370073 - Failure to load a web shortcut if Firefox is not already running

Status: RESOLVED WORKSFORME

(Firefox :: Shell Integration, defect)

Description

[IU]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8) Gecko/20051111 Firefox/1.5
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/20070208 Firefox/2.0.0.2

With Firefox 2.0.0.2 RC1 installed and Firefox set as the default browser, a Windows error message of the form: "Windows cannot find '[INSERT URL HERE]'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.  To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search." will appear if you launch a web shortcut when Firefox is not running.

Immediately following the error message, Firefox loads, but without loading the page in the shortcut.  For instance, if you had Firefox configured to restore your session, all your windows and tabs will be restore sans the shortcut you clicked.

Interestingly, I do not experience this same problem on my works system, on which I have also installed 2.0.0.2 RC1.  The one significant difference between the two systems, amongst many, is that the system exhibiting problems (my home system) has IE 7 installed also.  Therefore, IE 7 might need to be present.

I do not recall seeing this problem with 2.0.0.1 and earlier

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Install Firefox 2.0.0.2 RC1 (installer build) on a system with IE 7
2. Ensure Firefox is set as your default browser
3. Create a shortcut (e.g. on your desktop) to a website you know is reachable.
4. Shutdown Firefox and check Task Manager to ensure it's not still running
5. Double-click the web shortcut.  At this point you should get an error message indicating "Windows cannot find '[INSERT URL HERE]'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.  To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search."  Firefox should launch there after, absent the URL from your shortcut
6. Now that Firefox is loaded, again double-click your shortcut and notice that the page loads without complaint.

Actual Results:  
As described.


Expected Results:  
Double-clicking the shortcut, when Firefox is not running, should result in the associated URL loading without further intervention.


This is what I experience using Firefox for the en-us locale, on Win XP.  Another user, with the de locale on Win XP, reports something slightly different here: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?p=2743729#2743729

Comment 1

[Ria Klaassen (not reading all bugmail)]

Related to Bug 370053 ?

Comment 2

[Carsten Book [:Tomcat]]

WFM on Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.0; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2) Gecko/2007020823 Firefox/2.0.0.2 on Windows 2000/XP/Vista

Firefox is set to default (also checked via Tools -> Options -> System Defaults) and links (like a Bookmarks Shortcut on Desktop) start Firefox.

I have seen a related Error Message "Windows cannot find '[INSERT URL HERE]'" on Vista before, when no default browser was set.

Comment 3

[Greg]

I have Firefox set to default and am receiving the the error message:  

"Windows cannot find '[INSERT URL HERE]'"

Firefox will then open to my default home page. If Fx is already open Internet Shortcuts will work correctly.

Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.8.1.2pre) Gecko/20070212 Firefox/2.0.0.2pre

WinXP.

Comment 4

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

Your build ID is Firefox/2.0.0.2pre... try RC!
ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/2.0.0.2-candidates/rc1

Comment 5

[Greg]

(In reply to comment #4)
> Your build ID is Firefox/2.0.0.2pre... try RC!
> ftp://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/nightly/2.0.0.2-candidates/rc1
> 

Installed installer build from your link.

Error message is gone but Fx only opens the Home Page and not the intended site.

I have tried 15 Internet Shortcuts including 5 made using Fx and same results.

-Greg

Comment 6

[IU]

Fixed in RC4

Comment 7

[Robert Strong (they/them - no direct email)]

No patch and I am unsure which of the patches I landed fixed this so resolved -> wfm