Mozilla firefox not working in debian

travm · 02-06-2007, 06:52 PM

Hi, im running a brand new install of Debian using the linux26 (i believe that should have installed kernel 2.6.something, not sure how to check) and i have installed gnome (whichever version comes on the Sarge 3.1 R4 CD's). I also installed xfree86 and mozilla firefox. however to use the internet i must use epiphony because when i try to open firefox from the gnome menu(the foot -> Internet -> Mozilla Firefox) it thinks for a second then does nothing. I tried dpkg-reconfigure mozilla-firefox but it didnt seem to do anythign useful. I am a huge noob to both linux and debian.
Thanks

IBall · 02-06-2007, 07:17 PM

Since you are new to Debian, and Linux in general, I think Debian Sarge may not be the best choice of distro for you. Debian Stable receives no new packages since it has been released, and is about 18 months old. This means that you are using old packages. I strongly recommend that you upgrade to Debian Testing, which is going to be released as Stable soon. It is quite stable enough for almost all usage.

If you can browse with Epiphany, I am not sure what the problem with Firefox is. Try starting firefox from a terminal window (the command is just "firefox"). See what errors it produces, and post them here.

--Ian

travm · 02-06-2007, 07:25 PM

Code:

Xlib: connection to ":0.0" refused by server
Xlib: XDM authorization key matches an existing client!

(firefox-bin:3961): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:

interesting, no idea what the problem is.
as far as having new stuff, i can survive with 18 months old. Im downloading some new testing DVD's but for me the biggest thing is offline installs, stability, and stuff that works.
I have been urged to get ETCH already (testing?) but im not sure why other than, newer packages. could i not manually install firefox 2.0?
I dont think i'm there yet anyway but in theory why not?

IBall · 02-06-2007, 07:34 PM

That's odd. Are you starting firefox as the same user that started your XServer?

Try "xhost +" and see if that helps.

Etch is very stable, and everything does work. As I said before, Etch is nearly going to be the Stable release. IMO, it is ready now. You can install Firefox 2 (check the backports if it is there?), but I don't know if it will fix your problem.
The best way to install Debian is with a netinstall CD, which will install a minimal system, and then you download the rest of the packages as you need them using aptitude.

--Ian

rickh · 02-06-2007, 07:35 PM

Installing "new" stuff in Debian Stable is a risky proposition. The Stable release is for servers and workstations in a production environment. It's guaranteed to work if you leave it alone. Testing is much more satisfactory for the average hobbyist type user, and as far as stability goes, it's absolutely the best current distribution you can get short of building your own system from scratch.

Quakeboy02 · 02-06-2007, 07:37 PM

Firefox 2.0 requires libstdc++5. If you run firefox from the command line, you will see the error message.

utanja · 02-06-2007, 08:12 PM

also....firefox 2 i believe requires libcairo etc...which i dont believe is in sarge...

war1025 · 02-06-2007, 08:24 PM

I used firefox 2.0 in sarge. I downloaded it straight from their website though. Oh well, get Etch.

travm · 02-06-2007, 08:45 PM

interesting, though since i installed firefox from a cd, i think it said version 1.0.8.1 or something similar.
anyway, do i upgrade to etch from sarge?
or do i just download new DVD's, this machine will not have high speed internet for ever.

IBall · 02-06-2007, 08:59 PM

The upgrade from Sarge to Etch can be troublesome, due to the change from XFree86 to Xorg. I think a clean install would be better.

What speed is your internet connection? A netinstall is still better than downloading the DVDs, because you only download exactly the packages that you need. The netinstall CD image is only about 100Mb.

--Ian

travm · 02-06-2007, 09:24 PM

where do i find a netinstall testing image?
on the website i can only find stable.
or do I download the stable version and install etch somehow?

Quakeboy02 · 02-06-2007, 09:29 PM

"where do i find a netinstall testing image?"

http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/

rickh · 02-06-2007, 10:37 PM

Get the latest daily build image near the bottom of the page. They think it's ready to release as RC2 of the installer, and they want people to test it. By that very fact, it's probably the most trouble free installer there.

Also, you should be aware that when you install Etch, Firefox will be named IceWeasel