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The ctrl-button starts zooming in as soon as I touch it, So I can't combine ctrl anymore for shortcuts. What is this?

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  • Last reply by BertieL

BertieL
BertieL
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I use de ctrl-button very often combined with another button/key for shortcuts. Suddenly the behavior of the ctrl-button has changed: as soon as I press the ctrl-button, the screen is zooming in.

At the same time, pull down menu's on websites won't open anymore (jut for a fraction of time and than it folds again).

Another problem at the same time: if I typ textstrings in fields that I have used before, only for a fraction of time the field unfolds with an input suggestion. It only shows for a fration of a second, to short to read it.

These problems also arise in Mozilla Thunderbird. In Internet Explorer everything worked as it should.

I tryd 'reset preferences but that didn't help.'

I use de ctrl-button very often combined with another button/key for shortcuts. Suddenly the behavior of the ctrl-button has changed: as soon as I press the ctrl-button, the screen is zooming in. At the same time, pull down menu's on websites won't open anymore (jut for a fraction of time and than it folds again). Another problem at the same time: if I typ textstrings in fields that I have used before, only for a fraction of time the field unfolds with an input suggestion. It only shows for a fration of a second, to short to read it. These problems also arise in Mozilla Thunderbird. In Internet Explorer everything worked as it should. I tryd 'reset preferences but that didn't help.'

All Replies (4)

cor-el
cor-el
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Sounds that you might have a stuck plus (+) or minus (-) key if pressing the Ctrl key is sufficient to zoom.

Try to close and restart Firefox and possibly reboot the computer to see if that helps.

BertieL
BertieL Question owner
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Wish that was true. In IE, Word etc. the problem doesn't show. It seems like it is specific for Firefox and Thunderbird.

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).

  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window.

Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.

See "Creating a profile":

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem.

You can also check the settings in your mouse driver software to make sure that it isn't causing the problem.

Try to set the mousewheel.withcontrol.action pref to 1 on the about:config page to prevent zooming.

BertieL
BertieL Question owner
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Thanks, I don't know how or why but when I sat down to do all the above, firefox started with a new startpage and all my problems in firefox and thunderbird were gone. Very strange but it all works again. I'll save your advice just in case . . . . .