Merge pull request #1041 from Ascrod/default-pref

Clean up try/catch blocks for preferences

20 files changed, 47 insertions, 203 deletions

diff --git a/application/basilisk/base/content/browser-syncui.js b/application/basilisk/base/content/browser-syncui.js
index 67056e221..d0f46247a 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/base/content/browser-syncui.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/base/content/browser-syncui.js
@@ -83,10 +83,7 @@ var gSyncUI = {
   _wasDelayed: false,
 
   _needsSetup: function SUI__needsSetup() {
-    let firstSync = "";
-    try {
-      firstSync = Services.prefs.getCharPref("services.sync.firstSync");
-    } catch (e) { }
+    let firstSync = Services.prefs.getCharPref("services.sync.firstSync", "");
     return Weave.Status.checkSetup() == Weave.CLIENT_NOT_CONFIGURED ||
            firstSync == "notReady";
   },
@@ -275,7 +272,6 @@ var gSyncUI = {
     openPreferences("paneSync");
   },
 
-
   // Helpers
   _updateLastSyncTime: function SUI__updateLastSyncTime() {
     if (!gBrowser)
diff --git a/application/basilisk/base/content/browser.js b/application/basilisk/base/content/browser.js
index a752f4cd9..926a369dd 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/base/content/browser.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/base/content/browser.js
@@ -2589,15 +2589,9 @@ var gMenuButtonUpdateBadge = {
   cancelObserverRegistered: false,
 
   init: function () {
-    try {
-      this.enabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("app.update.badge");
-    } catch (e) {}
+    this.enabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("app.update.badge", false);
     if (this.enabled) {
-      try {
-        this.badgeWaitTime = Services.prefs.getIntPref("app.update.badgeWaitTime");
-      } catch (e) {
-        this.badgeWaitTime = 345600; // 4 days
-      }
+      this.badgeWaitTime = Services.prefs.getIntPref("app.update.badgeWaitTime", 345600); // 4 days
       Services.obs.addObserver(this, "update-staged", false);
       Services.obs.addObserver(this, "update-downloaded", false);
     }
diff --git a/application/basilisk/base/content/tabbrowser.xml b/application/basilisk/base/content/tabbrowser.xml
index c2f02512d..0e819a3ed 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/base/content/tabbrowser.xml
+++ b/application/basilisk/base/content/tabbrowser.xml
@@ -4135,11 +4135,7 @@
                 return true;
               if (this._logInit)
                 return this._shouldLog;
-              let result = false;
-              try {
-                result = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.remote.logSwitchTiming");
-              } catch (ex) {
-              }
+              let result = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.remote.logSwitchTiming", false);
               this._shouldLog = result;
               this._logInit = true;
               return this._shouldLog;
@@ -5208,11 +5204,7 @@
           window.addEventListener("resize", this, false);
           window.addEventListener("load", this, false);
 
-          try {
-            this._tabAnimationLoggingEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.animationLogging.enabled");
-          } catch (ex) {
-            this._tabAnimationLoggingEnabled = false;
-          }
+          this._tabAnimationLoggingEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.animationLogging.enabled", false);
           this._browserNewtabpageEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.newtabpage.enabled");
         ]]>
       </constructor>
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableUI.jsm b/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableUI.jsm
index 31126b37c..d56d63d99 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableUI.jsm
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableUI.jsm
@@ -158,10 +158,7 @@ var gUIStateBeforeReset = {
 XPCOMUtils.defineLazyGetter(this, "log", () => {
   let scope = {};
   Cu.import("resource://gre/modules/Console.jsm", scope);
-  let debug;
-  try {
-    debug = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationDebug);
-  } catch (ex) {}
+  let  debug = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationDebug, false);
   let consoleOptions = {
     maxLogLevel: debug ? "all" : "log",
     prefix: "CustomizableUI",
@@ -1914,16 +1911,10 @@ var CustomizableUIInternal = {
   // state immediately when a browser window opens, which is important for
   // other consumers of this API.
   loadSavedState: function() {
-    let state = null;
-    try {
-      state = Services.prefs.getCharPref(kPrefCustomizationState);
-    } catch (e) {
-      log.debug("No saved state found");
-      // This will fail if nothing has been customized, so silently fall back to
-      // the defaults.
-    }
-
+    let state = Services.prefs.getCharPref(kPrefCustomizationState, "");
     if (!state) {
+      log.debug("No saved state found");
+      // Nothing has been customized, so silently fall back to the defaults.
       return;
     }
     try {
@@ -2208,10 +2199,7 @@ var CustomizableUIInternal = {
         this.notifyListeners("onWidgetAdded", widget.id, widget.currentArea,
                              widget.currentPosition);
       } else if (widgetMightNeedAutoAdding) {
-        let autoAdd = true;
-        try {
-          autoAdd = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationAutoAdd);
-        } catch (e) {}
+        let autoAdd = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationAutoAdd, true);
 
