After reading this entire post, and finding nothing useful. The only useful posting was the one about updating (searching for the poster, crashed my FireFox) so I am not sure if this will help anyone.
[My System] Ubuntu 10.04.3 (server) - updated to generic-pae - running Xubuntu-Desktop Linux acer 2.6.32-38-generic-pae #83-Ubuntu SMP Wed Jan 4 12:11:13 UTC 2012 i686 GNU/Linux -------- The steps I took to fix the problem Applications->Accessories->Terminal $ sudo su - $ aptitude search network I looked for all that was installed, and what I thought would be needed to maintain the network through apps instead of directly through the /etc/network/interfaces file I found and installed the below apps $ sudo apt-get install network-manager network-config network-manager-gnome gnome-network-admin --reinstall The gui informed me after this install I needed to reboot, so I rebooted. Once I rebooted, the notification icon didn't appear, and FireFox along with other applications did start correctly, (ie NOT in "Offline" Mode) -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to empathy in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/191889 Title: [MASTER] [WORKAROUND] "Offline Mode" feature fails to detect proper online state for networks that are managed outside of network manager. Status in The Mozilla Firefox Browser: Fix Released Status in NetworkManager: New Status in ntrack - Network Connectivity Tracking library for Desktop Applications: Incomplete Status in USB ADSL Modem Manager for Gnome, written in Python: New Status in “empathy” package in Ubuntu: Fix Released Status in “evolution” package in Ubuntu: Invalid Status in “firefox-3.0” package in Ubuntu: Invalid Status in “network-manager” package in Ubuntu: Incomplete Status in “network-manager-applet” package in Ubuntu: Fix Released Status in “pidgin” package in Ubuntu: Fix Released Status in “empathy” source package in Hardy: Invalid Status in “evolution” source package in Hardy: Invalid Status in “firefox-3.0” source package in Hardy: Invalid Status in “network-manager” source package in Hardy: Invalid Status in “network-manager-applet” source package in Hardy: Incomplete Status in “pidgin” source package in Hardy: Invalid Status in “empathy” source package in Intrepid: Fix Released Status in “evolution” source package in Intrepid: Invalid Status in “firefox-3.0” source package in Intrepid: Invalid Status in “network-manager” source package in Intrepid: Won't Fix Status in “network-manager-applet” source package in Intrepid: Fix Released Status in “pidgin” source package in Intrepid: Fix Released Status in Baltix GNU/Linux: Fix Released Bug description: Binary package hint: firefox-3.0 DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu DISTRIB_RELEASE=8.04 DISTRIB_CODENAME=hardy DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu hardy (development branch)" Firefox 3.0b3 When I start firefox from the panel it always start in offline mode. I am connected via wireless to a network that is always on. When I want to browse I need to unclick "work offline" Workaround 1: (since ffox 3.0.1) -> set toolkit.networkmanager.disable to false in about:config Workaround 2: (make NM to be always online) -> add a non existing interface to /etc/network/interfaces, like: iface eth1000 inet dhcp To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/firefox/+bug/191889/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp