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Firefox windows disappear on Windows 10

  • 5 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by aesmith

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Hi,

This is a fresh install of Windows 10, and I installed Firefox Portable in the first instance, this appeared to work and I made a couple of settings changes. Some time later, probably less than an hour, I find it doesn't work. It's difficult to describe but bits of the window appear then disappear. Sometimes a good part of the display appears then goes. Sometimes it appears for long enough that you can grab a corner with the mouse to re-size, then it goes again. It's as if the Windows GUI is writing itself over the top of the Firefox windows.

I tried a new install of normal, not Portable, Firefox and this shows exactly the same symptoms.

Wndows 10 is 64 bit running in a VM, in VMware Fusion, if that's relevant. A new install, the only changes made have been to remove some junk from the start menu and adjust some display preferences.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Tony S

Hi, This is a fresh install of Windows 10, and I installed Firefox Portable in the first instance, this appeared to work and I made a couple of settings changes. Some time later, probably less than an hour, I find it doesn't work. It's difficult to describe but bits of the window appear then disappear. Sometimes a good part of the display appears then goes. Sometimes it appears for long enough that you can grab a corner with the mouse to re-size, then it goes again. It's as if the Windows GUI is writing itself over the top of the Firefox windows. I tried a new install of normal, not Portable, Firefox and this shows exactly the same symptoms. Wndows 10 is 64 bit running in a VM, in VMware Fusion, if that's relevant. A new install, the only changes made have been to remove some junk from the start menu and adjust some display preferences. Any ideas? Thanks, Tony S

All Replies (5)

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OK I think I may have found the cause. The fault happens if the task bar is changed from the default black. Under Personalise / Colors there's an option "Show color on Start, taskbar, action center and title bar". If that option is selected, then next time Firefox is launch it goes screwy. If you deselect the option it doesn't fix a running instance of FF, but if you close and re-open FF it's now OK.

Completely irrational, but I've gone in and out setting and resetting that option and it's consistent.

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Why install portable version?

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I user portable apps where ever possible. It make life so much easier, for example "installing" them all onto a new or rebuilt PC is just a matter of copying the directories. Or if I change my mind and no longer need an application I just delete it's directory. Or run different versions for test purposes. I only mentioned it in case it was relevant to this fault, which it isn't as the installed version of FF has the same problem.

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Hi, this could be the issue here : Wndows 10 is 64 bit running in a VM, in VMware Fusion

Also please check that Windows 10 has not changed your Video Card Drivers (or others) from yours to Microsoft's old 2006 driver as this could be the issue also. Search for Device Manager and check. If it has download your Drivers and reinstall them. https://www.howtogeek.com/302595/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-automatically-updating-hardware-drivers/

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Thanks. I'm looking in Device Manager, under Display Adapters. Is that the correct place? If so the device driver is "VMware SVGA 3D", provided by VMware and dated 29/07/2014, and signed by Microsoft. That's the driver installed by VMware tools.

However the fault is the same with either that driver or the originally installed Microsoft 2006 driver.