Missing icons are usually supplied by a font that is downloaded from the server (@font-face) as you can probably see by little boxes that show the hex code of the characters.

Make sure that you allow pages to choose their own fonts.

• Tools > Options > Content : Fonts & Colors > Advanced: [X] "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above"

You can check the gfx.downloadable_fonts.enabled pref on the about:config page and make sure that it is set to true (if necessary double-click the line to toggle its value).

problem is tools, etc. represented by hex blocks and when you type in address bar or search bar you type in hex blocks.

here is a picture. http://s1296.photobucket.com/user/docfrail/media/FireFoxHexCode_zps18f32bdb.jpg.html

ok. loaded firefox by "run as administrator" and everything normal. went to about:config and gfx.downloadable_fonts.enabled was true. under tools, etc. "allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above" was checked. weird.

This can be a problem with the font that is used to display the text.

You can do a font test to see if you can identify corrupted font(s).

• http://browserspy.dk/fonts-flash.php?detail=1

You can try different default fonts and temporarily disable website fonts to test the selected default font.

• Tools > Options > Content : Fonts & Colors > Advanced
• [ ] "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above"

You can use the System File Checker to check for missing and corrupted font files. It needs to be run from an Elevated Command Prompt. Open a cmd.exe window as Administrator: Start, click Programs, click Accessories Right-click Command Prompt, and choose "Run as administrator" Click past the UAC Screen After the cmd.exe prompt, type: sfc.exe /scannow and press Enter

checked fonts and no obvious problems. unchecked "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above". made no difference ran system file checker and no problems.

uninstalled firefox and removed profile and all registry entries for firefox. reinstalled firefox and same problem when hit firefox button. if run by administrator then everything normal. win7 sp1 64 bit.

fonts are not corrupted

PROBLEM FIXED. TURNED OFF HARDWARE ACCELERATOR AND ALL IS WELL. THANKS FOR ALL THE SUGGESTIONS.

Try to disable OMTC and leave hardware acceleration enabled to see if that works.

• about:config page: layers.offmainthreadcomposition.enabled = false

all of this problem was on my daughter's laptop and she is in another state. been working and repairing it via team viewer. will see her thanksgiving time and may play around with your suggestion. for the time being will leave well enough alone. thanks,