Firefox is not loading full pages April 10, 2015 7:02 AM Subscribe
I've recently switched back to using Firefox as my main browser. I've noticed there are a few web pages that don't load completely, and either content is missing or functionality is broken. I could probably live with it, but... the site I see it the most on is Metafilter. This can not stand! Details Inside...
I had posted this to askme yesterday but restless_nomad killed it and suggested I post here.
Computer is an HP ProBook running Windows 7, Firefox is version 37.0.1 (up to date). The issue is not consistent, but it is happening on Metafilter proper and all the sub-sites with alarming regularity. I can tell when it happens as the great "dynamic menu bar" doesn't appear when I scroll from the top of a page, but I also sometime see a partial side-bar or an incomplete footer. It seems worse with www.metafiler.com and fanfare.metafilter.com, 50-50 on metatalk.metafilter.com, and rarely on ask.metafilter.com. I can reload the page several times and things will finally load and work. (I assume a lot of the javascript is at the end of the page, which is why things break with partial page load).
I've tried to refresh Firefox, and created a new Firefox user profile. I've flushed cache, disabled extensions and add-ons, the works.
Very little comes up searching Google for solutions. I'm not sure how I could check to see if Firefox is giving up on loading the full page or if the data just isn't coming through. However, I don't see the issue when using Chrome or even IE so it seems browser specific.
I had posted this to askme yesterday but restless_nomad killed it and suggested I post here.
Computer is an HP ProBook running Windows 7, Firefox is version 37.0.1 (up to date). The issue is not consistent, but it is happening on Metafilter proper and all the sub-sites with alarming regularity. I can tell when it happens as the great "dynamic menu bar" doesn't appear when I scroll from the top of a page, but I also sometime see a partial side-bar or an incomplete footer. It seems worse with www.metafiler.com and fanfare.metafilter.com, 50-50 on metatalk.metafilter.com, and rarely on ask.metafilter.com. I can reload the page several times and things will finally load and work. (I assume a lot of the javascript is at the end of the page, which is why things break with partial page load).
I've tried to refresh Firefox, and created a new Firefox user profile. I've flushed cache, disabled extensions and add-ons, the works.
Very little comes up searching Google for solutions. I'm not sure how I could check to see if Firefox is giving up on loading the full page or if the data just isn't coming through. However, I don't see the issue when using Chrome or even IE so it seems browser specific.
I'm having the same(?) issue with Chrome. Won't allow me to add a comment to favorites.
Pic 1
Pic 2
I do NOT have the problem in Firefox. :P
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:20 AM on April 10, 2015
Pic 1
Pic 2
I do NOT have the problem in Firefox. :P
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:20 AM on April 10, 2015
I'm having the same problem in ffx but not in chrome. Chrome is the most recent build but ffx is, yes i know it is hilarious, ffx 11.0. It's only on my work computer so it might be the keylogger they installed last week, but no other sites are having the issue.
posted by poffin boffin at 8:23 AM on April 10, 2015
posted by poffin boffin at 8:23 AM on April 10, 2015
Firefox Developer Tools might be able to help you diagnose the problem. Try bringing up the Network monitor (Ctrl + Shift + Q) and when you have a partial page load, take a look at the pieces of the page below. That can tell you which part of the page isn't loading—or is taking a long time to load.
Sometimes The Deck ads in the sidebar can slow things down a bit if their server is unreachable (or blocked on your end). That could cause a broken sidebar like you mentioned. You could try clicking the X to close those ads and see if that helps. But the Network monitor built into Firefox should be able to let you know if that's the culprit.
ZenMasterThis, looks like you might have CloudFront blocked or you aren't able to reach it for some reason. Here's our FAQ about not being able to add favorites which explains things a bit.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:25 AM on April 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
Sometimes The Deck ads in the sidebar can slow things down a bit if their server is unreachable (or blocked on your end). That could cause a broken sidebar like you mentioned. You could try clicking the X to close those ads and see if that helps. But the Network monitor built into Firefox should be able to let you know if that's the culprit.
ZenMasterThis, looks like you might have CloudFront blocked or you aren't able to reach it for some reason. Here's our FAQ about not being able to add favorites which explains things a bit.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:25 AM on April 10, 2015 [1 favorite]
I am trying out pb's suggestion to use the Network monitor. I had to click around a few of the sites to get a failure, but I now have an example. I went to metatalk.metafilter.com and the page didn't fully load. It looks like a call to invision_01.png from decknetwork.net was the last bit to come in before the stall.
Screenshot with the bottom of the page not fully loaded, and the Network monitor. I also noticed the call to ping.chartbeat.net took a long time on the pages that fully loaded.
Hope this helps. I may close The Deck ads and see if that changes things.
posted by jazon at 8:49 AM on April 10, 2015
Screenshot with the bottom of the page not fully loaded, and the Network monitor. I also noticed the call to ping.chartbeat.net took a long time on the pages that fully loaded.
