Netscape.cfg/AutoConfig failed. #214

MahoganyPrime commented 2025年12月17日 20:22:39 +01:00

Confirmation Checklist

• I confirm that this issue occurs on the latest release of Phoenix. You can check what the latest version is on the Releases page.
• I confirm that this issue has NOT already been reported on the Codeberg issue tracker, the GitLab issue tracker, and/or the GitHub issue tracker.

What web browser(s) are you using with Phoenix?

Firefox

Other

No response

What operating system(s) are you experiencing this issue on?

Windows

Other

No response

What version of Firefox/Gecko and Phoenix are you using?

FF: 146
Phx: 2025年11月27日.1

If you remember, what version of Firefox/Gecko and Phoenix did you first notice the issue on?

FF: 146
Phx: 2025年11月27日.1

I have been using Phoenix on Firefox windows over several versions and this is the first that I have experienced this type of issue where a warning prompt shows up.

Does the issue occur on a new browser profile?

• Yes
• No

Please share your browser's distribution ID.

N/A

Please share your browser's update channel.

Update Channel: release

Please share a list of your currently installed browser add-ons/extensions, as well as the versions you have installed.

`

Add-ons Name	Type	Version	Enabled	Add-on Type	UUID
Add-ons Search Detection	extension	3.0.0	true	app-builtin-addons	addons-search-detection@mozilla.com
Bitwarden Password Manager	extension	2025120	true	app-profile	{446900e4-71c2-419f-a6a7-df9c091e268b}
Data Leak Blocker	extension	144.0.0	true	app-builtin-addons	data-leak-blocker@mozilla.com
Firefox Multi-Account Containers	extension	8.3.6	true	app-profile	@testpilot-containers
Form Autofill	extension	1.0.1	true	app-builtin-addons	formautofill@mozilla.org
IPP Activator	extension	0.1	true	app-builtin-addons	ipp-activator@mozilla.com
New Tab	extension	146.1.0	true	app-builtin-addons	newtab@mozilla.org
Picture-In-Picture	extension	1.0.0	true	app-builtin-addons	pictureinpicture@mozilla.org
Sidebery	extension	5.4.0	true	app-profile	{3c078156-979c-498b-8990-85f7987dd929}
uBlock Origin	extension	1.68.0	true	app-profile	uBlock0@raymondhill.net
Web Archives	extension	7.2.0	true	app-profile	{d07ccf11-c0cd-4938-a265-2a4d6ad01189}
Web Compatibility Interventions	extension	148.0.20251209.161422	true	app-system-addons	webcompat@mozilla.org
Activist – Bold	theme	2.1	false	app-profile	activist-bold-colorway@mozilla.org
Dark	theme	1.3.4	false	app-builtin	firefox-compact-dark@mozilla.org
Dreamer – Soft	theme	2.1	false	app-profile	dreamer-soft-colorway@mozilla.org
Elemental – Bold	theme	2.1	false	app-profile	elemental-bold-colorway@mozilla.org
Expressionist – Soft	theme	2.1	false	app-profile	expressionist-soft-colorway@mozilla.org
Firefox Alpenglow	theme	1.5.1	false	app-builtin	firefox-alpenglow@mozilla.org
Light	theme	1.3.4	false	app-builtin	firefox-compact-light@mozilla.org
Lush – Soft	theme	2.1	false	app-profile	lush-soft-colorway@mozilla.org
Playmaker – Bold	theme	2.1	false	app-profile	playmaker-bold-colorway@mozilla.org
Playmaker – Soft	theme	2.1	false	app-profile	playmaker-soft-colorway@mozilla.org
System theme — auto	theme	1.4.2	false	app-builtin	default-theme@mozilla.org
`

Please explain the issue you are experiencing.

After installing the latest version of Phoenix before booting up, Firefox prompts with this error

Please provide detailed steps to reproduce the issue.

• Install Phoenix on windows as pert the intruction found here

https://codeberg.org/celenity/Phoenix/wiki/Install-Windows

• After copying the Phoenix files to their proper location within Firefox then reboot the browser.

• The prompt shown on the picture should show up.

