Can't type in *any* form fields in Firefox. Have reinstalled. Have run 4 malware in open and safe mode, as recommended in other threads; still no joy.
Running Windows 7. I like firefox and prefer it over the others. I run limited add-ins: Lastpass, evernote.
Problem also happens in IE, although rarely and not so far today. [I am typing this in IE.]
I cannot paste clipboard characters from other programs (IE, Word, OUtlook) into FF fields with Ctrl-C, yet I can with mouse right-click-paste.
Outlook had had similar behavior but that fixed after I ran Spybot and Ad-Aware (see TS info below)
All Replies (4)
Does any text or selection appear if you use Ctrl+A to select all after pasting or typing text?
Such text areas may be using a monospace font, so you can check the font settings and possibly select another monospace font.
- Tools > Options > Content : Fonts & Colors > Advanced
[ ] "Allow pages to choose their own fonts, instead of my selections above"
You can do a font test to see if you can identify corrupted font(s).
Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance).
- Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe mode start window or otherwise make changes.
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
- https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes
Create a new profile as a test to check if your current profile is causing the problems.
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 some files from an existing profile to the new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.
Try to boot the computer in Windows Safe mode with network support (press F8 on the boot screen) as a test to see if that helps.
Modified by cor-el
Cor-el, thanks. I tried your suggestion and The problem still replicates in the new FF profile. I did not migrate any of my old files. A hard restart and launch of FF temporarily fixes the problem but it returns within minutes -- No keystrokes operate in FF. Not eVen tHe ALT button to see tHe menu bar.. MeanwHile, in I.E. some keystrokes start acting like windows shortcuts - launching browsers, Windows Explorer, find commands and so on.
Another, perhaps related problem is that while typing within eitHer browser, a windows (or fake Windows) startup screen sometimes takes over, asking me to sign in again. When I “switch user” to my Win profile, and then log in, FF still does not work, but tHe I.E. the character-typing problem seems to go away, although all goes slower. (and rigt now te IE Cant type lower Case letter C or H, as you Can tell! I typed tHe earlier sentenCes in Word and pasted tem Here. )
I'Ve run Kapersky, SpyBot, AVast, MS-ert, MWBytes all in safe mode. problem remains.
any ideas, friends?
Modified by trainerdave
Did you try another keyboard in case that there are hardware problems?
You can also try to press the status keys (Shift, Ctr, Alt) a few times in case some got stick in pressed state.
There may be some Windows accessibility settings active, so you can check that as well.
- http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/windows7/default.aspx - Accessibility in Windows 7
- http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258824 - How to change your keyboard layout
Your hardware-at-fault instincts were right on the mark, cor-el. It was indeed keyboard related. (Someone here had tossed a sheaf of papers on top of the nearby, unused wireless keyboard that shares the same USB as my wireless mouse. ) That's embarrassing.
cheers, and ring the bell for another solve...