Hope this helps. I may close The Deck ads and see if that changes things.
posted by jazon at 8:49 AM on April 10, 2015
Data point.... No problems on Firefox for Mac version: 36.0.4. My Mac is running 10.6.8 Build 10K549.
posted by zarq at 8:54 AM on April 10, 2015
posted by zarq at 8:54 AM on April 10, 2015
Chartbeat does take a while to load, but that's not going to block other page elements like a slow Deck ad will. So the next question is: why are you having trouble reaching The Deck servers when others aren't? It could be a local network issue (though it sounds like your other browsers are fine). So my next guess is an extension that's trying to block them.
posted by pb (staff) at 8:54 AM on April 10, 2015
posted by pb (staff) at 8:54 AM on April 10, 2015
But looking closer at your screenshot—the ad is loading for you even though it's slow. It doesn't seem like the page should have stopped loading for you. So I don't think it's just a case of a slow Deck ad.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:01 AM on April 10, 2015
posted by pb (staff) at 9:01 AM on April 10, 2015
pb, another screenshot for you here. Again, I clicked over to metafilter.com, then ask, then fanfare (all three pages loaded w/o issue), and then back to metatalk. This time no 304 on any the favoriteFront javascript, but again no full page load.
You can see I'm at the bottom of the page, the footer didn't load, and no nav bar at the top.
posted by jazon at 9:05 AM on April 10, 2015
You can see I'm at the bottom of the page, the footer didn't load, and no nav bar at the top.
posted by jazon at 9:05 AM on April 10, 2015
A 304 status is no problem—that just means the script or page hasn't been modified since the last time you requested it. (Easy to confuse with 403 which means access forbidden, which I did at first glance.)
Did you try turning off the Deck Ads? Or is this with them on? Do you have all extensions and Greasemonkey scripts turned off?
posted by pb (staff) at 9:08 AM on April 10, 2015
Did you try turning off the Deck Ads? Or is this with them on? Do you have all extensions and Greasemonkey scripts turned off?
posted by pb (staff) at 9:08 AM on April 10, 2015
pb, I've disabled Deck Ads, extensions off, no Greasemonkey. latest metatalk screenshot with partial load.
This time the footer loads a bit more, but still not complete. (and lots of 304s, but now I know what that means!)
posted by jazon at 9:15 AM on April 10, 2015
This time the footer loads a bit more, but still not complete. (and lots of 304s, but now I know what that means!)
posted by jazon at 9:15 AM on April 10, 2015
ok, we know it's not a Deck issue or a local extensions problem. Unfortunately I'm now officially stumped. I've been testing Firefox on Windows 7 here and I'm not seeing anything similar.
posted by pb (staff) at 9:22 AM on April 10, 2015
posted by pb (staff) at 9:22 AM on April 10, 2015
pb, I'm looking at the inspector screen. What does the ::after do? I noticed it a couple times on pages that didn't load.
posted by jazon at 11:09 AM on April 10, 2015
posted by jazon at 11:09 AM on April 10, 2015
::after is a CSS Selector. You should see it on pages that load successfully too. In this case it helps with spacing elements on the page. I don't think it's playing a role with your problem.
posted by pb (staff) at 11:36 AM on April 10, 2015
posted by pb (staff) at 11:36 AM on April 10, 2015
Do you have secure browsing enabled, under preferences? I wonder if something's happening en route.
posted by Pronoiac at 12:12 PM on April 10, 2015
posted by Pronoiac at 12:12 PM on April 10, 2015
A: Do you have secure browsing enabled, under preferences? I wonder if something's happening en route.
B: Pronoiac, I do not have secure browsing enabled.
A: Try switching it on, and see if anything changes.
This is like the canonical example of debugging.
"I'll bet X is your problem." "I don't have X." "Then maybe X is your solution. Heck, if it's not your solution at least it's a diagnostic."
posted by benito.strauss at 12:51 PM on April 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
B: Pronoiac, I do not have secure browsing enabled.
A: Try switching it on, and see if anything changes.
This is like the canonical example of debugging.
"I'll bet X is your problem." "I don't have X." "Then maybe X is your solution. Heck, if it's not your solution at least it's a diagnostic."
posted by benito.strauss at 12:51 PM on April 10, 2015 [3 favorites]
"I'll bet X is your problem." "I don't have X." "Then maybe X is your solution."
I can think of many political debates where this also applies...
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:17 PM on April 10, 2015
I can think of many political debates where this also applies...
posted by oneswellfoop at 1:17 PM on April 10, 2015
I've always been told that Dilution is the Solution.
Secure Browsing is now enabled. I've taken a few rounds through all the 'filter sites, and so far the pages are loading properly each time. So, YAY!
Now, I don't want to jump to declaring this is resolved. But, so far so good.
posted by jazon at 1:44 PM on April 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
Secure Browsing is now enabled. I've taken a few rounds through all the 'filter sites, and so far the pages are loading properly each time. So, YAY!
