If you will post a description of the problem(s) you are encountering, someone here will try to assist you with a solution. Firefox 4 had some major changes to the user interface, but we can help you with the new look or help you to make it look more like previous versions. Note: We are all uncompensated volunteers here trying to help other Firefox users.

Where would I start? OK - Tabs. There used to be a tab for the website I was using, and next to that was a plus sign. I could click the plus sign and open up a new tab/window. This plus sign is missing now. I'm sure there's a way to re-display it. Like I said, I'd like to just start using the software, rather than go back to school to learn how. It was easy and intuitive before.

See if there is a "New Tab" button on the Customize Toolbar palette:

1. right-click on a toolbar, choose Customize, the Customize Toolbar palette will open (you can also click the Firefox button > Options > Toolbar Layout or HOLD the ALT key while pressing the keyboard letters VTC to open the Customize Toolbar palette ).
2. scroll down to look for an item labeled "New Tab"
   • if it is there, drag it to the end of the tabs while the customize window is open, then click Done at the bottom right of the Customize window
   • if it is not there, click "Restore Default Set" at the bottom of the Customize window, scroll down again to see if the "New Tab" button is there and drag it to the end of the tabs while the customize window is open, then click Done at the bottom right of the Customize window
3. You can also use Ctrl+T to open a new tab or click the Firefox button > New Tab > New Tab or HOLD down the ALT button while clicking the keyboard letters FT.
4. See: http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+customize+the+toolbar

There are ways to change the Firefox 4 interface to look more like previous versions of Firefox. Post back with specifics if you want to make some changes (i.e., Tabs on Top, combined or separate Go/Stop/Reload buttons, position of the toolbar icons (see link above), color of buttons, using the Menu Bar instead of the new Firefox button, etc.)

"scroll down to look for an item labeled "New Tab"

   if it is there, drag it to the end of the tabs while the customize window is open, then click Done at the bottom right of the Customize window
   if it is not there, click "Restore Default Set" at the bottom of the Customize window, scroll down again to see if the "New Tab" button is there and drag it to the end of the tabs while the customize window is open, then click Done at the bottom right of the Customize window "

I tried that. There is no "New Tab" button as a choice. Alt FT and Control T works. Like I was saying at the start - why is this designed so it works only after I "go to school" and get instructions from nice folks like you? Previously I just used the software without help. I shouldn't have to wait a day (getting forum answers) to use software. Please don't think I'm trying to "shoot the messenger" You guys helping out are awesome. The software design team (IMO) is not awesome. They've made some backwards steps. To be fair, they've made some good forward steps too.

If my second reply solved your posted question,

So that other users can find solutions to previously asked Firefox support questions, please take a couple of minutes to return to the forum, sign in and click "Solved" next my second answer. Thanks.

Did you read this page, which was displayed the first time Firefox 4 was opened?
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/4.0/firstrun/

It covers many of the new or changed features in Firefox 4.

While I appreciate your attempts, I don't consider this work-around a solution that is viable. There should be a way to display the button (+) that allow one to click and add another page. The programmers are the ones who need to address this backwards migration of utility.

Are you sure that you are looking for a button labeled "New Tab"? See image below.

I would love to see that option on MY screen.

I clicked on View - Toolbars - Customize and that brought up a display similar to yours.

Unfortunately, there was no New Tab option for me to select. And yes, I scrolled down to see all the options.

Have you tried clicking Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled to see if an add-on might be causing the problem?

• If the problem is resolved when add-ons are disabled, then it is an add-on causing the problem.
• Exit Firefox and start as normal by clicking the desktop icon.
• Then disable all add-ons,
• re-start Firefox again,
• enable a few, 3-5 at a time,
• restarting Firefox normally after each group is re-enabled to see when the problem re-appears,
• then you know that the one causing the problem is in the last group that you re-enabled, so keep track of what you re-enable each time.

Do you have any tab-related add-ons? (Add-ons > Extensions) If so, disable that/those add-on(s) first in your above testing.

See:

• http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
• http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Troubleshooting+plugins
• http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Basic+Troubleshooting

You can also try starting in Safe Mode which is a Firefox diagnostic mode. It disables Plugins and Hardware Acceleration in addition to Extensions in Firefox 4.

• checking no items on the Safe Mode entry screen, just click "Continue in Safe Mode", and
• you can disable all extensions on the Safe Mode entry by choosing/checking that item when entering Safe Mode, follow the same procedure as outlined above.
• See:
  • https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Safe%20Mode
  • http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_Mode
  • Firefox 4 users, hold the Shift key while clicking the Firefox 4 desktop icon to enter Safe Mode.

Thank you for your reply and suggestion.

I am not using any add-ons (that I know of). When I click Add-ons, I do not see any options for disabling them (I expect that confirms there are none.)

JimRds:

The only Plugin listed automatically with your post is Shockwave Flash (aka Adobe Flash), not to be confused with Shockwave for Director (aka Shockwave Player, also from Adobe). I do not see how that could be causing your problem.

I do know that there is an Add-on that will add a toolbar button for adding new tabs, but it will be on you toolbar not at the end of the tabs. You may have to use the Customize Toolbar window to drag that to your toolbar if you choose to install it.

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/new-tab-toolbar-button/

Sorry, but I have no further suggestions for you. Maybe someone else will read this and post other suggestions. If not, try posting your question again (Ask a Question: https://support.mozilla.com/en-US/questions/new ) in a couple of days.

I think I understand your question better now, Basically that Firefox 4.0 toolbars are radically different from any concept of functionality based on prior experience. That is what happens when you design something hoping for a new simpler approach when you don't know what you are doing.

Firefox remains customizable, I think the following will put you back on track ...

You can make Firefox 4.0.1 look like Firefox 3.6.17, see numbered items 1-10 in the following topic Fix Firefox 4.0 toolbar user interface, problems (Make Firefox 4.0 look like 3.6)

dmcritchie:

You did not read his second post or the whole thread. To summarize:

• The problem is that he does not have the "+" Add New Tab button at the end of the Tab Bar.
• He has looked, it is not on the Customize Toolbar palette,
• I sent him an image of what the icon looks like in Customize Toolbar
• he clicked "Restore Default Set" and still no "+" Add New Tab" to drag to the Tab Bar
• He said he has no Extensions, has only Shockwave Flash plugin, so "Restart with Add-ons Disabled" and Safe Mode probably won't apply - I suggested he try, but I am not sure that he did.

Now that you are up-to-date, do you have any other suggestions, other than the one which you made above, as it does not apply to what he is asking?

Helper7677 Again, the time and effort you've put into helping is appreciated. Thank You.

Given all the different issues and the unexplained things (Like why does my copy not have a tab add option when another customer does) I think it's best I set this software aside until it's fixed. There's only so many "work arounds" one can try before concluding the developers have missed some of the basics.

I read of an update to a new version earlier today. I'll wait a respectable length of time and maybe give it a try.

All the best

Jim

dmcritchie

Your comment in your first paragraph is about right.

In your second paragraph, I followed the link to a very long set of instructions that is a bit more than I care to try (reprogram might be a more accurate way to express it).

I thank you for your efforts and the time expended.

Jim