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In newest version of Firefox, many windows will not scroll except by using arrows; in both Windows 7 and 8.1 and on multiple machines

  • 3 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I have laptops, desktops, and tablets. Tablets Use Android and are not a problem. The other machines run either Windows 7 (especially the ones at work) and 8.1 (personal laptops.) Different makes and models, some with wireless mice, some with USB connected mice, the former mostly Logitech and the latter Dell. For the purposes of the rest of this description, note that the touchpads on the laptops behave the same as the mice. In all these machines, after recent upgrades (Firefox for certain, but probably other things), about 50%-75% of windows open without scroll bars and do not scroll with the mouse wheel. I can navigate with the keyboard arrows and the links in the windows respond to mouse clicks. I assume the windows are opening in some script or platform (Java?) that is different from what is used in other pages I navigate to and through. In most cases they are opened from links on other pages, although I have come up with some that appeared after entering the URL, and the presence of a tool bar is inconsistent. Sometimes there, sometimes not. Most of the times I am paying attention, the standard one is not there (i.e. no scroll bar/slider or standard toolbar. Looks like a popup with URL and search window and the bookmark toolbar.)

I am guessing this is a Firefox thing because Chrome works, but whether it is the browser itself or its interaction with Java, some setting, or what-have-you I don't know. Suggestions?

I have laptops, desktops, and tablets. Tablets Use Android and are not a problem. The other machines run either Windows 7 (especially the ones at work) and 8.1 (personal laptops.) Different makes and models, some with wireless mice, some with USB connected mice, the former mostly Logitech and the latter Dell. For the purposes of the rest of this description, note that the touchpads on the laptops behave the same as the mice. In all these machines, after recent upgrades (Firefox for certain, but probably other things), about 50%-75% of windows open without scroll bars and do not scroll with the mouse wheel. I can navigate with the keyboard arrows and the links in the windows respond to mouse clicks. I assume the windows are opening in some script or platform (Java?) that is different from what is used in other pages I navigate to and through. In most cases they are opened from links on other pages, although I have come up with some that appeared after entering the URL, and the presence of a tool bar is inconsistent. Sometimes there, sometimes not. Most of the times I am paying attention, the standard one is not there (i.e. no scroll bar/slider or standard toolbar. Looks like a popup with URL and search window and the bookmark toolbar.) I am guessing this is a Firefox thing because Chrome works, but whether it is the browser itself or its interaction with Java, some setting, or what-have-you I don't know. Suggestions?

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hello, what you're describing sounds a bit like bug 1166066, which is going to be fixed in firefox 39 - you can try it in beta right now: https://www.mozilla.org/beta

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Great. I suspected something that would have a patch in the works. I am on my work machines at present, so I will try the beta when I get a chance to grab my own. Don't like to put betas on the company boxes.

I searched for the bug and found several similar issues (funny how I never seem to find them just searching without some specific issue or bug number). I noted that some seem to relate to private browsing or some other condition, so I will try to note that aspect of my behavior if the beta isn't working.

Thanks. I'll check the solution before marking it solved.

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Possible workarounds:

(1) use Options/Preferences > General: "Open new windows in a new tab instead"
(2) Shift+click links to open in a new window with the standard features or use the right-click context menu.

You can modify dom.disable_window_open_feature prefs and change their value to true to prevent a website from disabling toolbars and scroll bars in a pop-up window