from the Mozilla Firefox Add-ons WEB page. Example, ABC SpellBound spell checker.

There is one bug, at least with Firefox 3.5.x, the Print-to-Fit does not work properly. I used this Star War article as a test because in has tables. Firefox's Print-to-Fit chops off the right side of the tables.


Opera 10.10:

This is an offering from Norway, and is seen by many to be very good. From my testing is does look good, especially its in-built downloader and Password Manager (can be set to work like RoboForm with a Master Password).

The Print-to-Fit also works correctly and it has some nice configuration options.

The Bookmarks menu takes a bit to get use to, but if you add the Bookmarks Drop-Down button it becomes more familiar.

The one flaw I found is when I tried to use Blogger's editor (which I'm using now, in Firefox) it did not display correctly.

Safari 4 for Windows:

This is a MAC import of course. But, for Windows, it is NOT ready. Its configuration, even after 4hrs, was hard to understand. Like another evaluation article commented, it does not automatically have a Home button! Also, I found WEB page display problems with some sites.

This browser needs more work.

WINXP - Report on Firefox Browser

I have just started to use Mozilla Firefox Browser at home and work. So here's my impressions when run on WinXP.

(Note that I use Firefox on my Linux Ubuntu Notebook PC)

Off the bat, it is faster than IE8 (which I run at home/work).

Has some very nice Add-ons you can install via Firefox's Tools menu.

I am using Firefox to post this article as we "speak." It is very nice in appearance and ease of use.

I highly suggest you try it, and it's FREE.

Here is a list of recommended Add-ons:

• Add Bookmark Here (adds this to the top of each Bookmark list)
  
• CheckPlaces (verifies URL & can update Favcons)
  
• FireFTP
• ABC SpellBound (spelling checker)
  
• CookieSafe (tracks cookies & includes Blacklist option)
  
• View Cookies (easy way to view cookies on a page via Tools, Page Info)
  
• Print Preview 0.7.1.4 (you can add a [Print Preview] button to Toolbar)
  
• Default FullZoom Level 4.3 (easy way to set zoom factor)
  

I did find one fault which I've reported to Mozilla. The Firefox Print-to-Fit does not work properly.

Example you go to the Star Wars article in Wikipedia, there are tables. The print-out from Firefox, the tables are chopped-off on the right, in IE8 the full table is shown. Small annoyance as far as I'm concerned.

(12/22/2009 update)

Just discovered something due to a problem another Firefox user had.

Some sites may have music that plays in the background. The problem is the HTML code used is an outdated Microsoft Frontpage standard called "bgsound" that is IE only code.

It is not supported by Firefox. The new HTML standard is to use what is called an embedded object, like the code use by YouTube which you can add to your WEB page (like this blog).