Try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.

• Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

• https://hacks.mozilla.org/2010/09/hardware-acceleration/

Try to modify the ui.trackpoint_hack.enabled pref on the about:config page from the default value -1 to 0 or 1 to see if that makes the scroll pad work.
Close and restart Firefox after changing the ui.trackpoint_hack.enabled pref.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/about:config

@cor-el,

Thanks for replying.

Unfortunately, I tried the all tweaks you recommended, and still no change. I did forget to mention in my original post that the horizontal scroll works fine..... it's just no vertical?!??!! ~

Try to 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

There may be extensions and plugins installed by default in a new profile, so check that in "Tools > Add-ons > Extensions & Plugins" in case there are still problems.

If the new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Transferring_data_to_a_new_profile_-_Firefox

You can also try a clean reinstall and delete the Firefox program folder before reinstalling a fresh copy of Firefox.

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

• Firefox 16.0.x: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all.html

Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible, to cleanup the Windows registry and settings in security software.

• Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall your current Firefox version, because all profile folders will be removed and you will also lose your personal data like bookmarks and passwords from profiles of other Firefox versions.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

• It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Uninstalling_Firefox

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by an uninstall and (re)install, but make sure that "remove personal data" is NOT selected when you uninstall Firefox.

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

• http://kb.mozillazine.org/Standard_diagnostic_-_Firefox#Clean_reinstall

@cor-el,

Thanks for all of your suggestions....

Unfortunately, nothing has changed. And, I tried them all.

Strangely, I ran:

Google Chrome.... No vertical but Horizontal OK... just like Firefox.

Safari ....................No Horizontal but Vertical OK ...Hmmm?!?

Howard. ~

Did you check on the manufacturer website if there is an update available for the touchpad driver?

@cor-el,

I had checked for it originally, but the Synaptics OEM (HP) version was no newer than the one I was using. At your suggestion, I then decided to upgrade my driver right from Synaptics (to v16.2.21).

This at first did not seem to make any difference (after restart, snooze and then reopening Firefox a few hours later....) , until I browsed to Amazon.com. Then, magically, vertical scrolling started to work again.

I would like to add, that I've consistently had trouble with a few websites, like Amazon, 'sticking' on me and requiring continual refreshes of the page in order to finish loading. Not sure if that's another topic........

So, Thanks very much! ~