Hit the ALT key to display the menu bar temporarily.

If you want it back permanently, right click a blank part of the Tab Bar and then click Menu Bar at the top.

You will lose the Firefox button doing this way, but regain permanent text links.

Make sure that you do not run Firefox in full screen mode (press F11 to toggle).

The ALT key doesn't bring back the menu, even temporarily. But running the browser less than full screen worked. I have the menu bar back. and the Windows task bar pops up again. Seems like a 'feature' that should be fixed in the new version, if I can't run it full screen. thanks for the help

Try running Firefox in Use Troubleshoot Mode in Firefox. If it functions properly in that configuration, then one of your add-ons is the culprit.

How do I get rid of the add-ons?

Sorry to jump in. If you run any programs in Full Screen, the Windows Task Bar will not show up (at least that's what happened in mine). However, you can do: WinKey + M and the Task Bar will show up again temporarily until you go back to the program which is in Full Screen.

To disable all add-ons, restart Firefox in Safe Mode and then when you see the menu, checkmark "Disable All Add-ons". Then click "Make Changes & Restart".

You can subsequently re-enable them one-by-one until the problem recurs. You'll know then that it was the last one you enabled which is causing the problem.

silkphoenix, I've always run programs in full screen w/o a problem getting the taskbar to hide and pop up when I needed it. Xircal, I don't get network access in safe mode. I know there is another choice for it, have seen it in the past, but not showing now. Anyway the problem has disappeared. Running in full screen again and I have the menu at top, + taskbar is avail. Not sure what happened, but I'm ok for now. Thanks for all help.