In case this is a problem with a proxy server, could you change this setting: * Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Settings (previously "Options") * Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences * Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences * Any system: type or paste '''about:preferences''' into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it In the search box at the top of the page, type ''proxy'' and Firefox should filter to the "Settings" button, which you can click. Switch to "No proxy", then click the OK button at the bottom. For reference, the default of "Use system proxy settings" piggybacks on your Windows/IE "LAN" setting. "Auto-detect" can lead to a flaky connection. Any difference?