You can find the New Tab button showing as a '+' on the Tab bar.
You can open the Customize window and drag the New Tab button that shows as a plus sign (+) from the Tab bar on another toolbar and it will become a regular toolbar button like the New Tab button that you have in Firefox 3 versions.
If you can't find the New Tab button then click the "Restore Default Set" button in the Customize window.
If you want the New Tab button at the far right end of the Tab bar then place a flexible space to the left of it.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Toolbar_customization
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Back+and+forward+or+other+toolbar+items+are+missing

Well, that's closer, but what I am after is an actual small tab with the plus that floats at the right end of the last tab like the first photo here from this site. What I get after moving the New tab button from the toolbar to the tab bar is a lone Plus sign anchored at the left end of the tab bar. Placing a flexible space to the left of it only opens a huge empty space at the left.

You either need to drag that button to the far right while the Customize window is open or drag the "+" button into the toolbar palette to remove it or click the Restore Default Set button to reset all toolbars. If the button is located at the left then that means that you've customized the Tab bar and dragged the button to the position at the left and you need to undo that.

Please read what I wrote. I know all about the customizing drag-n-drop stuff. I don't want the + on the right or the left. I want the + as a tab to the right of the last tab on the tab bar, as makes the most sense, just like the first photo attached to my previous post. This is how it was in version 4. Apparently either version 8 has killed that capability, or I am not finding the magic tap dance necessary to put it back. LOOK at the two photos I attached above, and I will attach the photo again here of what I want ...

That plus button should snap to its default position next to the last tab if you restore the defaults or move the plus button to the far right. Although the latter may not work in all cases, the restore default set should bring the button back to that position.

It doesn't. No snapping, no plus "tab". If I move it to the left, it is just an empty spot with a plus in it and it stays there. If I move it to the right, it is just an empty spot with a plus in it and it stays there. I HAVE restored defaults and the situation doesn't change. The problem with software is that it often "should" do something, but in practice it does not. Perhaps someone could tell me if the Plus as a tab was deprecated in version 8, or provide some other fix?

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode

See also:

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Corrupt_localstore.rdf

BINGO!!! The solution for a corrupt "localstore.rtf" fixed it. Whoo hooo!!! Thanks a bunch. I knew there had to be some way to get it back if it was still around. Thanks again.

You're welcome