Firefox initially opens new tabs as tabs, then switches to new windows
I am running FF 14.0.1 and the following problem has persisted through a number of versions.
Initially FF will open new tabs...Ctrl+t works, right-click open in new tab etc. all work fine. Sometimes tabs are now issue and I can have maybe 20 or more tabs open. Then other times we seem to get to some arbitrary limit, say 5 tabs, and from then on every new tab opens a new window. Any external link opens in a new window, a Ctrl+t opens as a new window, all new windows are single frame, e.g. you can't have a number of windows each of say 5 tabs, just the original window with (say) 5 and then a series of windows with only single pages in each and from which Ctrl+t only opens a new window.
A complete restart does sometimes cure things and I can go back to having different pages in different tabs, and then something...no obvious pattern...kick us into 'new window only' mode after which even if I reduce the number of tabs in the original multi-tabbed window, Ctrl+t only opens new windows.
It's really starting to get to me... I've trawled the support info and am wondering about a complete reset or even uninstall and re-install. places.sqlite is checked as being valid and I've reindexed it too, all to no effect.
Chosen solution
Try the Firefox SafeMode to see how it works there.
A troubleshooting mode, which disables most Add-ons.
(If you're not using it, switch to the Default Theme.)
- You can open the Firefox 4.0+ SafeMode by holding the Shft key when you use the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
- Or use the Help menu item, click on Restart with Add-ons Disabled... while Firefox is running.
Don't select anything right now, just use "Continue in SafeMode."
To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before using the Firefox shortcut (without the Shft key) to open it again.
If it is good in the Firefox SafeMode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one.
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
When you figure out what is causing that, please let us know. It might help other user's who have that problem.
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Try the Firefox SafeMode to see how it works there.
A troubleshooting mode, which disables most Add-ons.
(If you're not using it, switch to the Default Theme.)
- You can open the Firefox 4.0+ SafeMode by holding the Shft key when you use the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
- Or use the Help menu item, click on Restart with Add-ons Disabled... while Firefox is running.
Don't select anything right now, just use "Continue in SafeMode."
To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before using the Firefox shortcut (without the Shft key) to open it again.
If it is good in the Firefox SafeMode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one.
http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
When you figure out what is causing that, please let us know. It might help other user's who have that problem.
You can also check for problems with the localstore.rdf file.
Thanks for this. Will certainly check the local store. I can have other odd behaviour. Variations include:
- No back and forward buttons
- No location (URL)
- No toolbar
The selection of options to display (or not) these items has no effect, not that (as far as I'm aware) back and forward can be disabled.
Well I think the following shows the odd state FF has got itself into. So I...
- Located the profile folder
- Closed FF (14.0.1)
- Renamed (rather than deleted) the localstore.rdf file
- Restarted FF in safe mode
The main point then was that excepting the change in layout, that tabs didn't work at all; the option was greyed-out, the + tab did nothing and Ctrl+t did nothing.
The then stopped, deleted the new localstore.rdf and restored the old/orginal one and restarted. This restored my layout by still new tab is entirely gone...the option is greyed-out in the menus, the + tab dodn't work and Ctrl+t does nothing. Ctrl+n does give a new window. In addition:
- The forward and back buttons have disappeared
- The toolbars have disappeared despite showing as enabled in the View:Toolbars menu
Opening a new windows however give a correct layout, e.g. back and forward and toolbars appear and New tab is enabled, however, it either via menu of via Ctrl+t only opens new windows.
The start in Safe mode sadly didn't seem to help, but I will experiment further...
Images:
- Note the loss of back and forward buttons and no toolbar
- This is simply a Ctrl+n new window...back and forward arrows and toolbars restored
- This is in the 'parent' multi-tabbed window (with no back/forward etc.). Note how New tab is greyed out explaining why + tab and Ctrl+t simply doesn't work...doesn't open new window, simply does nothing at all
In safe mode, the original window that opens with 5 preserved tabs has New tab disabled; it's diabled in the file menu, the + tab does nothing and Ctrl+t does nothing. The window is also lacking back and forward buttons and toolbars.
Opening a new window (Ctrl+n) restores back and forward and CTrl+t and + tab work. I got up to 79 tabs and was still going strong so no issue in the new window. Suspicion therefore falls to an extension although the odd behaviour of the opening window, even in safe mode causes me some concern, e.g. no back/forward nav buttons and new tab disabled. Things only work as expected in a new window.
Disabled a couple of extentions; Pocket 3.0.0 and 'Download YouTube videos 12.9.6' and after second disable tabs worked correctly although initally opened window still behaving oddly. So moved tabs to a new window, close original window, closed new window and restarted and all okay; looks okay, all buttons and toolbars in place and tabs working.
Then reenabled the two extentions and restarted and things still working correctly! Maybe there was a corrupt config entry someplace that has been rewritten and correct due to the disable/enable? Anyway, seem to be working for the moment although I've been in this place before and am not 100% sure my 'issues' won't reoccur. But thanks for the help, at least I've got further and so can retry these steps if or when things go awry again!