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I am getting a blank Options applet in Firefox ver 32

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After upgrading Firefox to version 32, I am now getting a blank Options applet with just the OK and Cancel buttons at the bottom showing. All the tabs and settings are missing. Downloading and reinstalling Firefox version 32 did not solve the problem.

I am running Windows XP Pro 32-bit (fully patched) on a dual core Intel CPU with 4 GB RAM.

After upgrading Firefox to version 32, I am now getting a blank Options applet with just the OK and Cancel buttons at the bottom showing. All the tabs and settings are missing. Downloading and reinstalling Firefox version 32 did not solve the problem. I am running Windows XP Pro 32-bit (fully patched) on a dual core Intel CPU with 4 GB RAM.

Chosen solution

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings, disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

  • In Firefox 29.0 and above, click the menu button New Fx Menu, click Help Help-29 and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.
  • In previous Firefox versions, click on the Firefox button at the top left of the Firefox window and click on Help (or click on Help in the Menu bar, if you don't have a Firefox button) then click on Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".
Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

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All Replies (4)

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Chosen Solution

Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings, disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu:

  • In Firefox 29.0 and above, click the menu button New Fx Menu, click Help Help-29 and select Restart with Add-ons Disabled.
  • In previous Firefox versions, click on the Firefox button at the top left of the Firefox window and click on Help (or click on Help in the Menu bar, if you don't have a Firefox button) then click on Restart with Add-ons Disabled.

If Firefox is not running, you can start Firefox in Safe Mode as follows:

  • On Windows: Hold the Shift key when you open the Firefox desktop or Start menu shortcut.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

When the Firefox Safe Mode window appears, select "Start in Safe Mode".
Safe Mode Fx 15 - Win

If the issue is not present in Firefox Safe Mode, your problem is probably caused by an extension, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow the Troubleshoot extensions, themes and hardware acceleration issues to solve common Firefox problems article to find the cause.

To exit Firefox Safe Mode, just close Firefox and wait a few seconds before opening Firefox for normal use again.

When you figure out what's causing your issues, please let us know. It might help others with the same problem.

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Thank you! I followed your suggestions. The Options applet worked fine in safe mode. I then disabled my plug-ins in groups ( I have quite a few of them) and restarted Firefox in between until I had narrowed it down to the culprit.

It was caused by the plug-in Ghostery 5.3.2. It is causing the problem in Firefox 32.

Modified by velvetfog

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I also had the blank Options issue

The Options applet worked fine in safe mode

The plugin that was causing the problem was Adguard 1.0.3.2

Disabling the Adguard plugin resolved the issue

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I had the same issue in 34.05 and it was ghostery too.