Hi Trackengine,

I am sorry to hear that you are having problems with your Firefox after installing the latest Java update.

Please try the feature Reset Firefox, which easily fixed most problems with your browser.

Please let us know if this solves your problems, or if you have any other questions.

Thanks!!

- Ralph

After using Reset, Firefox places a folder named Old Firefox Data on your desktop. Please retain that folder in case you need to rescue any data from it.

Two things you might try before a full Firefox Reset:

(1) Disable Firefox's use of hardware graphics acceleration.

Even if this feature worked fine for you for months, driver updates can cause havoc.

You usually need to restart Firefox in order for this to take effect, so save all work first (e.g., mail you are composing, online documents you're editing, etc.).

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > Advanced

On the "General" mini-tab, uncheck the box for "Use hardware acceleration when available"

Any improvement after restarting Firefox?

(2) Reset Toolbars to Default.

Sometimes the file that stores toolbar customizations and window positions becomes corrupted. You can rename the file and customize from scratch.

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using

Help > Troubleshooting Information > "Show Folder" button

Switch back to Firefox and Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename localstore.rdf to something like localstore.old

Restart Firefox. Any improvement?

Can you attach a screenshot?

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenshot
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/how-do-i-create-screenshot-my-problem

Use a compressed image type like PNG or JPG to save the screenshot.

Try to clear the Java cache.

• http://www.java.com/en/download/help/5000020300.xml - How do I clear the Java cache?
• Control Panel > Java > General tab > "Temporary Internet Files" > Settings > Delete Files

Clear the cache and the cookies from websites that cause problems.

"Clear the Cache":

• Firefox/Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Cached Web Content: "Clear Now"

"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:

• Firefox/Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"

Thank you all for your replies - I have 'reset Firefox' which seems to have partly worked and I have also disabled the hardware graphics but as yet have not cleared the cache.

So the issues still remaining are: - When I close FF and reopen it the 'Tabs' do not re-appear and I have to go to 'History - Restore Previous Session' to get them back .

When I try to open FF by using the icon in the 'Task Bar' I get thumbnails of the tabs that were open and if I 'click' on them nothing happens other than other programs on my desk top go opaque such as Thunderbird, Word document.

All this since updating Java.

Sorry if I seem 'at sea' with all of this but as you have no doubt guessed I am not a technical guru. - any further thoughts

Hi Trackengine, after a Reset, your cache should be clear. Edit: I meant your Firefox browser cache, not the Java cache.

To change how Firefox starts up, try the setting here:

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Options > General > "When Firefox starts: Show my windows and tabs from last time"

Any luck?

Regarding the Windows 7 Taskbar thumbnails, it sounds as though the preview part works. But if you click one, that window does not open, you are just back to where you were before?

I'm not sure whether the Java plugin has any relation to any of these issues. Do you recall how you updated it?

Okay thank you I have changed how FF starts up and it now opens with the tabs in place.

As far as updating Java I got a notification that I was not using the latest version and it needed updating so I did this through the Java w/site and it also suggested that I removed two versions that were on my PC which were unstable (?) and at risk - ?? so I went ahead and did that...

...then as I said in my shout for help all H*** broke loose.

At present it all seems stable but very slow to respond, opening up any one of the tabs takes between 10 and 15secs whereas in the past it was almost instant.

Since re-setting and clearing the cache the thumbnail issue in the task bar seems to have corrected itself.

Could you try Firefox's Safe Mode and see whether performance is more normal? That's a standard diagnostic tool to bypass interference by extensions (and some custom settings). More info: Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using

Help > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

In the dialog, click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Reset)

Any difference?

(To return to normal mode, quit Firefox and start it up again.)

Indeed there is it is almost 'instant' again and no issues whatsoever. So how do I know what not to do so as to avoid this situation again and of course how important is it to have Jave enabled?

A big thank you for your guidance and help - indeed the same to all those who took the time and trouble to respond to my (self imposed?) situation.

Do you have any extensions or themes installed on your post-Reset Firefox? One of the features of Safe Mode is to disable those kinds of add-ons. If you have items on the following two tabs that are not absolutely essential to your use of Firefox, try disabling them in "normal" mode to see whether that helps. Usually, you need to restart Firefox before that takes effect (Firefox will prompt you if necessary).

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > Appearance category
orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > Extensions category

Regarding Java in particular, Java may install extra components that you do not need to run Java applets in a web page. If I recall correctly, there is one plugin you need, and all the other items are optional and can be disabled.

Okay I have the 'Default Theme' under the Appearance Cat. and under the Extensions Cat just 'Skype click to Call'

No others in use.

So it would seem all is now well and (fingers crossed) I trust it will stay that way - again my grateful thanks for your time and support, I do appreciate it.