# Gah!  Stupid Firefox!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393 "2006-03-15T00:52:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393/1 "2006-03-15T00:52:08Z")

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So…I’ve been using Firefox after being told that it is the best thing since resizable windows. However, it has been giving me several problems recently.

When I open it, I prefer the window to be non-maximized, of a certain size, and in a certain location. However, it now seems to refuse to behave, always opening to a near-maximized size. Also, toolbars seem to reset every time I open the program. This has not been a problem before - both of these problems are recent developments. I tried reinstalling it but the same problems are still there. Any suggestions?

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393/2 "2006-03-15T01:23:58Z")

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Not sure about the toolbar behavior–I’ve not had that issue. But, you should be able to set a default window size. Try the following: Close all Firefox windows except one. Size and position that window the way you like it, then Click File \> Exit. The next time you launch FF, it _should_ open the way you saved it. If not, you might want to run a spyware/malware sweep. There’s plenty of good info on that and other issues in the Computer Questions sticky thread. Come to think of it, spyware or malware might be the cause of your toolbar issues, as well.

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**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393/3 "2006-03-15T01:57:49Z")

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Still did not work. I ran both adaware and spy sweeper, and no problems were detected.

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**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393/4 "2006-03-15T02:05:30Z")

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It could be a misbehaving extension. If you are like me, you have about 3,842 extensions installed. It’s not terribly odd to have one of them do funny things, either on its own or in combination with another extension.

If you haven’t already done so, uninstall again, then reinstall just the basic browser and test. If it works ok, start reinstalling extensions one at a time until you find the culprit.

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393/5 "2006-03-15T03:36:23Z")

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The toolbar problem could be an extension conflict, or a corrupt user profile.

> [@Suburban Plankton](#):
>
> …If you haven’t already done so, uninstall again, then reinstall just the basic browser and test. If it works ok, start reinstalling extensions one at a time until you find the culprit.

Wait before you go to the trouble of a complete re-install. Create a new profile first, then as **Suburban Plankton** says, add one extension at a time.  
Now for **Suburban Plankton** , I have a profile I call “the testbed” it’s got everything my regular profile has extension-wise (46, but I ain’t done yet 😃 ). When I want to add a new extension, I try it there first. If it causes no conflicts, I know it’s safe to add to my main profile.

CMC fnord!

Cool extensions for dopers,  
[BBCode](https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&category=Miscellaneous&numpg=10&id=128)  
[BBCodeXtra](https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&category=Miscellaneous&numpg=10&id=491)  
[QuickNote](https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=46)

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [March 15, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gah-stupid-firefox/348393/6 "2006-03-15T04:54:31Z")

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I use FireFox at work and at home on several machines. I experience none of the problems you do. I don’t think the problem exists with FireFox, per se, but with any extra toolbars you have installed and/or the particulars of your own system.

You could install the [Web Developer v1.0.2](https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=60&application=firefox) extension (it may be overkill for you) and take advantage of the Resize option. You can specify the exact browser window size, or several of them, to suit your needs.

Then again, the Web Developer toolbar is loads of fun, even you are not a developer. It’s fun to compare web sites and see just how well some (and how poorly too many) put together
