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Mouse pointer keeps spinning for up to 40 seconds after launch

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  • Last reply by jsamcr

jsamcr
jsamcr
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I am running Debian 10 Linux and recently upgraded Firefox ESR to version 78.3.0 . I noticed that whenever I launch Firefox that the mouse pointer "spins" for up to 40 seconds after launch. This does not seem to affect usability but is visually unpleasant. I have done the following things: 1. Start in Safe Mode: The spinning mouse pointer is no longer spinning after launch. 2. Disabled all plugins and extension and launch Firefox: The pointer keeps spinning. 3. Downloaded Firefox 80 and launched: Pointer keeps spinning. 4. Changed home page to a blank screen: Pointer keeps spinning. 5. Uninstalled Firefox ESR and re-installed: Pointer keeps spinning. 6. Checked for viruses, trojans, and other malware: none found.

Interestingly, if I launch Firefox ESR from a terminal (eg "firefox-esr &") the spinning mouse pointer is not present. HMMMM! This is the command that is used in the desktop icon: /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr %u . Is there a problem with that command. I may modify that command and see what happens. Feedback would be appreciated.

I am running Debian 10 Linux and recently upgraded Firefox ESR to version 78.3.0 . I noticed that whenever I launch Firefox that the mouse pointer "spins" for up to 40 seconds after launch. This does not seem to affect usability but is visually unpleasant. I have done the following things: 1. Start in Safe Mode: The spinning mouse pointer is no longer spinning after launch. 2. Disabled all plugins and extension and launch Firefox: The pointer keeps spinning. 3. Downloaded Firefox 80 and launched: Pointer keeps spinning. 4. Changed home page to a blank screen: Pointer keeps spinning. 5. Uninstalled Firefox ESR and re-installed: Pointer keeps spinning. 6. Checked for viruses, trojans, and other malware: none found. Interestingly, if I launch Firefox ESR from a terminal (eg "firefox-esr &") the spinning mouse pointer is not present. HMMMM! This is the command that is used in the desktop icon: /usr/lib/firefox-esr/firefox-esr %u . Is there a problem with that command. I may modify that command and see what happens. Feedback would be appreciated.

Chosen solution

It appears that the problem, at least in the case of firefox-esr on Debian 10 (with XFCE and Lightdm), is the last line in the /usr/share/applications/firefox-esr.desktop file. The last line of the file is StartupNotify=true . If that is changed to StartupNotify=false the problem goes away.

However, changing that file would not be a permanent fix since the next update would probably overwrite the file.

My solution was to create a desktop launcher where I have the command "firefox-esr". This solution was easy as I am using XFCE and Lightdm. I don't know how easy it would be to implement with other desktops and display managers. Also, I have no idea how one would implement the solution for other OS's such as Windows or the Mac OS but it shouldn't be that hard.

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jsamcr
jsamcr Question owner
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Chosen Solution

It appears that the problem, at least in the case of firefox-esr on Debian 10 (with XFCE and Lightdm), is the last line in the /usr/share/applications/firefox-esr.desktop file. The last line of the file is StartupNotify=true . If that is changed to StartupNotify=false the problem goes away.

However, changing that file would not be a permanent fix since the next update would probably overwrite the file.

My solution was to create a desktop launcher where I have the command "firefox-esr". This solution was easy as I am using XFCE and Lightdm. I don't know how easy it would be to implement with other desktops and display managers. Also, I have no idea how one would implement the solution for other OS's such as Windows or the Mac OS but it shouldn't be that hard.