         // If the widget doesn't have an existing placement, and it hasn't been
         // seen before, then add it to its default area so it can be used.
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableWidgets.jsm b/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableWidgets.jsm
index 9e8f0ec78..d4a191a97 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableWidgets.jsm
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizableWidgets.jsm
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@ const kWidePanelItemClass = "panel-wide-item";
 XPCOMUtils.defineLazyGetter(this, "log", () => {
   let scope = {};
   Cu.import("resource://gre/modules/Console.jsm", scope);
-  let debug;
-  try {
-    debug = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationDebug);
-  } catch (ex) {}
+  let debug = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationDebug, false);
   let consoleOptions = {
     maxLogLevel: debug ? "all" : "log",
     prefix: "CustomizableWidgets",
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizeMode.jsm b/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizeMode.jsm
index 4365ddfbc..2958655d2 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizeMode.jsm
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/customizableui/CustomizeMode.jsm
@@ -40,9 +40,7 @@ let gDebug;
 XPCOMUtils.defineLazyGetter(this, "log", () => {
   let scope = {};
   Cu.import("resource://gre/modules/Console.jsm", scope);
-  try {
-    gDebug = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationDebug);
-  } catch (ex) {}
+  gDebug = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kPrefCustomizationDebug, false);
   let consoleOptions = {
     maxLogLevel: gDebug ? "all" : "log",
     prefix: "CustomizeMode",
@@ -1503,10 +1501,7 @@ CustomizeMode.prototype = {
     if (!AppConstants.CAN_DRAW_IN_TITLEBAR) {
       return;
     }
-    let drawInTitlebar = true;
-    try {
-      drawInTitlebar = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kDrawInTitlebarPref);
-    } catch (ex) { }
+    let drawInTitlebar = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(kDrawInTitlebarPref, true);
     let button = this.document.getElementById("customization-titlebar-visibility-button");
     // Drawing in the titlebar means 'hiding' the titlebar:
     if (drawInTitlebar) {
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/distribution.js b/application/basilisk/components/distribution.js
index 589129a5a..c30e4dcfe 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/distribution.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/distribution.js
@@ -22,10 +22,7 @@ XPCOMUtils.defineLazyModuleGetter(this, "PlacesUtils",
 this.DistributionCustomizer = function DistributionCustomizer() {
   // For parallel xpcshell testing purposes allow loading the distribution.ini
   // file from the profile folder through an hidden pref.
-  let loadFromProfile = false;
-  try {
-    loadFromProfile = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("distribution.testing.loadFromProfile");
-  } catch (ex) {}
+  loadFromProfile = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("distribution.testing.loadFromProfile", false);
   let dirSvc = Cc["@mozilla.org/file/directory_service;1"].
                getService(Ci.nsIProperties);
   try {
@@ -60,13 +57,7 @@ DistributionCustomizer.prototype = {
   },
 
   get _locale() {
-    let locale;
-    try {
-      locale = this._prefs.getCharPref("general.useragent.locale");
-    }
-    catch (e) {
-      locale = "en-US";
-    }
+    let locale = this._prefs.getCharPref("general.useragent.locale", "en-US");
     this.__defineGetter__("_locale", () => locale);
     return this._locale;
   },
@@ -291,11 +282,7 @@ DistributionCustomizer.prototype = {
         this._ini.getString("Global", "id") + ".bookmarksProcessed";
     }
 
