Regarding the search problem, could you check the "Disconnect" extension? I think it might affect Google and third party sites that use Google. You can disable it or try its Options button here:

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > Extensions category

While you're there, you can disable ALL nonessential and unrecognized extensions. If in doubt, disable.

After restarting Firefox, do you notice any difference?

Could you explain the following part in more detail?

Should I delete from my computer all 3 of those [dot]xul instances?

Is this something that came up in a security scan? What issue do you think they are causing? Are they located in an extensions folder?

Thanks to jscher! With some help from AVG my AVG & Google browser panels now work OK. But I've taken the advice & disabled several extensions including the Disconnect. The browsers are still OK after re-launching them so I keep fingers crossed.

My original problem was that I had suddenly found a small popup window appearing, over the browser window, that I couldn't get rid of. It contained an advisory to the effect that Windows couldn't find the file popuptransparent[dot]xul. I tried searching for that to see what it was and in the course of doing that I seem to have executed it. Then was when the trouble started.

I have 3 instances of that file in my computer and would dearly like to get rid of them if they are of no use to me. Any advice there?

Hi KenHerrick, you asked:

I have 3 instances of that file in my computer and would dearly like to get rid of them if they are of no use to me. Any advice there?

Where are the files located? If they are in a browser cache folder (e.g., Temporary Internet Files), there's no harm in removing them because the browser will re-download them if needed. But if they are elsewhere, it's hard to say for sure whether to delete them or not.

One is in \Windows\system32\...[etc]\ffprotect.

The 2nd is in \Doc's & Settings\...[etc]\Firefox\Profiles\10x1hekw.default\extensions\739df...[etc]\chrome\CT32...[etc]\content.

And the 3rd is in Doc's & Settings/...[etc]/ffprotect.

I note the "ffprotect" folder in 2 instances & am suspicious thereof. I also note several forward slashes & wonder about them: same as back-slashes as far as Windows is concerned?

I'd really like to know what popuptransparent is there for; any ideas? Googling it yields no info that I could make out.

KCH

Do you have a program named "Search Protect by Conduit" in the Windows Control Panel? The "ffprotect" seems to be associated with that program. It may have been installed at the same time as a "Community Toolbar" (most of which seem to be products of Conduit).

Regarding the second one you found, if you open the following tab, you should be able to track down which extension is connected with {739df... from the Extensions table which match the name with the ID number:

Help > Troubleshooting Information

Can you find it there?

Not sure what to tell you about the forward slashes. That could be a display of the interior of a ZIP archive, JAR, or other compressed file.

Yes indeed! I do have Search Protect. I'm inclined to fully delete it using Revo Uninstaller--and then see whether that 739df folder (and the problem if it's still lurking) disappears. Good idea, you think?

KCH

Hi Ken, I don't know of any benefit to Search Protect, so I would uninstall it using its uninstaller. I wouldn't use Revo unless the uninstall fails or the uninstaller cannot be found in the Control Panel.

I don't know whether either the program's own uninstaller or Revo will connect the extension folder with the main program. You might still need to handle that manually.

OK...back to it on a new day. I've uninstalled Search Protect and also several other seemingly-superfluous apps. I did use Revo since it has a good reputation and it deletes associated Registry items. In addition to the subject problem, my computer of late has become quite slow, so I am hoping that these uninstallations will eliminate or reduce that. A little time will tell...

thanks kindly for all the help!

Cont'd: But I find that the 3 instances of popuptransparent[dot]xul are still there so I need to snoop Google a bit more to see if I can get rid of them.

KcH

Hi Ken, could you check this part and post the name you find for future reference:

Regarding the second one you found, if you open the following tab, you should be able to track down which extension is connected with {739df... from the Extensions table which match the name with the ID number:

Help > Troubleshooting Information

Having that title presumably also will help in disabling/removing it through the add-ons tab:

orange Firefox button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons > Extensions category

That is WhiteSmoke New...and I have completely uninstalled it. Supposedly that is an English grammar checker, which I do not remember installing and which I can do without thank you very much since my grammar ain't no worse than pretty decent.

KCH