Now, I don't want to jump to declaring this is resolved. But, so far so good.
posted by jazon at 1:44 PM on April 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
I finally decided to go with the nuclear option on Chrome ... I clicked on "Reset Settings" and went back to Chrome's default settings. Now the MetaFilter home page looks normal (classic) and I can favorite things again!
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:57 PM on April 10, 2015
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:57 PM on April 10, 2015
"I'll bet X is your problem." "I don't have X." "Then maybe X is your solution."
To X, the cause of... and solution to... all of life's problems.
posted by effbot at 2:49 PM on April 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
To X, the cause of... and solution to... all of life's problems.
posted by effbot at 2:49 PM on April 10, 2015 [2 favorites]
So X is beer, is it?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:01 PM on April 10, 2015
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 6:01 PM on April 10, 2015
This is like the canonical example of debugging.
No no no. The canonical example of debugging is "add a print statement".
posted by asterix at 8:30 AM on April 11, 2015 [5 favorites]
No no no. The canonical example of debugging is "add a print statement".
posted by asterix at 8:30 AM on April 11, 2015 [5 favorites]
No, the canonical example of debugging is "Can't reproduce on my computer / wontfix"
posted by ardgedee at 2:54 PM on April 11, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by ardgedee at 2:54 PM on April 11, 2015 [3 favorites]
No, the Canonical example of debugging is "that's the way our designers decided it should work, and they're really good, so STFU KTHXBI".
posted by flabdablet at 10:44 AM on April 12, 2015
posted by flabdablet at 10:44 AM on April 12, 2015
And here I thought the canonical example of debugging was Grace Hopper taping a moth into a log book.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:41 AM on April 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
posted by ocherdraco at 11:41 AM on April 12, 2015 [4 favorites]
Which I still haven't been able to figure out, because surely the relays in use for that project would have been factory sealed with dust covers.
posted by radwolf76 at 12:48 PM on April 12, 2015
posted by radwolf76 at 12:48 PM on April 12, 2015
Which I still haven't been able to figure out, because surely the relays in use for that project would have been factory sealed with dust covers.
If you manage to look at the pictures here (the interface is a bit weird), the relays have a plastic window on the front but are open on the reverse side. I guess the assumption was that it wouldn't be that dusty inside the machine, but the moth had apparently not gotten the memo.
posted by effbot at 4:03 PM on April 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
If you manage to look at the pictures here (the interface is a bit weird), the relays have a plastic window on the front but are open on the reverse side. I guess the assumption was that it wouldn't be that dusty inside the machine, but the moth had apparently not gotten the memo.
posted by effbot at 4:03 PM on April 12, 2015 [2 favorites]
After a full weekend of accessing metafilter.com and the sub-sites under "Secure Browsing" I've had no issues with partial page-loads. So... problem solved? I think so.
posted by jazon at 6:18 AM on April 13, 2015
posted by jazon at 6:18 AM on April 13, 2015
Thanks for letting us know. I still don't know what was causing it but I'm glad you found a way around it. Plus you now have the added benefit of secure browsing.
posted by pb (staff) at 10:00 AM on April 13, 2015
posted by pb (staff) at 10:00 AM on April 13, 2015
Is the secure browsing setting a cookie? I think I had it on under Chrome, but when I switched to FireFox it wasn't enabled (I had to re-enable dark mode when I switched to FF).
There are a couple other non-mefi sites that have loading issues so I think there's something with FireFox but it may be somewhat edge-case if there aren't a ton of people complaining, as far as I can turn up on Google.
posted by jazon at 1:42 PM on April 13, 2015
There are a couple other non-mefi sites that have loading issues so I think there's something with FireFox but it may be somewhat edge-case if there aren't a ton of people complaining, as far as I can turn up on Google.
posted by jazon at 1:42 PM on April 13, 2015
Yes, secure browsing works just like other display preferences that you can set your MetaFilter profile. Take a look at the last paragraph there for an explanation of how the display cookies work.
posted by pb (staff) at 2:03 PM on April 13, 2015
posted by pb (staff) at 2:03 PM on April 13, 2015
I thought as much. I went back to check Chrome and secure browsing is on, I probably overlooked it when I went back to Firefox.
posted by jazon at 2:10 PM on April 13, 2015
posted by jazon at 2:10 PM on April 13, 2015
While we're all here, can someone explain what checking the secure browsing option in your profile does? I don't have it checked currently, and a quick search of the FAQ didn't reveal anything.
posted by benito.strauss at 2:21 PM on April 13, 2015
posted by benito.strauss at 2:21 PM on April 13, 2015
With the secure browsing option on, MetaFilter will use an HTTPS connection for all MetaFilter pages. Here's the MetaTalk thread where we announced the feature: Help Test SSL Everywhere which has more information about how it works.
The gist is that secure browsing makes it harder for 3rd parties to eavesdrop on the connection.
posted by pb (staff) at 2:26 PM on April 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
The gist is that secure browsing makes it harder for 3rd parties to eavesdrop on the connection.
posted by pb (staff) at 2:26 PM on April 13, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by TravellingCari at 7:10 AM on April 10, 2015