### Confirmation Checklist - [x] I confirm that this issue occurs on the **latest release** of Phoenix. You can check what the latest version is on [the `Releases` page](https://codeberg.org/celenity/Phoenix/releases). - [x] I confirm that this issue has **NOT** already been reported on [the Codeberg issue tracker](https://codeberg.org/celenity/Phoenix/issues), [the GitLab issue tracker](https://gitlab.com/celenityy/Phoenix/-/issues), **and/or** [the GitHub issue tracker](https://github.com/celenityy/Phoenix/issues). ### What web browser(s) are you using with Phoenix? Firefox ### Other _No response_ ### What operating system(s) are you experiencing this issue on? Windows ### Other _No response_ ### What version of Firefox/Gecko and Phoenix are you using? FF: 146 Phx: 2025年11月27日.1 ### If you remember, what version of Firefox/Gecko and Phoenix did you first notice the issue on? FF: 146 Phx: 2025年11月27日.1 I have been using Phoenix on Firefox windows over several versions and this is the first that I have experienced this type of issue where a warning prompt shows up. ### Does the issue occur on a new browser profile? - [x] Yes - [ ] No ### Please share your browser's distribution ID. N/A ### Please share your browser's update channel. Update Channel: release ### Please share a list of your currently installed browser add-ons/extensions, as well as the versions you have installed. ` | Add-ons Name | Type | Version | Enabled | Add-on Type | UUID | |---------------------------------------|---------|------------------|---------|-----------------------|--------------------------------------| | Add-ons Search Detection | extension | 3.0.0 | true | app-builtin-addons | addons-search-detection@mozilla.com | | Bitwarden Password Manager | extension | 2025120 | true | app-profile | {446900e4-71c2-419f-a6a7-df9c091e268b} | | Data Leak Blocker | extension | 144.0.0 | true | app-builtin-addons | data-leak-blocker@mozilla.com | | Firefox Multi-Account Containers | extension | 8.3.6 | true | app-profile | @testpilot-containers | | Form Autofill | extension | 1.0.1 | true | app-builtin-addons | formautofill@mozilla.org | | IPP Activator | extension | 0.1 | true | app-builtin-addons | ipp-activator@mozilla.com | | New Tab | extension | 146.1.0 | true | app-builtin-addons | newtab@mozilla.org | | Picture-In-Picture | extension | 1.0.0 | true | app-builtin-addons | pictureinpicture@mozilla.org | | Sidebery | extension | 5.4.0 | true | app-profile | {3c078156-979c-498b-8990-85f7987dd929} | | uBlock Origin | extension | 1.68.0 | true | app-profile | uBlock0@raymondhill.net | | Web Archives | extension | 7.2.0 | true | app-profile | {d07ccf11-c0cd-4938-a265-2a4d6ad01189} | | Web Compatibility Interventions | extension | 148.0.20251209.161422 | true | app-system-addons | webcompat@mozilla.org | | Activist – Bold | theme | 2.1 | false | app-profile | activist-bold-colorway@mozilla.org | | Dark | theme | 1.3.4 | false | app-builtin | firefox-compact-dark@mozilla.org | | Dreamer – Soft | theme | 2.1 | false | app-profile | dreamer-soft-colorway@mozilla.org | | Elemental – Bold | theme | 2.1 | false | app-profile | elemental-bold-colorway@mozilla.org | | Expressionist – Soft | theme | 2.1 | false | app-profile | expressionist-soft-colorway@mozilla.org | | Firefox Alpenglow | theme | 1.5.1 | false | app-builtin | firefox-alpenglow@mozilla.org | | Light | theme | 1.3.4 | false | app-builtin | firefox-compact-light@mozilla.org | | Lush – Soft | theme | 2.1 | false | app-profile | lush-soft-colorway@mozilla.org | | Playmaker – Bold | theme | 2.1 | false | app-profile | playmaker-bold-colorway@mozilla.org | | Playmaker – Soft | theme | 2.1 | false | app-profile | playmaker-soft-colorway@mozilla.org | | System theme — auto | theme | 1.4.2 | false | app-builtin | default-theme@mozilla.org | ` ### Please explain the issue you are experiencing. After installing the latest version of Phoenix before booting up, Firefox prompts with this error ### Please provide detailed steps to reproduce the issue. - Install Phoenix on windows as pert the intruction found here https://codeberg.org/celenity/Phoenix/wiki/Install-Windows - After copying the Phoenix files to their proper location within Firefox then reboot the browser. - The prompt shown on the picture should show up.

celenity commented 2025年12月17日 20:55:12 +01:00

Thank you for the report. I believe this was reported somewhere (maybe on Discord/Matrix?), but a proper issue never got filed for it, so I appreciate this. Will take a look and fix ASAP due to the severity.

