Pages jUmpINg about - WHY? Operator trouble?

Patti Flynn Hei · #1 October 8th, 2006, 09:39 PM

I have no idea if this is the right place to post this. . . . .please redirect me if necessary.

I am using Firefox 1.5.0.7

I have Windows 98 SE

When I look at a page and try to scroll down, the pages are flickering

and jumping about sporatically, taking WAAAAY too long to accomplish the task and OFTEN (almost always!) stopping in an inappropriate place which makes me click on a link that is an inch or so off-spot.

This is driving me bonkers as I am going to links I have no desire to see.

Does this problem mean there is something wrong with my browser?

Do I have a virus (or at the very least a small cold or an allergy, perhaps?)

Could some kind guru please provide an answer or at least give me a push to a fix for this malady?

Many thanks in advance.

Patti

Sirkent · #2 October 9th, 2006, 01:26 PM

Do you have the same problem in Internet Explorer, or is it just Firefox?

Are any other applications such as Office apps, affected?

Patti Flynn Hei · #3 October 9th, 2006, 09:16 PM

When I tried to go to Internet Explorer it said it could not connect (a long error message).

I am using Firefox on both my PC and my laptop.

Outlook Express and Microsoft Works are NOT jumping and flickering around. They seem to be normal as far as navigating.

One thing I didn't mention is that I have recently connected a new laptop with wireless router to my PC and the cable connection it uses. Could that be what causes the (instability?) flickering and jumping? I think I have been having the jumping about since BEFORE I added the laptop connection.

Any ideas that could help?

Patti

Sirkent · #4 October 10th, 2006, 09:29 AM

It could possibly be that you're having big issues when using that modem, yes. I've seen problems like that before, such as when someone is using a DSL modem. They'll be fine until they connect to the internet and then the computer will freeze up for a second or two, every ten seconds. It makes it almost impossible to work on.

Unfortunately, because you've got so many pieces of hardware flying around, I'm not sure how easily I can diagnose this over the net! Try adding and removing different things - removing the laptop, trying with just the modem connected to the PC, or just connected to the laptop. Go to the modem manufacturer's website and see if you can get updated drivers or support. Search the net to see if anyone is experience the same trouble with your hardware.

Patti Flynn Hei · #5 October 10th, 2006, 10:02 AM

So, is there nothing that could be checked (like some of my settings or preferences, etc) before I start disconnecting things that aren't really giving me problems?

So - am I the only person (who is using FireFox) you've encountered who has this jumping phenomenon going on?

Or are you trying to tell me that it definitely isn't that I'm using FireFox?

Thanks for the suggestions - I will start to check things out so I can eliminate a thing or two.

Patti

Sirkent · #6 October 10th, 2006, 05:11 PM

It's possible that it is Firefox, but I think it's highly unlikely. You could try ensuring that you have the latest version, or trying another alternative web browser such as Opera. Are there any other internet related applications you can try? If it's just Firefox then it's just Firefox, but that doesn't go to helping you fix the problem.

Firefox also has it's very own Safe Mode that you can try. In the Start menu, go to Programs -> Mozilla Firefox -> Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode). Firefox will offer you options of what features to disable. Disable the optional features (like extensions) and see if the problem is fixed. If the problem is resolved, it's probably a bad extension causing the problem. Remove any extensions from Firefox and try running it in Normal Mode again.

I'm afraid that there are so many things that could be causing this problem that you're going to have to experiment and try to pin down exactly what it is. Is it just Firefox? Is it when something specific happens? etc...

jediforce · #7 October 10th, 2006, 09:09 PM

it is firefox. look here

it's not a vista only thing. They've been having that problem for a long time. I think it may be fixed in the newest version if you get that, or you can just put something in your bookmarks toolbar, or get rid of it completely from view.

