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Javascript is enabled but Firefox is not displaying javascript windows.

  • 5 replies
  • 101 have this problem
  • 27 views
  • Last reply by Consultan

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After clicking any link that will open a "Javascript window", the window is not opened/displayed. When I subsequently close firefox, I'll get a prompt that multiple tabs are open although that is not the case. The Firefox process remains active after I have closed the browser.

I created a clean profile (ran Firefox -p) to see if any of my plugins are causing the problem. I experienced the same problem using the "virgin profile".

After clicking any link that will open a "Javascript window", the window is not opened/displayed. When I subsequently close firefox, I'll get a prompt that multiple tabs are open although that is not the case. The Firefox process remains active after I have closed the browser. I created a clean profile (ran Firefox -p) to see if any of my plugins are causing the problem. I experienced the same problem using the "virgin profile".

Chosen solution

Some programs install extension globally that Firefox install by default in a new profile.

Did you check that in the new profile (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) ?

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (5)

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You can divert such JavaScript window.open() links to a new tab.
You can also open such links in the background.
You may have an extension that has changed such settings.

See http://kb.mozillazine.org/browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction

There are three prefs, accessible via the about:config page, to control the focus if you click a link.

browser.tabs.loadInBackground (normal links)
browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground (javascript)
browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground (bookmarks and searchbar)


See also http://kb.mozillazine.org/about%3Aconfig_entries

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I verified that browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction" is set to 2 and browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground (javascript) is set to false. From what I read from the info you provided, those would be the right settings.

So the problem remains but your efforts are appreciated nevertheless ...

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Chosen Solution

Some programs install extension globally that Firefox install by default in a new profile.

Did you check that in the new profile (Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) ?

Modified by cor-el

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Yes I noticed some extensions that I did not install and I ass/u/me'd that they were not an issue. So I went back an checked on same and identified the culprits:

  • Java QuickStarter -- added by the JRE
  • Zone Toolbar -- add by the ZA security suite

Disabling these extensions took care of the problem. Thanks for your help ...

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      • Update ***

As it turns out, by solving this problem I also resolved another issue. After closing Firefox with multiple tabs open, the Firefox process remained active. I was unable to open Firefox until I terminated the active process. It didn't matter whether tabs were saved or not.

Disabling the Java QuickStarter and ZA Toolbar add-ons resolved this issue as well.