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Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:31 am

So yeah, that's basically it. With all the hassle lately, I've been wanting to switch over to FF permanently, but FF doesn't allow me to click *anything*. I can click the buttons in my navigation bar, but that's basically it. On my Google opening screen, I can't even click 'advanced search' or 'preferences'. I can click 'images' and 'maps' and all that, but when I do, it doesn't allow me to click 'internet' again. Anyone?

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 11:54 am

Perhaps we try restoring Firefox back to default first.

Start up Firefox in safe mode (Windows: Start > All Programs > Mozilla Firefox > Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode)). When a safe mode option dialog opens, choose:

- Disable all add-ons
- Reset all user preferences to Firefox defaults

Save and restart.

Now check if you're able to access the links.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:02 pm

Mmm... It improved *somewhat*, but there are still lots of things I can not click. Still cannot get back to 'internet' from 'images' or 'maps', and on 'local google' (Google Belgium, in my case), I still can't perform an internet search or 'feeling lucky'. Any more suggestions? (thanks for helping, by the way)

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:21 pm

There are two other things you can try:

- One is to create a new profile for Firefox and check if it has the same problem. Refer to this: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Creating_a_ne ... on_Windows

- Two, if you have any software(s) which is link to the internet browser one way or the other (ie. Firewall, antivirus, parental control, etc), try disabling them temporary.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 12:32 pm

Exactly the same problem. It even got back to the way it was before I disabled all add-ons and reset it to default. I should also note that i had to try a couple of times, because I had to use the keyboard and could click almost nothing while *making* the second profile.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:07 pm

Seems like this is a strange and extremely rare problem, especially it's only affecting Firefox only. Currently the only (almost) similar entry that I found is this. This particular user is using Windows XP 64-bit system, but no solution. Nothing was found on the Mozilla Bugzilla yet either.

You can try starting Windows in safe-mode also. Or perhaps somebody else here might have a clue on what's happening.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 1:27 pm

Should fully uninstalling and re-installing FF do anything? I'm prepared to do so, but only if there is some hope of it helping. Thanks for all the help so far, by the way!

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:50 pm

Pardona wrote:Should fully uninstalling and re-installing FF do anything? I'm prepared to do so, but only if there is some hope of it helping. Thanks for all the help so far, by the way!

It might -- I had a buggy installation of a program once, and reinstalling it fixed everything (in this case, I think it was a PDF viewer -- I can't remember what the problem with the installation was now, though, because this was ~7 years ago). What's your system? What version of FF are you downloading? Also, can you use tab to highlight the links and then hit enter, or is it that FF isn't making them links at all?

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:07 pm

Windows XP (I think Professional), FF 3.0.5, and when I can't click the links, I can't even create a window to highlight them.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:17 pm

If that's the case, it's probably worth reinstalling, especially since even google's page is messed up. If that doesn't help, then it might be your firewall/antivirus/internet plug-ins... and the only people who could help you would probably be the mozilla people (who I'm sure would be very interested in your problem).

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:31 pm

Re-installed while keeping personal data for the next installation of FF. Continues to be messed up.
Re-installed without keeping personal data for the next installation of FF. Did not import anything out of IE (Was asked if I wanted to import history, favorites, etc. out of IE. Was not asked this with the first re-installation). Continues to be messed up.
*le sigh*

I think the only program I have running on both browsers is AVG Free Edition.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 4:46 pm

That's odd. I have essentially the same configuration as you, and I don't have those problems with FF 2 (I haven't upgraded yet b/c of Tarla's toolbar, although I probably will soon regardless) -- my brother has the same configuration and can use FF3 fine. Do you have another firewall or something -- if so, you might try temporarily disabling it. The only other possibility I can think of (if no firewall issues) is that the uninstalling didn't actually wipe everything (e.g., something in the registry) -- you could uninstall, then revert your computer to preinstallation settings, reinstall, and see if that helps (it seems like a long shot to me, but I just thought I'd throw it out there). Before I did that, though, I'd contact the people at Mozilla and let them know what's going on and see if they have any suggestions.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:02 pm

*shakes head* I really don't know how or what anymore. I tried disabling my Windows Firewall, which gave some results, which were promptly and spontaneously undone. Now it seems like it's constantly switching between what I can and can't click. One minute I can click my googled results, the next I can't even click my toolbar. o_O

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:34 pm

I have been having a bit of trouble with the ability to click lately as well. Some addons randomly deactivate themselves (ie it says they are enabled in the Addon list, but I cannot actually use them). When this happens, I also cannot open popups. Seems to fix itself if I restart the browser, though. (AVG Safesearch and Toolbar are both in the addon list, but disabled as I suspect they might have something to do with it). Maybe it's slightly related?

Edit: Oh, FF 3.0.5 on Vista 32-bit, by the way.

Re: Firefox doesn't allow me to click *anything*

Mon Jan 12, 2009 10:37 pm

I know this is somewhat random, but instead of Firefox (I love it too), have you tried Opera or Safari? I use Safari all the time and I've heard great things about Opera as well.
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