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Firefox display constantly freezes, must minimize and maximize to see results of clicks done during freeze. Also menus blacked out.

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Firefox "freezes" so that mouse clicks and typing have no visible effect on the screen. However in reality these commands are being registered in the background - once I minimize and maximize the window the effects of all of the commands made during the "freeze" become visible.

For example, if I'm on google, I can type a search term into the box and press enter - the words will not appear while I'm typing and nothing will change when I press enter. But as soon as I minimize and then maximize, the search results are shown.

Another problem that seems to be related is that the menu items are all blacked out on menus such as 'bookmarks'. The items become visible temporarily when I run my cursor over them, but then turn black again when I move on.

I have a Dell Vostro with Windows 7 and am using Firefox 28.0.

Firefox "freezes" so that mouse clicks and typing have no visible effect on the screen. However in reality these commands are being registered in the background - once I minimize and maximize the window the effects of all of the commands made during the "freeze" become visible. For example, if I'm on google, I can type a search term into the box and press enter - the words will not appear while I'm typing and nothing will change when I press enter. But as soon as I minimize and then maximize, the search results are shown. Another problem that seems to be related is that the menu items are all blacked out on menus such as 'bookmarks'. The items become visible temporarily when I run my cursor over them, but then turn black again when I move on. I have a Dell Vostro with Windows 7 and am using Firefox 28.0.

All Replies (3)

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Try Firefox Safe Mode to see if the problem goes away. Firefox Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that turns off some settings and disables most add-ons (extensions and themes).

(If you're using an added theme, switch to the Default theme.)

If Firefox is open, you can restart in Firefox Safe Mode from the Help menu by clicking on the Restart with Add-ons Disabled... menu item:
FirefoxSafeMode

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.
  • On Mac: Hold the option key while starting Firefox.
  • On Linux: Quit Firefox, go to your Terminal and run firefox -safe-mode
    (you may need to specify the Firefox installation path e.g. /usr/lib/firefox)

Once you get the pop-up, just 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, and you need to figure out which one. Please follow 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.

Thank you.

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Hi thanks for your help. Safe Mode does seem to fix the problem. BUT I followed up by resetting Firefox, and even after that the problem still occurs when I'm not in safe mode.

I'm not sure if this will help to describe the problem, but when I use internet explorer my whole computer crashes to a blue screen after a few minutes on the internet. The blue screen refers to an error related to the file "igdpmd64.sys".

I imagine the two problems are related.

Thanks in advance for any further advice you can provide.

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Check your addons are updated!.

Remove unwanted Addons and toolbars from firefox