Update: I've tried uninstalling and deleting all leftover folders by mozilla to start fresh with no profile etc. Reinstalled firefox, this time the 32 bit version, to see if that would help.

Sadly, it's still not consistenly opening links in new tabs and what's worse, sometimes it won't even start up when I click on icon. I'll have to go to Start Task Manager and stop the process and even then it will sometimes take 2 or 3 times of doing that to even get Firefox to open.

I'm all out of ideas.

Make sure you are not blocking content.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link}

A small dialog should appear. Click Start In Safe Mode (not Refresh). Is the problem still there?

One issue that seems more common lately is Firefox's Tracking Protection feature. When it is blocking content in a page, a shield icon will appear at the left end of the address bar next to the padlock icon. This article has more info on managing this feature: Tracking Protection {web link}

Thank you FredMcD for your reply. Sadly the problem happens in safe mode as well.

This happens even when trying to get a new tab with no content yet loaded so there wouldn't be anything for Tracking Protection to block yet.

Some problems occur when your Internet security program was set to trust the previous version of Firefox, but no longer recognizes your updated version as trusted. Now how to fix the problem: To allow Firefox to connect to the Internet again;

• Make sure your Internet security software is up-to-date (i.e. you are running the latest version).
• Remove Firefox from your program's list of trusted or recognized programs. For detailed instructions, see

Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet. {web link}

Start your Computer in safe mode with network support. Then start Firefox. Try Secure websites. Is the problem still there?

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Linux+Safe+Mode Starting Any Computer In Safe Mode; Free Online Encyclopedia

Thanks again FredMcD for reply. I've done as you suggested. The thing I don't think I'm doing a good job explaining is that the links or tabs that open blank are completely unusable. Meaning I can't navigate from within them. If I hit the home button, nothing happens. If I click on a bookmark nothing happens. If I type in an address in the address bar, nothing happens.

I've downloaded a portable version of Firefox 65.0.2 from portable apps. The portable version works as expected and it doesn't have the often occuring dead tabs/links.

The fact that everything works fine in portable makes me think there must be some kind of virus/malware attacking it. I've already tried the refresh option and even did a clean reinstall but it keeps happening. Antivirus and malware scans didn't produce any results but nothing else seems to make sense at this point.

I could try a clean uninstall again, I tried looking for the traces left behind last time like appdata and local mozilla folders and deleted them. Is there a tool that can help to make sure mozilla and all traces are removed?

• • • • • Update - spoke too soon. Problem happening in portable version as well. Now I'm less sure of it being malware/virus especially since they've come back as clean.

tbradygoat said

...When clicking on a link or hitting + tab it will open but be blank and not usable. What I mean is if I copy and paste link address into that blank tab it is unresponsive. When it opens a blank link it will show the full and correct link in header but no load...

Your Extensions:

• Adblock Plus - free ad blocker 3.4.3

• Bulk Image Downloader 5.13.0.1 (!!!!!!! Highly Suspect !!!!!!!)

• Cookie Manager 1.5
• Imagus 0.9.8.67
• Instagram Photo Plus 2.0.6
• MySessions 2.10.10
• Reverse Image Search 3.3.4
• RoboForm Password Manager 8.5.5.5
• Search by Image 1.19.0

I had a similar problem with FDM (Free Download Manager). Even though I would have it 'Disabled', Task Manager showed it was STILL RUNNING! (Even with FF Closed!)

Uninstall your Bulk Image Downloader if it or any other Extension is seen still running via Windows' Task Manager when it's Disabled in FF or FF is closed.

When uninstalled via FF, check through Windows Programs and Features (Control Panel) that it or any other Extension is not still hanging around.

~Pj

Thank you for reply Pj. Safe Mode and with BID gone, no traces in Task Manager, it still happens.

tbradygoat said

Thank you for reply Pj. Safe Mode and with BID gone, no traces in Task Manager, it still happens.

Ok, maybe this:

I have some strange, performance / speed / navigation issues at times. The following procedure corrected my ISP speed, Windows, and FF Browser performance:

The following is for a separate Modem and Router:

• Unplug both the Modem and Router.
• Wait at least 30 Seconds.
• Plug-in Modem in first.
• Wait at least 60 Seconds.
• Plug-in Router.
• Wait at least 2 minutes.

Finally, it's possible one or more of your devices (your computer) needs to be ReBooted to recover access or expected performance.

Full details in this article from www.LifeWire.com:

https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-properly-restart-a-router-modem-2624570

~Pj

Thanks PJ, no issues with router/speeds.

I don't think I properly turned off multi-processing before because several instances of firefox were running in Task Manager. I now have it so there is only one instance running and for the past 24 hours links and tabs have worked. Considerable memory leaking though.

tbradygoat said

I don't think I properly turned off multi-processing before because several instances of Firefox were running in Task Manager.

I now have it so there is only one instance running and for the past 24 hours links and tabs have worked. Considerable memory leaking though.

Really? In Options, I have mine set to 1 for the Content Process Limit and I see 5 FireFox.exe's in Task Manager. Oh, and a Plug-in Container for FireFox (which I believe is the Adobe Flash Plug-in).

So, am I not in 'Single' Process mode?

~Pj

Hi PJ,

Like you I have Content Process Limit set to 1 and hardware acceleration unchecked. Even though I'm on a 64 bit version of Windows, when I was trying different solutions to my problem I opted to install the 32 bit version. Perhaps that is why I'm able to limit it to just the one instance of Firefox.exe in Task Manager.

I confirmed it by typing "about:support" in the address bar. Under Application Basics is a listing for Multiprocess Windows. Mine reads 0/1 (Disabled).