Try the Firefox Safe Mode to see how it works there. The Safe Mode is 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+ Safe Mode by holding the Shift key when you use the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
• Or use the Help menu item and click on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item while Firefox is running.

Don't select anything right now, just use "'Start in Safe Mode" To exit the Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before using the Firefox shortcut (without the Shift key) to open it again. If it is good in the Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one.

Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article for that.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help other users who have the same problem.

Started up in safe mode, balloons still there. Went thru all the add-ons just in case, didn't find anything. Is there anything else I can try?

What balloons are in the way? Please provide a screenshot; See How do I create a screenshot of my problem? for instructions on how to create a screenshot.

are you referring to the interal tooltips? if so, then you can deactivate them like this: enter about:config into the firefox location bar (confirm the info message in case it shows up) & search for the preference named browser.chrome.toolbar_tips. double-click it and change its value to false.

Do you mean pop-ups that open if you hover double underlined links on web pages?

You can look at Adblock Plus to hide double underlined IntelliTXT type pop-ups.

• Adblock Plus: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/

You need to subscribe to a Filter list (e.g. the EasyList).

• http://adblockplus.org/en/subscriptions
• http://adblockplus.org/en/getting_started