-    let bmProcessed = false;
-    try {
-      bmProcessed = this._prefs.getBoolPref(bmProcessedPref);
-    }
-    catch (e) {}
+    let bmProcessed = this._prefs.getBoolPref(bmProcessedPref, false);
 
     if (!bmProcessed) {
       if (sections["BookmarksMenu"])
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js b/application/basilisk/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js
index 20f1399b0..ceb2a7e2f 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js
@@ -19,12 +19,7 @@ function LOG(str) {
   let prefB = Cc["@mozilla.org/preferences-service;1"].
               getService(Ci.nsIPrefBranch);
 
-  let shouldLog = false;
-  try {
-    shouldLog = prefB.getBoolPref("feeds.log");
-  }
-  catch (ex) {
-  }
+  let shouldLog = prefB.getBoolPref("feeds.log", false);
 
   if (shouldLog)
     dump("*** Feeds: " + str + "\n");
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js b/application/basilisk/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js
index 2cb5cd145..159eca7c2 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js
@@ -187,13 +187,8 @@ const Utils = {
 
     // check if it is in the black list
     let pb = Services.prefs;
-    let allowed;
-    try {
-      allowed = pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "." + aProtocol);
-    }
-    catch (e) {
-      allowed = pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "-default");
-    }
+    let allowed = pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "." + aProtocol,
+      pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "-default"));
     if (!allowed) {
       throw this.getSecurityError(
         `Not allowed to register a protocol handler for ${aProtocol}`,
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js b/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js
index 74144fc1b..d65e52594 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js
@@ -100,20 +100,14 @@ const OVERRIDE_NEW_BUILD_ID = 3;
  *  OVERRIDE_NONE otherwise.
  */
 function needHomepageOverride(prefb) {
-  var savedmstone = null;
-  try {
-    savedmstone = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone");
-  } catch (e) {}
+  var savedmstone = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone", "");
 
   if (savedmstone == "ignore")
     return OVERRIDE_NONE;
 
   var mstone = Services.appinfo.platformVersion;
 
-  var savedBuildID = null;
-  try {
-    savedBuildID = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID");
-  } catch (e) {}
+  var savedBuildID = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID", "");
 
   var buildID = Services.appinfo.platformBuildID;
 
@@ -489,10 +483,7 @@ nsBrowserContentHandler.prototype = {
       // URL if we do end up showing an overridePage. This makes it possible
       // to have the overridePage's content vary depending on the version we're
       // upgrading from.
-      let old_mstone = "unknown";
-      try {
-        old_mstone = Services.prefs.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone");
-      } catch (ex) {}
+      let old_mstone = Services.prefs.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone", "unknown");
       override = needHomepageOverride(prefb);
       if (override != OVERRIDE_NONE) {
         switch (override) {
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserGlue.js b/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserGlue.js
index 82de33240..b4256523f 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserGlue.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/nsBrowserGlue.js
@@ -961,10 +961,7 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
     // Offer to reset a user's profile if it hasn't been used for 60 days.
     const OFFER_PROFILE_RESET_INTERVAL_MS = 60 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000;
     let lastUse = Services.appinfo.replacedLockTime;
-    let disableResetPrompt = false;
-    try {
-      disableResetPrompt = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.disableResetPrompt");
-    } catch (e) {}
+    let disableResetPrompt = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.disableResetPrompt", false);
 
     if (!disableResetPrompt && lastUse &&
         Date.now() - lastUse >= OFFER_PROFILE_RESET_INTERVAL_MS) {
@@ -1505,10 +1502,7 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
     } catch (ex) {}
 
     // Support legacy bookmarks.html format for apps that depend on that format.
-    let autoExportHTML = false;
-    try {
-      autoExportHTML = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML");
-    } catch (ex) {} // Do not export.
+    let autoExportHTML = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML", false);  // Do not export.
     if (autoExportHTML) {
       // Sqlite.jsm and Places shutdown happen at profile-before-change, thus,
       // to be on the safe side, this should run earlier.
@@ -1578,10 +1572,7 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
         // An import operation is about to run.
         // Don't try to recreate smart bookmarks if autoExportHTML is true or
         // smart bookmarks are disabled.
-        let smartBookmarksVersion = 0;
-        try {
-          smartBookmarksVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion");
-        } catch (ex) {}
+        let smartBookmarksVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion", 0);
         if (!autoExportHTML && smartBookmarksVersion != -1)
           Services.prefs.setIntPref("browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion", 0);
 
