[SOLVED, but happened again] Trouble with Localization of Firefox

[aguila]

After the latest updates of Firefox I had problems with localization, although the i18n package for Firefox is installed and updated. Somehow, the issue was solved "magically", but not this time.

After updating (together with a full update) Firefox to 9.0 and - one day after - 9.0.1, it was impossible to get Firefox to "talk" German. Even ran addlocale, but to no avail.

I finally made it by changing the config settings:

1. Enter "about:config" in the addres line and confirm you'll be careful.

2. Enter "general.useragent.locale" in the filter

3. Change the value to your locale ("de" in case of German).

Haven't read about anyone encountering this issue and didn't have this trouble with my other machine, but maybe it helps someone.

Cheers,

aguila

[aguila]

Yesterday, I reinstalled my parents' PCLOS with a ḰDE Mini 2011.09, leaving /home untouched.

After running addlocale I realized that neither Firefox nor Thunderbird were in German language. In Thunderbird, enabling German localization and restarting changed the language, in Firefox I had to change "general.useragent.locale" to "de" again in "about:config". Enabling the German language package didn't help.

Looks like a pattern to me now.

The other laptop, where I don't have this prob is a german remaster of 2010 from pclinuxosusers.de, which does just fine.

Could this be an issue with addlocale? Would I have to delete any personalization folder (like .kde4)?

Not a show stopper, but somehow puzzling...

Any ideas?

EDIT: just found that Thunderbird also keeps "general.useragent.locale" as "en-US", changed to "de", now "inbox" etc. are finally german, too.... 

[Neal ManBear]

May / may not be related. Do you run bleachbit? When you do, do you make certain it is set to retain German in its language settings?     

[aguila]

Thanks Neal,

I never ran bleachbit on my parents' machine and only once on mine. Might running it help to get rid of "old stuff", i.e. clean the system?

As said, my parents' box was a new install as of yesterday with full updates and addlocale ran as the last stage of my configurating.

[ternor]

Is the locale being re-set?  I found that occurring with spell checking and other preferences.  If that is your problem look at the knowledge base page Locking Preferences.

[Neal ManBear]

Thanks Neal,

I never ran bleachbit on my parents' machine and only once on mine. Might running it help to get rid of "old stuff", i.e. clean the system?

As said, my parents' box was a new install as of yesterday with full updates and addlocale ran as the last stage of my configurating.

     
I knew it was a long shot but thought it couldn't hurt to ask.     

Yes, bleachbit should be run frequently. You could of course clean up manually, but bleachbit is quicker.     

[aguila]

Okay, I'll do a cleanup with bleachbit.

As the thing seems to be borked somehow, would you have an idea which file or directory to delete to get FF & TB "back on track"?

[O.T.] Learned a new english phrase today - long shot = an action or undertaking that has little chance for success. You aimed quite well, Neal [\O.T.] 

[Neal ManBear]

I run bleachbit every week, but I use my computer from 12 to 20 hours a day. Once a month could be okay, but I think I would not recommend going longer than that between cleanings.     

Hmm...... try renaming ~/.mozilla to ~/.mozilla-bak, log out/in and set up firefox. Does this help with firefox? If so, then the problem was in the .mozilla directory. Try the same with thunderbird.     

[aguila]

Okay, once a months should be managable.

I guess I'll dig a little deeper, as renaming / deleting the .mozilla folder would leave me with a vanilla FF, wouldn't it?

Thanks again for your thoughts.

[Neal ManBear]

The reason for renaming, rather than deleting is that you still have access to your previous settings, which you can transfer to the new one by one and test.     

[aguila]

That's a point you're making there. Start from scratch and add piece by piece until the culprit shows.

Makes more sense then looking for a needle in a haystack.