Sirkent · #8 October 10th, 2006, 11:59 PM

jediforce - that problem appears to be the pages themselves 'twitching'. Maybe I'm wrong, but I assumed that Patti Flynn Hei's problem was that Firefox itself was periodically 'freezing' for a second or two?

jediforce · #9 October 11th, 2006, 12:07 AM

Quote:

When I look at a page and try to scroll down, the pages are flickering

and jumping about sporatically, taking WAAAAY too long to accomplish the task and OFTEN (almost always!) stopping in an inappropriate place which makes me click on a link that is an inch or so off-spot.

it can be described as a jump or a flicker. Personally I've used firefox for a few years and experienced that. It really does make you dizzy. lol. I couldn't click on anything either for the jumping.

Anyway, it's something to try, right?

Patti Flynn Hei · #10 October 16th, 2006, 05:46 AM

So - as I apparently do not have an eye for the obvious. . . . .

bottom line. . . . .

would someone please tell me what I am going to do about this?

I am sorry I cannot seem to find the correct technical word for what my page (and cursor, perhaps) are doing so I can be more helpful in the diagnosis. The pages are just moving at their own will and not stopping when they seem to be finished loading. This makes my cursor click on links above or below what I actually consider their target. Annoying!

I don't think I have this VISTA thing in my computer.

I have several Bookmarks selected - so the absense of them should not be my problem.

It's still happening - but I really haven't tried anything as there seems to be no consensus - and I always like to try the least problematical or invasive fix FIRST.

This is a VERY new laptop - I'm wanting to keep it pristine for a l-o-n-g time.

Thanks for the discussion - Patti

jediforce · #11 October 16th, 2006, 12:26 PM

Windows Vista is the new operating system from Microsoft. Nobody has the final version yet, but as one of the comments described, the problem is not because of windows vista. It's an old firefox bug they've never fixed.

Yes you have bookmarks, but where are they? If they are in the bookmarks toolbar, then you should be able to see them in the window right away when you open firefox. If you have made your own folder for them, or perhaps imported them from IE, they would not be in the bookmarks toolbar.

So to avoid all confusion, do the following steps and see if the problem fixes itself:

1. go to start, run, type %appdata% in the box that comes up
2. A folder should open when you hit enter, find the Mozilla folder in there
3. Delete the mozilla folder
4. Re-open firefox.

This creates a new user profile. New profiles have bookmarks in the bookmarks toolbar. Either way, if it was a firefox problem, this would have fixed it. If it continues to jump, then it's not a firefox problem and you should be looking elsewhere.

Also please note that this will erase any bookmarks and personal settings you have made to firefox.
Close all instances of firefox before doing the above steps or they will not work.

Good luck

Simple 8 · #12 November 11th, 2006, 09:45 PM

That happens to me too! I got a mouse with one of those roller buttons. If I scroll around a lot with the roller, an icon with two arrows pointing up and down, shows up. Its really terrible! I close the page and then go back to the page and use the scroll bars instead. Your links jump around too? Me too! Its been that way since I started with Firefox 0.something. I dont think the Firefox people know how to fix it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patti Flynn Hei

I have no idea if this is the right place to post this. . . . .please redirect me if necessary.

I am using Firefox 1.5.0.7

I have Windows 98 SE

When I look at a page and try to scroll down, the pages are flickering

and jumping about sporatically, taking WAAAAY too long to accomplish the task and OFTEN (almost always!) stopping in an inappropriate place which makes me click on a link that is an inch or so off-spot.

This is driving me bonkers as I am going to links I have no desire to see.

Does this problem mean there is something wrong with my browser?

Do I have a virus (or at the very least a small cold or an allergy, perhaps?)

Could some kind guru please provide an answer or at least give me a push to a fix for this malady?

Many thanks in advance.

Patti

jediforce · #13 November 11th, 2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simple 8

That happens to me too! I got a mouse with one of those roller buttons. If I scroll around a lot with the roller, an icon with two arrows pointing up and down, shows up. Its really terrible! I close the page and then go back to the page and use the scroll bars instead. Your links jump around too? Me too! Its been that way since I started with Firefox 0.something. I dont think the Firefox people know how to fix it.

that seems more like a mouse problem than a firefox one. Check your settings, reinstall your drivers if it's wireless or laser. Try the mouse on another pc. Normally the arrows should only appear when you click the scroll button.