@@ -1932,10 +1923,7 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
       // Refactor urlbar suggestion preferences to make it extendable and
       // allow new suggestion types (e.g: search suggestions).
       let types = ["history", "bookmark", "openpage"];
-      let defaultBehavior = 0;
-      try {
-        defaultBehavior = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.urlbar.default.behavior");
-      } catch (ex) {}
+      let defaultBehavior = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.urlbar.default.behavior", 0);
       try {
         let autocompleteEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.urlbar.autocomplete.enabled");
         if (!autocompleteEnabled) {
@@ -1988,12 +1976,8 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
 
     if (currentUIVersion < 30) {
       // Convert old devedition theme pref to lightweight theme storage
-      let lightweightThemeSelected = false;
-      let selectedThemeID = null;
-      try {
-        lightweightThemeSelected = Services.prefs.prefHasUserValue("lightweightThemes.selectedThemeID");
-        selectedThemeID = Services.prefs.getCharPref("lightweightThemes.selectedThemeID");
-      } catch (e) {}
+      let lightweightThemeSelected = Services.prefs.prefHasUserValue("lightweightThemes.selectedThemeID", false);
+      let selectedThemeID = Services.prefs.getCharPref("lightweightThemes.selectedThemeID", "");
 
       let defaultThemeSelected = false;
       try {
@@ -2143,10 +2127,7 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
     const MAX_RESULTS = 10;
 
     // Get current smart bookmarks version.  If not set, create them.
-    let smartBookmarksCurrentVersion = 0;
-    try {
-      smartBookmarksCurrentVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref(SMART_BOOKMARKS_PREF);
-    } catch (ex) {}
+    let smartBookmarksCurrentVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref(SMART_BOOKMARKS_PREF, 0);
 
     // If version is current, or smart bookmarks are disabled, bail out.
     if (smartBookmarksCurrentVersion == -1 ||
diff --git a/application/basilisk/components/sync/aboutSyncTabs.js b/application/basilisk/components/sync/aboutSyncTabs.js
index 410494b5b..4808c052f 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/components/sync/aboutSyncTabs.js
+++ b/application/basilisk/components/sync/aboutSyncTabs.js
@@ -254,13 +254,7 @@ var RemoteTabViewer = {
   _refetchTabs: function(force) {
     if (!force) {
       // Don't bother refetching tabs if we already did so recently
-      let lastFetch = 0;
-      try {
-        lastFetch = Services.prefs.getIntPref("services.sync.lastTabFetch");
-      }
-      catch (e) {
-        /* Just use the default value of 0 */
-      }
+      lastFetch = Services.prefs.getIntPref("services.sync.lastTabFetch", 0);
 
       let now = Math.floor(Date.now() / 1000);
       if (now - lastFetch < 30) {
diff --git a/application/basilisk/modules/DirectoryLinksProvider.jsm b/application/basilisk/modules/DirectoryLinksProvider.jsm
index 117564099..85d8b296b 100644
--- a/application/basilisk/modules/DirectoryLinksProvider.jsm
+++ b/application/basilisk/modules/DirectoryLinksProvider.jsm
@@ -189,11 +189,7 @@ var DirectoryLinksProvider = {
    * @return  the selected locale or "en-US" if none is selected
    */
   get locale() {
-    let matchOS;
-    try {
-      matchOS = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(PREF_MATCH_OS_LOCALE);
-    }
-    catch (e) {}
+    let matchOS = Services.prefs.getBoolPref(PREF_MATCH_OS_LOCALE, false);
 
     if (matchOS) {
       return Services.locale.getLocaleComponentForUserAgent();
diff --git a/application/palemoon/base/content/browser-syncui.js b/application/palemoon/base/content/browser-syncui.js
index 67056e221..6fad03cdd 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/base/content/browser-syncui.js
+++ b/application/palemoon/base/content/browser-syncui.js
@@ -83,10 +83,7 @@ var gSyncUI = {
   _wasDelayed: false,
 
