Update your Flash Player Version 17.0.0.169
https://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

See if there are updates for your graphics drivers https://support.mozilla.org/kb/upgrade-graphics-drivers-use-hardware-acceleration

Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web link} While you are in safe mode;

Type about:preferences#advanced<Enter> in the address bar.

Under Advanced, Select General. Look for and turn off Use Hardware Acceleration.

Poke around safe web sites. Are there any problems?

Thanks for replying. Everything is up to date. I unchecked your suggested setting in safe mode. Remaining in safe mode I tried Paypal and it worked perfectly. Closed Firefox and reopened it in normal mode. Tried Paypal again, the problem was the same. Verified that the option is still unchecked in normal mode. I did find a new wrinkle. I have 3 paypal accounts, two via Gmail and one via Hotmail. When I log in from "paypal.com/home" via Hotmail it goes to "paypal.com/myaccount/home" and the account opens successfully. But when I login from "paypal.com/home" via Gmail it goes to "paypal.com/businessexp.summary" and I get the spinning wheels of death. Logging in via Gmail in safe mode still works fine. Ideas?

When the problem goes away in Safe Mode, it means one of your settings, or an add-on is the cause.

Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; <Control>(Mac:<Command>)<Shift> A)

In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Disable a few add-ons, then Restart Firefox.

Some added toolbar and anti-virus add-ons are known to cause Firefox issues. Disable All of them.

If the problem continues, disable some more (restarting FF). Continue until the problem is gone. After, you know what group is causing the issue. Re-enable the last group ONE AT A TIME (restarting FF) until the problem returns.

Once you think you found the problem, disable that and re-enable all the others, then restart again. Let us know who the suspect is detective.

Hello and thanks! There was only one extension, Adblock Plus 2.6.9. I disabled that and things are working perfectly now. Adblock Plus came highly recommended by Firefox, and works fine for its intended purpose. I've had it installed for quite a while and this Paypal problem only came up recently. So something changed, who know what. But I'd rather live with the ads (which I can just ignore) than have to keep switching to IE every time I use Paypal.

Thank you Fred McD! A tip of my deerstalker cap to you!

Easy fix. Load the web page. Then click the arrow next to the AdBlock icon. Then select Disable on <website>.

Why that worked perfectly! Thanks again.