Firefox connection problems/Pop ups/Google Chrome "unresponsive"

Hi,

I started having an issue a few weeks ago. When using firefox, new pages would pop-up in a new tabs (usually telling me to install updates to firefox or some other kind of link to a download.) With some applications, a pop-up would block my current window. I'd just close them and ignore.

Then about a week ago I started having connectivity issues. Firefox would connect to some web addresses, but not others. When this happened, I would switch to Google Chrome and could navigate where I needed to without any problems.

I ran through the malware removal routine posted here and the Firefox connectivity issues persist. I normally use Swagbucks as my search engine, but since I suspect it may be the source of the problem, I removed the extension/toolbar from both Firefox and Google Chrome.

This didn't solve the problem, so I uninstalled then reinstalled Firefox. When uninstalling, I did not click the box "Remove my Firefox personal data and customizations."

The general pattern seems to be that if I type a search term either directly into the search bar or into the drop-down to the right of it, or if I enter a search term using the google home page, Firefox will attempt to search then eventually time out and I will get this message:

"The connection has timed out

The server at www.google.com is taking too long to respond.

The site could be temporarily unavailable or too busy. Try again in a few moments.
If you are unable to load any pages, check your computer's network connection.
If your computer or network is protected by a firewall or proxy, make sure that Firefox is permitted to access the Web."

But generally, If I type a url directly into the search bar (www.reddit.com, for instance) I can connect. But I cannot connect at all to some sites I go to regularly, and I cannot connect to either gmail or hotmail, which I usually have open on my browser every time I use my computer.

Google Chrome doesn't have any of these kinds of issues, except that when I use it I constantly get the "Pages Unresponsive" pop-up telling me I can wait for or kill the unresponsive pages -- except that the pages listed will be functioning normally.

Thanks for your help! You guys are the best

 

Wow, that was quick!

I want to be sure before I run the uninstall with Firefox that using the method you've posted will not wipe out all the passwords I have saved on Firefox.

Will I be safe if I do what you've described?

Thanks again -

 

I followed the instructions and FF still isn't operating properly. I guess I'll have to move on to the software forum.

Thanks for your help -
CE