Thank you for the report. I believe this was reported *somewhere* *(maybe on Discord/Matrix?)*, but a proper issue never got filed for it, so I appreciate this. Will take a look and fix ASAP due to the severity.

MahoganyPrime commented 2025年12月24日 21:43:19 +01:00

I want to report that the issue still present with Phoenix v2025.12.23.1 when launching Firefox 146.0.1 with the default profile and with a new profile.

I went ahead and reinstalled the last known version known to work smoothly v2025.11.07.1 and Firefox once again starts without any error prompts. 🤷

On the other hand, I decided to test it with another Firefox installation [Firefox Developer Edition currently v147.0b7] which I mainly use for testing websites. I pretty much keep this installation default with the exception of DNS and deleting data after closing. I installed Phoenix v2025.12.23.1 and the browser boots up without any error prompt 🤷

Regarding The Error Prompt

I find it odd that the prompt does not mention any of the phoenix files but rather it mentions files that I have yet been able to find netscape.cfg and prefcall.js🤷

I know Windows is not a main target for Phoenix but your work is greatly appreciated. I do not know what other info I could provide to help target the issue at this moment.

Anyways, enjoy the festivities. 🎉

I want to report that the issue still present with Phoenix v2025.12.23.1 when launching Firefox 146.0.1 with the default profile and with a new profile. I went ahead and reinstalled the last known version known to work smoothly v2025.11.07.1 and Firefox once again starts without any error prompts. 🤷 On the other hand, I decided to test it with another Firefox installation [Firefox Developer Edition currently v147.0b7] which I mainly use for testing websites. I pretty much keep this installation default with the exception of DNS and deleting data after closing. I installed Phoenix v2025.12.23.1 and the browser boots up without any error prompt 🤷 **Regarding The Error Prompt** I find it odd that the prompt does not mention any of the phoenix files but rather it mentions files that I have yet been able to find netscape.cfg and prefcall.js🤷 I know Windows is not a main target for Phoenix but your work is greatly appreciated. I do not know what other info I could provide to help target the issue at this moment. Anyways, enjoy the festivities. 🎉

celenity commented 2025年12月24日 21:59:07 +01:00

Thanks for the additional details. I did try to test and fix this (with a VM) before the latest release, but I was unable to replicate it. It’s strange because like I said, someone else did report this too - but someone else on Discord also said they didn’t have any issues. So it seems like it’s something only impacting certain users; unclear what the specific cause is.

I find it odd that the prompt does not mention any of the phoenix files but rather it mentions files that I have yet been able to find netscape.cfg and prefcall.js🤷

Yeah, that’s part of what makes this difficult - the error message is unfortunately pretty useless. All I can gather from it is that the problem is with an integer preference that we set as default.

---

@MahoganyPrime I have one idea: After updating Phoenix’s files (but before launching Firefox), in your profile’s root directory (if you’re not sure, you can find its location at about:profiles), do you see a file called failover.jsc? If so, can you try deleting it, and then launching Firefox?

Thanks for the additional details. I did try to test and fix this *(with a VM)* before the latest release, but I was unable to replicate it. It’s strange because like I said, someone else did report this too - but someone else on Discord also said they didn’t have any issues. So it seems like it’s something only impacting certain users; unclear what the specific cause is. > I find it odd that the prompt does not mention any of the phoenix files but rather it mentions files that I have yet been able to find netscape.cfg and prefcall.js🤷 Yeah, that’s part of what makes this difficult - the error message is unfortunately pretty useless. All I can gather from it is that the problem is with an integer preference that we set as default. ___ @MahoganyPrime I have one idea: After updating Phoenix’s files (but before launching Firefox), in your profile’s root directory *(if you’re not sure, you can find its location at [`about:profiles`](about:profiles))*, do you see a file called `failover.jsc`? If so, can you try deleting it, and *then* launching Firefox?

