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Preferences window empty - how to fix?

  • 5 replies
  • 11 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by FredMcD

JOANNO77
JOANNO77
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By clicking Extras->Preferences Firefox (33.1) just opens a plain empty dialog window. Only the window title and the OK / cancel buttons are available, but nothing else.

It's not a new installation, I'm running Firefox for some years on this system.

Does anyone have an idea on how to fix this without reinstalling Firefox?

Thanks! :)

By clicking Extras->Preferences Firefox (33.1) just opens a plain empty dialog window. Only the window title and the OK / cancel buttons are available, but nothing else. It's not a new installation, I'm running Firefox for some years on this system. Does anyone have an idea on how to fix this without reinstalling Firefox? Thanks! :)

Chosen solution

Do you have the Ghostery extension?

Read this answer in context 👍 5

All Replies (5)

CoryMH
CoryMH
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Hello,

Try Firefox Safe Mode and see if you can access your options there. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes).

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

  • Click the menu button New Fx Menu, click Help Help-29 and select 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.

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, theme, or hardware acceleration. Please follow the steps in 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.

Also, Firefox 34 is out, you can update by going to:

  • Help (or New Fx Menu > Help-29) > About Firefox
cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Chosen Solution

Do you have the Ghostery extension?

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

Does it work?

JOANNO77
JOANNO77 Question owner
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Thanks to all of you! :)

Indeed Ghostery was installed and the root cause of it. You don't even need to restart Firefox - as soon as Ghostery is active, the preferences windows is blank. about:preferences also works with Ghostery enabled.

So only one question remains: Is this something to be fixed in Ghostery or in Firefox?

FredMcD
FredMcD
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For now, disable it if you need to. Also contact the programs help page.