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Error message whenever I use Paypals website

  • 10 replies
  • 11 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I run a business and use paypal a lot. Nearly everyday (and this started recently), i get this message when trying to log into paypal: 'Bad Request Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand. Size of a request header field exceeds server limit.' This message also includes a never ending cookie code. I have cleared the cache, cookies, etc. This solves the problem temporarily, and then it will happen again later that day, or the next day. If i use IE, i have no problem with paypal. This is frustrating. I'd rather use firefox. Is there a permanent fix for this? Im using firefox 14.0.1

I run a business and use paypal a lot. Nearly everyday (and this started recently), i get this message when trying to log into paypal: 'Bad Request Your browser sent a request that this server could not understand. Size of a request header field exceeds server limit.' This message also includes a never ending cookie code. I have cleared the cache, cookies, etc. This solves the problem temporarily, and then it will happen again later that day, or the next day. If i use IE, i have no problem with paypal. This is frustrating. I'd rather use firefox. Is there a permanent fix for this? Im using firefox 14.0.1

All Replies (10)

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The Reset Firefox feature can fix many issues by restoring Firefox to its factory default state while saving your essential information. Note: This will cause you to lose any Extensions, Open websites, and some Preferences.

To Reset Firefox do the following:

  1. Go to Firefox > Help > Troubleshooting Information.
  2. Click the "Reset Firefox" button.
  3. Firefox will close and reset. After Firefox is done, it will show a window with the information that is imported. Click Finish.
  4. Firefox will open with all factory defaults applied.


Further information can be found in the Refresh Firefox - reset add-ons and settings article.

Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

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thank you, i did that. i was then able to pull up paypal without issue. hopefully it will have resolved the issue. thank you! Connie

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Hi Tobbi, well the problem resumed today. Not sure what else to do besides stop using firefox. i am at my wits end. any other ideas?

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Try the Firefox Safe Mode to see how it works there. The Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode, which disables most add-ons.

(If you're not using it, switch to the Default theme.)

  • You can open the Firefox 4.0+ Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you use the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • Or use the Help menu item and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.

Don't select anything right now, just use "Continue in Safe Mode." To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before using the Firefox shortcut (without the Shift key) to open it again. If it is good in the Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one.

Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help other users who have the same problem.

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i'll try that and let you know what happens, thanks again

Modified by Connie

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Clearing your cookies and cache is the fix recommended on PayPal's forum.

P.S. Here is a reply from the PayPal forum thread linked above, so it looks like PayPal is aware of the issue:


Re: Error page: Bad request on Jul-31-2012 05:07 PM

Hey guys,

Thank you all for the reports of this and your patience.

This is a known issue and we are actively working to get this resolved. I would like to apologise for the delay in a response and for a fix to be rolled out as ensuring the fix was correct is of utmost importance to us.

We are hoping to have this fixed over the coming weeks, any updates I get I will come back and let you guys know.

Please do come back and let us know if you see any change in these “bad request” errors showing over the next while.

Again thank you for your patience.

Lucy


Modified by AliceWyman

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Cookies are imported if you use a reset as part of the migration, so a reset most likely won't work in cases like this and it is best to clear the cookies manually like Alice wrote above.

See also:

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Hi everyone, Im having a problem too. When i try to open paypal, nothing happens it just hangs trying to load. It can stay like that for over an hour, the odd time it will open. It has just happened since ive got windows 8. No problem with any other website. I can open paypal on all other devices in the house. Ive rebooted and reset router, cleared all cookies etc, ive restarted Firefox in safe mode, (in safe mode it seemed to work ok for a minute then stopped) disabled all plugins and addons, disabled firewall (bullguard) and reset firefox too, still doesn't work. I can click on the link (or type address) and it just stops, if i go back and click again it might work ok..Ive called them up and they say its a browser problem. (works fine with ie) Running a business and use paypal for ebay so its pretty important that it works.. Appreciate any help..

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Hi, kikorstk

This thread was started by naturemaiden over 4 months ago about the Paypal message, Bad Request" "Your browser sent a request that this service could not understand" "Size of a request header field exceeds server limit". This error was a problem with PayPal's site that could be fixed temporarily by deleting cookies and clearing the Firefox cache.

If your problem is that the PayPal site is not loading in Firefox and clearing cookies and cache doesn't help. you have a different problem. , you could check the article Websites show a spinning wheel and never finish loading. You could also try the rest of the basic troubleshooting steps described in the Troubleshoot and diagnose Firefox problems article.

If you need more help, I think it would be better if you asked a new question (start a new thread). If you start your own thread it will include your system details, such as your operating system and installed plugins and you can add additional troubleshooting information which might help solve the problem. You can use this link as a starting point: https://support.mozilla.org/questions/new

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If clearing cookies doesn't work then it is possible that the cookies.sqlite file that stores the cookies is corrupted.

Rename (or delete) cookies.sqlite (cookies.sqlite.old) and delete other present cookie files like cookies.sqlite-journal in the Firefox Profile Folder in case the file cookies.sqlite got corrupted.

You can also try if it works in Private Browsing mode.

Try to boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.