   _needsSetup: function SUI__needsSetup() {
-    let firstSync = "";
-    try {
-      firstSync = Services.prefs.getCharPref("services.sync.firstSync");
-    } catch (e) { }
+    let firstSync = Services.prefs.getCharPref("services.sync.firstSync", "");
     return Weave.Status.checkSetup() == Weave.CLIENT_NOT_CONFIGURED ||
            firstSync == "notReady";
   },
@@ -285,11 +282,7 @@ var gSyncUI = {
     if (!syncButton)
       return;
 
-    let lastSync;
-    try {
-      lastSync = Services.prefs.getCharPref("services.sync.lastSync");
-    }
-    catch (e) { };
+    let lastSync = Services.prefs.getCharPref("services.sync.lastSync");
     if (!lastSync || this._needsSetup()) {
       syncButton.removeAttribute("tooltiptext");
       return;
diff --git a/application/palemoon/base/content/tabbrowser.xml b/application/palemoon/base/content/tabbrowser.xml
index 868179b5d..d9366f488 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/base/content/tabbrowser.xml
+++ b/application/palemoon/base/content/tabbrowser.xml
@@ -3628,11 +3628,7 @@
           window.addEventListener("resize", this, false);
           window.addEventListener("load", this, false);
 
-          try {
-            this._tabAnimationLoggingEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.animationLogging.enabled");
-          } catch (ex) {
-            this._tabAnimationLoggingEnabled = false;
-          }
+          this._tabAnimationLoggingEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.tabs.animationLogging.enabled", false);
           this._browserNewtabpageEnabled = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.newtabpage.enabled");
         ]]>
       </constructor>
diff --git a/application/palemoon/components/distribution.js b/application/palemoon/components/distribution.js
index d3300604e..121e55b1b 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/components/distribution.js
+++ b/application/palemoon/components/distribution.js
@@ -38,13 +38,7 @@ DistributionCustomizer.prototype = {
   },
 
   get _locale() {
-    let locale;
-    try {
-      locale = this._prefs.getCharPref("general.useragent.locale");
-    }
-    catch (e) {
-      locale = "en-US";
-    }
+    let locale = this._prefs.getCharPref("general.useragent.locale", "en-US");
     this.__defineGetter__("_locale", function() locale);
     return this._locale;
   },
@@ -221,11 +215,7 @@ DistributionCustomizer.prototype = {
         this._ini.getString("Global", "id") + ".bookmarksProcessed";
     }
 
-    let bmProcessed = false;
-    try {
-      bmProcessed = this._prefs.getBoolPref(bmProcessedPref);
-    }
-    catch (e) {}
+    let bmProcessed = this._prefs.getBoolPref(bmProcessedPref, false);
 
     if (!bmProcessed) {
       if (sections["BookmarksMenu"])
diff --git a/application/palemoon/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js b/application/palemoon/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js
index d704835bb..facde5815 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js
+++ b/application/palemoon/components/feeds/FeedWriter.js
@@ -18,12 +18,7 @@ function LOG(str) {
   var prefB = Cc["@mozilla.org/preferences-service;1"].
               getService(Ci.nsIPrefBranch);
 
-  var shouldLog = false;
-  try {
-    shouldLog = prefB.getBoolPref("feeds.log");
-  } 
-  catch (ex) {
-  }
+  var shouldLog = prefB.getBoolPref("feeds.log", false);
 
   if (shouldLog)
     dump("*** Feeds: " + str + "\n");
@@ -874,11 +869,7 @@ FeedWriter.prototype = {
         Cc["@mozilla.org/preferences-service;1"].
         getService(Ci.nsIPrefBranch);
 
-    var handler = "bookmarks";
-    try {
-      handler = prefs.getCharPref(getPrefReaderForType(feedType));
-    }
-    catch (ex) { }
+    var handler = prefs.getCharPref(getPrefReaderForType(feedType), "bookmarks");
 
     switch (handler) {
       case "web": {
@@ -1076,11 +1067,7 @@ FeedWriter.prototype = {
         .addEventListener("command", this, false);
 
