I don't know what would cause that. Maybe you have some bogus Firefox &/0r bundled software installed.

Try a clean install of Firefox from the official Mozilla site. That involves deleting the Firefox Program files but NOT the Firefox Profile. (Because the profile has your bookmarks settings and passwords you will want to keep them.)

Please post back with how you get on.

N.B. note Firefox 29 will look a bit different from your current version

• Learn more about the design of the new Firefox version 29

Certain Firefox problems can be solved by performing a Clean reinstall. This means you remove Firefox program files and then reinstall Firefox. Please follow these steps:

Note: You might want to print these steps or view them in another browser.

1. Download the latest Desktop version of Firefox from http://www.mozilla.org and save the setup file to your computer.
2. After the download finishes, close all Firefox windows (click Exit from the Firefox or File menu).
3. Delete the Firefox installation folder, which is located in one of these locations, by default: (Windows)

• C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox
• C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Firefox

1. Now, go ahead and reinstall Firefox:
   1. Double-click the downloaded installation file and go through the steps of the installation wizard.
   2. Once the wizard is finished, choose to directly open Firefox after clicking the Finish button.

More information about reinstalling Firefox can be found here.

WARNING: Do not run Firefox's uninstaller or use a third party remover as part of this process, because that could permanently delete your Firefox data, including but not limited to, extensions, cache, cookies, bookmarks, personal settings and saved passwords. These cannot be recovered unless they have been backed up to an external device!

Thanks John99 ... working like a charm now ... I like the new look and it seems to be much faster than previous versions ... cheers mate ... and thanks again for the support.

Glad to hear it is working. Thanks for posting back.

Glad you like the new Firefox. By its nature this forum tends to get the complaints and problems, so its nice to hear someone say they like Firefox 29.

My pleasure ...

I hope this goes to John99 ... since I think he will know whats goin on ...I recently was able, thanks to John99, to instal version 29.0 - but c'mon guys ... really ... I open my firefox browser now and I can't even click on a url without a second and sometimes third window opening up in a new window with ads and video and all this crap telling me I need to do all these things to my computer - or I need to buy this crap ... or I need to participate in this survey ... or my computer is deficient in some way ... and in my primary window I have to cancel all these frickin ads that keep sliding their way into my face while I am trying to read reports etc and cannot read them because of the reason I have mentioned ... or my dog is going to die if I don't agree to do whatever they want me to do .. and I need to call this woman if I am ever going to find happiness again ... this is all bullshit of course ... there are no programs that have been installed on my computer without my ok ... I have checked and rechecked every day since this started I have done a deep scan (avast) ... I have for the past week copied the urls of the windows that keep opening up and putting the urls in the block cookies option in my firefox option menu ... wtf guys ... I have to trade stocks and get up to date info on companies that I invest in immediately ... I have always been a Mozilla supporter ... but I have never experienced anything like this before ... it takes me a continuous effort to go through the day like this when clients keep asking me what the status of their account is ... I don't even want to try to access it in front of them ... its too embarrassing ... come into my computer and see for yourselves ... please ... I give you permission ... I don't know what else to do ...

Hi Irishman,

Have a go at the suggestions that follow and then post back with how you get on.

Obviously I have seen your post, and sorry you are having problems. Unfortunately this is likely to be because you did not take enough care on the Internet. It is all too easy to go to bad websites and pick up malware that once downloaded does things you may not like or expect.

Explanation
This is not anything to do with Mozilla Firefox, other than it is the browser in use. Such software is not bundled with or downloaded with Firefox installs or upgrades.
( You may get an option of thumbnails in otherwise blank spaces in newtabs in a version of Firefox later this year but that is a different subject)

Finding such adware may be problematic, after all it is either downright malware which will try its best to evade being found and uninstalled, or it is adware that a minority of people actually like and deliberately download and install, usually after clicking small print saying this will happen.

Suggestions to try to Uninstall or Remove Adware

First thing to try, check which search engine is selected ?
Because this is so simple and could have an effect it is worth checking what Search engine is selected for the Firefox Searchbar. You may have changed that, or software may have,and that will affect other searches including those from the address bar and the start page. All you need to do is click the little downward pointing arrowhead in the search bar and check what is in use and what is available. In most countries Firefox uses Google by default.

Check the shortcut Icons - has an address been added ?
Right click the icon on the desktop used to start Firefox has an address been tacked on to the end of that. If something has changed that Firefox goes to that address as it starts up. For comparison use a run command directly. In Windows & with Firefox not already open Use keyboard shortcut Winkey+Run then when you get the run option key in firefox.exe & hit return. That will run Firefox without any extra instruction.

Adware removal
I you have got adware, or unwanted software especially if it also affects other browsers (So check the use of Internet Explorer) look for anything unexpected installed in the Windows OS, use the Windows Control Panel. especially if only Firefox is affected check what is installed as extensions and plugins by using the addons manager.

• USE New button -> Addons
  Or navigate to about:addons ,by keying that into the addressbar
• Also see
  • Remove a toolbar that has taken over your Firefox search or home page
  • And this slightly dated article What to do when searches take you to the wrong search website

I will make a follow on post detailing malware removal steps. Note it is important to use up to date and multiple tools, not just your one favourite. No single tool detects everything. This one is particularly useful with adware problems

• * AdwCleaner: (for adware)

Run scans with multiple and up-to-date tools. Hopefully malware or adware will be easily detected and removed. Incidentally I would not suggest you try any manual hacks or edits of the Windows registry. (Once rogue files are removed any residual registry entry will not normally do any harm.)

You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:

• Microsoft Safety Scanner
• MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware
• TDSSKiller - AntiRootkit Utility
• Hitman Pro
• ESET Online Scanner
• AdwCleaner: (for adware)
• Kaspersky Free security scan

You need to use multiple and up-to-date tools as they will not all pick up the same things.

Microsoft Security Essentials is a good FREE permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one.

All is good mate ... took me a while to be able to let you know ... had trouble logging in to Mozilla - but that's your problem ... not mine ... hahaha !!! In any event, yes ... as in the past your suggestions helped and I was able to take care of things ... my opinion never wavered ...

You are welcome,good to see fixes working.