MahoganyPrime commented 2025年12月24日 22:45:15 +01:00

I do not see this file failover.jsc after updating Phoenix. I tried twice. To be extra sure I checked both the local and roaming profile locations. 🤷

I do not see this file `failover.jsc` after updating Phoenix. I tried twice. To be extra sure I checked both the local and roaming profile locations. 🤷

MahoganyPrime commented 2025年12月31日 06:07:07 +01:00

@celenity I have done some deep dives into Phoenix's files. Now that I am at the other end I must recognize your organization and syntax🏅Everything is nice and tidy. From an investigative approach, I find that Phoenix is not the source of the issue.

After finding out the issue was not present on a vanilla FF-dev-ed installation, I decided to dive into the differences between Phoenix v2025.11.07.1 and v2025.11.27.1. I compared the differences between the files, checking the syntax and used AI to help me understand what the new string meant.

Thought I can't answer why v2025.11.07.1 works sans issues and yet from v2025.11.27.1 on FF prompts an errors before boot, I could not find a single unquoted value or integer out of place within Phoenix.cfg

Cause of Issue Hypothesis
I have arrived hypothesis that the issue could be due to improper/dirty uninstallations of Phoenix!? That is that when updating/removing Phoenix old files somehow some strings stay behind!? 🤷 I have experienced this with add-ons on Firefox before, where behavior that the add-ons implements stays even after the add-on has been removed.

-The way I normally update Phoenix on windows is pretty much by copying over the new files over the old phoenix files.

• Other thing I sometimes update FF via winget other times within FF itself, which ever lets me know first that there is a FF update. No idea if this has any weight on this.

I have been using Phoenix on FF-windows for about a year now. This is the first I have had any issues like this. Not bad :)

Solution
I can confirm that on a fresh installation of Firefox (I fully removed FF from windows, that is software and all that FF leaves behind on windows, including registry keys) everything is working smoothly. Phoenix is set and everything looks as expected. uBlocko installed and setup properly. As time goes I will add the add-ons I normally use and see if the issue shows up.

I just wanted to let you know of my findings on this odd issue.

@celenity I have done some deep dives into Phoenix's files. Now that I am at the other end I must recognize your organization and syntax🏅Everything is nice and tidy. From an investigative approach, I find that Phoenix is not the source of the issue. After finding out the issue was not present on a vanilla FF-dev-ed installation, I decided to dive into the differences between Phoenix v2025.11.07.1 and v2025.11.27.1. I compared the differences between the files, checking the syntax and used AI to help me understand what the new string meant. Thought I can't answer why v2025.11.07.1 works sans issues and yet from v2025.11.27.1 on FF prompts an errors before boot, I could not find a single unquoted value or integer out of place within Phoenix.cfg **Cause of Issue Hypothesis** I have arrived hypothesis that the issue could be due to improper/dirty uninstallations of Phoenix!? That is that when updating/removing Phoenix old files somehow some strings stay behind!? 🤷 I have experienced this with add-ons on Firefox before, where behavior that the add-ons implements stays even after the add-on has been removed. -The way I normally update Phoenix on windows is pretty much by copying over the new files over the old phoenix files. - Other thing I sometimes update FF via winget other times within FF itself, which ever lets me know first that there is a FF update. No idea if this has any weight on this. I have been using Phoenix on FF-windows for about a year now. This is the first I have had any issues like this. Not bad :) **Solution** I can confirm that on a fresh installation of Firefox (I fully removed FF from windows, that is software and all that FF leaves behind on windows, including registry keys) everything is working smoothly. Phoenix is set and everything looks as expected. uBlocko installed and setup properly. As time goes I will add the add-ons I normally use and see if the issue shows up. I just wanted to let you know of my findings on this odd issue.

celenity commented 2026年01月02日 00:57:06 +01:00

Thanks for looking into this and sharing your findings! This is something we'll need to be aware of/keep an eye on for future reference.

I'll go ahead and close this, but please let me know and feel free to re-open if this happens to you again in the future.

Thanks for looking into this and sharing your findings! This is something we'll need to be aware of/keep an eye on for future reference. I'll go ahead and close this, but please let me know and feel free to re-open if this happens to you again in the future.