     // first-run ui
-    var showFirstRunUI = true;
-    try {
-      showFirstRunUI = prefs.getBoolPref(PREF_SHOW_FIRST_RUN_UI);
-    }
-    catch (ex) { }
+    var showFirstRunUI = prefs.getBoolPref(PREF_SHOW_FIRST_RUN_UI, true);
     if (showFirstRunUI) {
       var textfeedinfo1, textfeedinfo2;
       switch (feedType) {
diff --git a/application/palemoon/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js b/application/palemoon/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js
index 41679b028..42e2edee0 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js
+++ b/application/palemoon/components/feeds/WebContentConverter.js
@@ -436,13 +436,8 @@ WebContentConverterRegistrar.prototype = {
 
     // check if it is in the black list
     var pb = Cc["@mozilla.org/preferences-service;1"].getService(Ci.nsIPrefBranch);
-    var allowed;
-    try {
-      allowed = pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "." + aProtocol);
-    }
-    catch (e) {
-      allowed = pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "-default");
-    }
+    var allowed = pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "." + aProtocol,
+      pb.getBoolPref(PREF_HANDLER_EXTERNAL_PREFIX + "-default"));
     if (!allowed) {
       // XXX this should be a "security exception" according to spec
       throw("Not allowed to register a protocol handler for " + aProtocol);
diff --git a/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js b/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js
index 6a75b40f2..e7f1414c2 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js
+++ b/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserContentHandler.js
@@ -100,20 +100,14 @@ const OVERRIDE_NEW_BUILD_ID = 3;
  *  OVERRIDE_NONE otherwise.
  */
 function needHomepageOverride(prefb) {
-  var savedmstone = null;
-  try {
-    savedmstone = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone");
-  } catch (e) {}
+  var savedmstone = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone", "");
 
   if (savedmstone == "ignore")
     return OVERRIDE_NONE;
 
   var mstone = Services.appinfo.platformVersion;
 
-  var savedBuildID = null;
-  try {
-    savedBuildID = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID");
-  } catch (e) {}
+  var savedBuildID = prefb.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.buildID", "");
 
   var buildID = Services.appinfo.platformBuildID;
 
@@ -550,10 +544,7 @@ nsBrowserContentHandler.prototype = {
       // URL if we do end up showing an overridePage. This makes it possible
       // to have the overridePage's content vary depending on the version we're
       // upgrading from.
-      let old_mstone = "unknown";
-      try {
-        old_mstone = Services.prefs.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone");
-      } catch (ex) {}
+      let old_mstone = Services.prefs.getCharPref("browser.startup.homepage_override.mstone", "unknown");
       let override = needHomepageOverride(prefb);
       if (override != OVERRIDE_NONE) {
         switch (override) {
diff --git a/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserGlue.js b/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserGlue.js
index ad48dab29..01a133833 100644
--- a/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserGlue.js
+++ b/application/palemoon/components/nsBrowserGlue.js
@@ -990,14 +990,8 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
         // An import operation is about to run.
         // Don't try to recreate smart bookmarks if autoExportHTML is true or
         // smart bookmarks are disabled.
-        var autoExportHTML = false;
-        try {
-          autoExportHTML = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML");
-        } catch(ex) {}
-        var smartBookmarksVersion = 0;
-        try {
-          smartBookmarksVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion");
-        } catch(ex) {}
+        var autoExportHTML = Services.prefs.getBoolPref("browser.bookmarks.autoExportHTML", false);
+        var smartBookmarksVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref("browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion", 0);
         if (!autoExportHTML && smartBookmarksVersion != -1)
           Services.prefs.setIntPref("browser.places.smartBookmarksVersion", 0);
 
@@ -1556,10 +1550,7 @@ BrowserGlue.prototype = {
     const MAX_RESULTS = 10;
 
     // Get current smart bookmarks version.  If not set, create them.
-    let smartBookmarksCurrentVersion = 0;
-    try {
-      smartBookmarksCurrentVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref(SMART_BOOKMARKS_PREF);
-    } catch(ex) {}
+    let smartBookmarksCurrentVersion = Services.prefs.getIntPref(SMART_BOOKMARKS_PREF, 0);
 
     // If version is current or smart bookmarks are disabled, just bail out.
     if (smartBookmarksCurrentVersion == -1 ||