Removing the special application header with the tabs in the header and using a regular Aero one
(If it helps/matters, I typically use FF in private mode. Normal mode does the same. I use Windows 7.)
Firefox does not use the standard Aero application header (I truly do not know what else to call it). In FF, the header has all the tabs. This implies it is specially written code, and does not use the standard Aero design. Much though I like it, EVERY time my nvlddmkm.sys driver crashes (and it crashes a LOT), it takes out the firefox header, mangles it so that I can no longer minimise, restore, etc, and using tabs can be sometimes difficult. Now, before you say "That's not FF's fault", it is because none of my other applications, all of which use the standard Aero interface, have these symptoms after a crash.
The work around is to create a new FF window, and manually drag-n-drop all my tabs onto that, and the problem is solved. But, given my video driver typically crashes two or three times a session, and given I typically have twenty or more tabs going in a session, this task can get tiresome. And since all I am gaining by using this FF non-standard application header is a little real estate on a 1080 screen, I don't see it as worth it.
So, what I want to do is switch-off this "special FF header" and use the regular Aero one for Firefox. Is it possible? If so, how?
And before you say, "Hang on, now, we're burying the lead, aren't we?! Wtf is wrong with your video driver? Replace that! Fix your GPU! etc..." The drivers are all up-to-date, the GPU is almost new, I think my mobo is stuffed and I have no money to replace the whole machine, much less the inclination to start over installing aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall my applications. And, finally, no one, but no one can tell me what is wrong with my PC. It's just stuffed. Let's just skirt around that problem and try to fix FF.
Thanks for your help. Sorry this is so long, but I want to give maximal info.
Chosen solution
I'm not sure I understand the nature of the crash: the Firefox window's "title bar" area is corrupted but Firefox keeps running?
To make Firefox's title bar look more like other applications, you can restore the current tab page title to that top area, which will push the tabs down. There is a button for this at the bottom left of the Customize panel.
Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars
Does that ease things or just spread the area of damage?
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Chosen Solution
I'm not sure I understand the nature of the crash: the Firefox window's "title bar" area is corrupted but Firefox keeps running?
To make Firefox's title bar look more like other applications, you can restore the current tab page title to that top area, which will push the tabs down. There is a button for this at the bottom left of the Customize panel.
Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars
Does that ease things or just spread the area of damage?
One other thought: next time this occurs, try the keyboard shortcut to restore/maximize the Firefox Window to see whether that forces a "repaint" of the damaged area.
Hold down the Alt key and press the spacebar to drop down the "control menu" from the upper left corner of the window. Then if you are maximized, press R to restore to a resizable window, and if you are viewing a resizable window, press X to maximize it. Then do the other one. Any improvement?
> I'm not sure I understand the nature of the crash: the Firefox window's "title bar" area is corrupted but Firefox keeps running?
Yep, you get it.
> next time this occurs, try the keyboard shortcut to restore/maximize the Firefox Window to see whether that forces a "repaint" of the damaged area.
Yeah, tried this (though, I had forgotten the Alt+Space way of getting that menu up so thanks for that). It doesn't restore the TITLE bar (right term t.y. again). The title is just corrupted.
Mind you, a lot of applications need to be restarted altogether, such as video players or anything else graphical (games are, of course, toast). However, "normal" applications, such as Excel and the like, breeze through this crash barely noticing. FF kinda sits in the middle.
I'll give the restoring the title bar a go and we'll see if that works. We should know shortly. :) :(
Modified by aragond
The solution marked worked a treat. My driver crashed, the screen went black, but firefox kept on running exactly as it was before. Thanks, good sir, you solved a small portion of my computer's very many problems. :)