Are you using the search bar on the Navigation Toolbar or do you open the Google site in a new window?

Does it help if you select to open the search results in a new window (tab) in the Google search settings?

For the Google website you can set your preferences on the Google.com page via the gear icon at the top right, click that button to open the menu list and select Search settings.

• http://www.google.com/preferences?hl=en

I open the Google site in a new window every time.

Did you try to change the setting in the Google settings where to open the results?

Google will normally show the results in a target window with a specific name unless you open each result in a new window that Firefox may redirect to a new tab as set in Options > Tabs.

I'm not quite sure of what your saying in your second paragraph. Per your suggestion, I went to Google settings and under 'Where results open' I put a check in the box for 'Open each selected result in a new browser window'. Is that what you are asking?

However, since the problem is intermittent I won't know if it helped for a while. Sometimes it does it several times in a day, sometimes I can go a week or two without a problem. I do appreciate your help. I'll see how this works and let you know.

The Google setting under 'Where results open' and checking the box for 'Open each selected result in a new browser window' will not stay checked. Cookies are enabled, I even made sure I was signed in before I hit save, but when I close the window, then open it, and sign in again the check mark for opening the new browser window is gone.

I do have a new bit of information on the window problem that may make the Google setting irrelevant.

It just happened again. I was searching two different firms. One window per firm, each opened from a link in a Google search to the company website. I opened a third window to do a search for reviews for each firm and noticed all three windows had the same search in them. Since it's the Google search window that takes over all three windows and not the site you get to after clicking a link from the search, I would think that means it doesn't matter if Google opens a new window for each link you click on from the search.

If I am wrong about that and you think I do need to make Google hold on to that setting for opening the new browser window, please let me know what needs to be done to have it do so. Thanks.

I had a similar problem. I had installed version 3 some time ago, and recently got around to updating it. But the "Open each selected result in a new browser window" wouldn't stay checked.

Finally I solved the problem by completely uninstalling firefox, deleting the relevant files, and re-installing from scratch.

The last Firefox update made it so I couldn't get on Firefox without it crashing. To fix it I had to uninstall Firefox completely and reinstall it. Just doing that bit was enough to get "Open each selected result in a new browser window" to stay checked.

However, having each selected result open in a new window was cor-el's suggestion as a solution to my problem. But I have the problem before I select a result, so it didn't work as a solution.

Now if you have a solution for how to make it so all my open windows don't switch over to whatever my current search is, I'd be so happy. It's driving me nuts. I know it'd be easier to find what's causing it if it did it every time, but it seems random.

Thanks for your efforts. :-)

Hi. It sounds frustrating!

I have a practical suggestion plus some general musings and brainstorming that might help you work towards a real solution.

The practical suggestion: use three different brands of browser instead of three instances of firefox. For example opera and chrome.

Now the musings. First off, I don't understand what you said, "I have the problem before I select a result." But anyway, here are some thoughts.

1. You could try unchecking "Open each selected result in a new browser window," and then use control-click instead of click when you're selecting which google results you want to look at. I think that allows you to retain the google list in the first tab.

2. Uninstall firefox again, but this time, make sure you manually remove all folders and files that firefox uses, before you reinstall.

2a. Try an older version of firefox.

3. In the config editor, there is a field that tells firefox how to search. You might want to take a close look at this value and compare it with the value in a firefox installation on another machine (that hopefully doesn't display the symptom), or with the analogous value in opera.

4. Try working in safe mode (all add-ons disabled) to see if the symptom goes away.

5. Try installing one of the add-ons that describe themselves as google enhancers.

6. Post your problem on the google support pages or on the support page of a well-supported google-enhancing firefox add-on.

7. Try a different search engine.

I've never heard of opera, and last time I used chrome it didn't work well on my favorite web site. However, that was years ago and things may have changed since then. Sounds worth trying anyway.

By "I have the problem before I select a result" I mean I do a search on Google for say alligator as an example. Then any window I have open will all show the results for the alligator search, not just the one I have maximized and active. So even before I select one of the results of the search, the problem shows itself. That's why I didn't think opening a new browser window for whichever result I click on would make a difference - the problem is showing itself before I get that far.

As for your musings - 1 retaining the google list wasn't the problem, 2 I could give that a try 2a last version did this too 3 If I can pry her laptop out of her fingers I could check it against my daughters machine 4 - 6 all good things to try and 7 that was my last resort, but I was about to go for it before getting all your interesting musings.

One thing that hadn't occurred to me until I read your musings is that it might be a Google problem rather than a Firefox problem. Currently Firefox is the only browser I use - I think I'll start with trying out opera or chrome to see if the problem appears there too.

Thank you for all the great suggestions. :-)