It is possible that you have switched the keyboard layout by accident by using the key sequence to rotate the layout.

• http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258824 - How to change your keyboard layout

Windows remembers the keyboard layout setting per application and you may have changed the keyboard layout by accident via a keyboard shortcut.

• http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/The-Language-bar-overview The Language bar (overview)

• Make sure that you have the Language bar visible on the Windows Taskbar
• You can do that via the right-click context menu of the Taskbar: Toolbars > Language Bar

• Check the keyboard language (keyboard layout) setting for the application that has focus via the icon on the Language bar
• You need to do that while Firefox has focus because Windows remembers the keyboard layout setting per application

• The default key combination to rotate the layout is the Ctrl+Shift or Alt+Shift combination that is used in Firefox for menu items, so it is quite possible to change the layout accidentally.
• To avoid an unintentional switch, assign a specific key sequence (Alt/Ctrl+Shift+number) to select keyboard layouts and remove the key combination to rotate layouts (Alt+Shift or Ctrl+Shift)

• Control Panel > Regional and Language Options > Keyboards and Languages > Change keyboards > Advanced key settings > Change key sequence

It's not that I get a different language I get random characters. If I type the letter "a" once I might get the letter "y". Type the "a" again and I get "u". Do it again and I get "I". Now if I were to type "a" "s" I would get "y" "u". Notice the return letters are in sequence on the keyboard. Oddly enough when using MS Internet Explorer I can type in this window. Using Firefox I was not able to do this.

Try to boot the computer in Windows Safe Mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if this helps.

• http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/how-to-start-windows-in-safe-mode/

I have the same problem, I think it came after doing a MS critical update yesterday. uninstall and reinstall Firefox did not do anything. Confirm the Keyboard in the language bar did not help either. Using IE, I get the same problem trying to type in the URL bar? Everything else works in IE? Very strange.

Mozilla v28 is the issue at least on my computer. I installed v15 that I had in my download folder and it works fine. However while it is open it's being updated to v28. A window asks for a restart to update. I complied. Once in v28 the problem is back. I can't seem to stop the auto-update. If I could I would leave it at v15.

Try to create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problem.

See "Creating a profile":

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/profile-manager-create-and-remove-firefox-profiles
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Profile_issues

If the new profile works then you can transfer files from a previously used profile to the new profile, but be cautious not to copy corrupted files to avoid carrying over the problem

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

Do a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before (re)installing a fresh copy of the current Firefox release.

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

• Firefox 28: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html

If possible uninstall your current Firefox version to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

• Do NOT remove "personal data" when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because this will remove all profile folders and you lose personal data like bookmarks and passwords including data in profiles created by other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

• (32 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
• (64 bit Windows) "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\"

• It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox

Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall

I'll have to digest what you wrote and figure out a step by step because your solution may well be just what I need. However was written as if I know what I'm doing. I don't. If you could post a step by step idiots guide for a mere mortal that would be great. Thank you for all the help.

Hi,

Let me try to "post a step by step idiots guide for a mere mortal" as you said.

The links cor-el gave you have all the directions

• Follow these steps to create a new profile
• If you don't experience any problems after using the new profile, you can transfer your personal data into the new profile. Try to transfer the least amount of files to avoid corruption again
  • http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

Uninstall Firefox via the Control Panel to remove any excess files. DO NOT click the Remove my personal data checkbox during the uninstallation.
Download Firefox 28 after uninstalling:

• http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html

Delete the Firefox folder before installing the fresh Firefox executable you just downloaded

• If you have 32 bit Windows, you can delete:
  • "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\"
• If you have 64 bit Windows, delete:
  • "C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox\
    • It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
• Your bookmarks and other personal data are stored in the Firefox profile folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.

This issue can be caused by the Anti-Keylogger in ZoneAlarm, so you can disable this feature until ZoneAlarm has released an update.

Great! this works, it was the Zone Alarm Anti-Keylogger that caused the problem. I turn it off and everything is working fine now. Many thanks to cor-el

Many thanks cor-el. Problem solved.