Continuous error in Error Console: TypeError: the_window is undefined
I'm having a problem which recurs intermittently but I've never been able to figure out the cause. In the 'Error Console' I get a continuous message: "TypeError:the_window is undefined" Under it in blue is "about:blank line 4 > eval". Clearing the console works but the message then continues to repeat. The text after 'TypeError:' is sometimes different, but usually something to do with 'window'. ('Error Console', althoygh long deprecated is provided coutesy of Dave Pederick's 'Web Developer Add-on).
Having an error message continuously repeat makes the Error Console unusable because if there are other errors they get lost in the contiuous stream.
I have tried starting in Safe Mode. Using 'Ctrl Shift+J' brings up the Browser Console and I can see the same error repeating many times. I'm running Fx 46.0.1. The problem is not occuring in Fx Developer Version 48.0a2 so I suspect it may be a problem with the current build of Firefox?
All Replies (4)
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions ("3-bar" menu button or Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
- Switch to the DEFAULT theme: "3-bar" menu button or Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
- Do NOT click the "Refresh Firefox" button on the Safe Mode start window
Thanks for your reply. I think I've already tried all that (unless I've mis-understood). I'm using default theme normally, but this shows as disabled in Safe Mode.
In Safe Mode the Browser Console (Ctrl Shift+J) is still showing the continuous error.
Also in Safe Mode the Health Report shows three extensions as active. I thought they'd all be disbled. Is there any way to find out which they are (and where they're located)? In normal mode I can only see seven enabled extensions in Add-ons Manager (and several disabled ones) but Health Report says ten. All plugi-ins are currently on 'Never Activate'.
LATER: After I'd made this post I closed Firefox. The Browser Console was still open and it has continued to clock up the error (about one per second). I don't know enough about how theses things work, but could it be the Console itself that's the problem? Against that idea: 1. Many of these errors are already logged when I open the Consiole. 2. The same thing happens in both the 'Browser Console' and the 'Error Console' (although I assume they are closely related).
One other point: Firefox Developer Edition (48.0a2, dated 24 May 2016) is NOT showing this problem. I have the same Extensions there as on my regular Firefox.
Ilungisiwe ngu ramasaig
Those three active extensions are probably the extensions that are part of built-in features.
- e10srollout: e10srollout@mozilla.org
- loop: loop@mozilla.org
- pocket: firefox@getpocket.com
Can you post your extensions list?
Thank for your reply. I'd hoped to attach a file, but it looks as if I can only add images. So here's the list of Extensions that are enabled:
Classic Theme Restorer Clear Cache Button Custom Buttons Firebug *Firefox Hello Beta Googlebar Lite *Multi-process staged rollout *Pocket Saved Password Editor Web Developer
Those with * are not in the Ad-ons list, so it looks as if you were right about their identities.
The error messages persist even when in Safe Mode, so I hope the Extensions can be eliminated. I have the same extensions in Firefox Dev version and it runs OK.
Ilungisiwe ngu cor-el