Try to append a space and the -new-window switch to the target line in the desktop shortcut.

• https://developer.mozilla.org/Command_Line_Options

cor-el said

Try to append a space and the -new-window switch to the target line in the desktop shortcut.

• https://developer.mozilla.org/Command_Line_Options

That works. Except that now it is asking me to confirm Administrator privledges, --- which might get kind of annoying given how many times a day I have to open new FF windows.

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Note to those unaccustomed to command line switch syntax:

The arrangement of quotes I arrived at for the "Target" field (box) on the Firefox Properties Window (right click on desktop icon select Properties at bottom) for the desktop shortcut, goes as follows.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" "-new-window" (all quotes as above is what now works perfectly for my FF Shortcut's "Target" field)

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If the fix fails to stick. Say, even if you go to the bother of clicking the MS "apply" button, before hitting okay, then yes.....

You will want to shut Firefox down and restart it.

cor-el,

The user rights for my Win7-64 main user profile which has Administrators (group) membership, has never previously forced FF to ask for elevated rights, if that helps.

Check that Firefox isn't set to run as Administrator. Right-click the Firefox desktop shortcut and choose "Properties". Make sure that all items are deselected in the "Compatibility" tab of the Properties window.

• Privilege Level: "Run this program as Administrator" should not be selected
• "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" should not be selected

You may also have to check the Properties of the firefox.exe program in the Firefox program folder.

Desktop Icon --> Firefox Properties --> General Tab --> Advanced showed that 'run as administrator' had been checked.

      Unchecked it. 

Compatibility Tab (Desktop Icon) showed nothing had been/was selected.

Firefox.exe --> Properties --> General Tab --> Advanced = n/a; and again here, no items on the Compatibility Tab had been checked/selected.

After hitting 'Apply' and 'Okaying' out, the behavior returned, however. Even with the "-new-window" switch. Also tried the "-new-instance". Same deal. With and without the quotes, or inset within the quotes of the raw firefox.exe path/command line, itself. Still no dice.

You can copy and paste the line below exactly as shown below into the "Target" box on the properties window that will come up. Yes quotes n all. All of them. And do also make sure to check that your shortcut is not set to run as Administrator, as stated in the posts above.

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" "-new-window"

Note: On closing out the EXE Properties I did get notification of restart being necessary for some purpose that did not seem applicable to this issue.

Please confirm if a restart might absolutely make a difference to lock in the deselection of Run as Admin.

After many years of using Windows I am still pretty lost when it comes to Windows UAC stuff.

Again, thanks.

Restarting Firefox following the addition of the "-new-window" switch, as explained above, seems to have done the trick.

Thank you very much for such promptness.

We don't need no stinking Chrome.

Note that opening a new Firefox Window is not another instance but another Window with same instance.

To start another Firefox instance you need to use the -no-remote switch and a separate Profile. Note do not use -no-remote with default Profile.

Thank you for that.

The heads-up on all of those switches being available is interesting. Am in the process of setting up a couple domains/sites, first using an Apache testing server and FF as an external previewer for Dreamweaver and PHP stuff.