This issue can be caused by an extension or plugin that isn't working properly.

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.

See:

• Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems
• Troubleshoot issues with plugins like Flash or Java to fix common Firefox problems

If it does work in Safe-mode then disable all extensions and then try to find which is causing it by enabling one at a time until the problem reappears.

• Use "Disable all add-ons" on the Safe mode start window to disable all extensions.
• Close and restart Firefox after each change via "File > Exit" (Mac: "Firefox > Quit"; Linux: "File > Quit")

thanks. i found the culprit but it is very odd. macafee site adviser has is not new. i have had it for years. but that is the one that seems to have caused the problem. should i try to uninstall it and reinstall a fresh version. i hate to browse without it. is there another i can use instead?

i also found several versions of java console from versions 6.02.20 through 6.02.22. do i really need all of these. if not, should i uninstall or just disable.

thanks susan