When click to connect to another website I get hundreds of blank files zooming across top of page and have to quit Firefox

When I'm on certain web pages and click on a highlighted word to connect to another website, I suddenly get hundreds of blank file folders rushing across the tabs bar. I have to quit Firefox and restart. If I go back to the same page and click on the highlighted words again, the same thing happens. This event seems to be triggered most often when I'm on a company or organization's home page and I click on the highlighted words which are supposed to let me email them or get further contact info. I've reinstalled Firefox numerous times and each time I think the problem is solved, it shows up again. HELP!