Is this of any help:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/address-bar-autocomplete-firefox

Is this of any help: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/address-bar-autocomplete-firefox

Unfortunately not. I've turned every search control OFF. I've changed the state of every setting in about:config that says anything about search. I don't want to change what's in the drop-down search list. I want to banish the drop-down itself. I have never found a way to do that.

Go to about:config and change browser.urlbar.maxRichResults to 0. Then go to Search settings and untick all the search engines (don't remove them, just hide by unticking).

Go to about:config and change browser.urlbar.maxRichResults to 0. Then go to Search settings and untick all the search engines (don't remove them, just hide by unticking).

Done.

No effect other than to remove the search engines from the 'Search' Bar.

The 'Address' (URL) Bar still drops down -- no list but it still drops down.

It works for me. Can you share a screenshot of the dropdown?

Does it still happen in a new profile? An easy way to test a new profile is to install Developer Edition and see if it happens there or refresh your existing profile.

As you can see, the 'Address' drop-down is still there. As you can see, the 'Search' drop-down is very intrusive. It covers up what I try to copy on the page.

Developer's Edition? You mean the devs have their own edition?

Your profile modifications are likely interfering for the address bar.

The search bar dropdown height can be reduced by disabling "Remember search and form history" and clearing existing "Form & search history" with Ctrl+Shift+Delete. Alternatively, you can resort to userChrome.css and attempt to hide it completely:

#PopupSearchAutoComplete {
  display: none !important;
}

Thanks, zeroknight.

Your profile modifications are likely interfering for the address bar.

How? I don't have any profile modifications that I know of. I don't know what a profile modification looks like or how to make one. ...What a train wreck.

The search bar dropdown height can be reduced by disabling "Remember search and form history" ...

Not found. Where is it?

... and clearing existing "Form & search history" with Ctrl+Shift+Delete. Alternatively, you can resort to userChrome.css and attempt to hide it completely: #PopupSearchAutoComplete { display: none !important; }

Done. Now I can't search dictionary.com, imdb.com, etc. at all. That's not good.

Go to about:config and change browser.urlbar.maxRichResults to 0. Then go to Search settings and untick all the search engines (don't remove them, just hide by unticking).

I have info: I change 'browser.urlbar.maxRichResults' from '10' to '0', close FFox, launch FFox, and 'browser.urlbar.maxRichResults' equals '10' once again.

Remember search and form history can be found in the History section of settings.

If you have a user.js file in your profile folder, it will override your about:config changes on startup.

You can try Firefox from the official Mozilla server if you currently use a version from the repositories of your Linux distribution to see if it behaves differently.

• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release

You can check for problems with preferences. You can delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases.

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).

• Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
  Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data

Remember search and form history can be found in the History section of settings.

Forms is not my problem. My problem, I've only recently discovered in the course of this thread, is that none of the settings and changes I make survive restarting FFox.

If you have a user.js file in your profile folder, it will override your about:config changes on startup.

Here is '/media/mark/FFox profile/ckls0yge.default-release/chrome/userChrome.css' a:link{cursor:pointer !important;outline:green solid 0.1em !important;font-weight:bold !important;text-decoration:underline !important} a:visited{cursor:pointer !important;outline:red solid 0.1em !important;font-weight:bold !important;text-decoration:underline !important} /*#PopupSearchAutoComplete {display: none !important;}*/

Here is '/media/mark/FFox profile/ckls0yge.default-release/chrome/userContent.css' a:link{cursor:pointer !important;outline:green solid 0.1em !important;font-weight:bold !important;text-decoration:underline !important} a:visited{cursor:pointer !important;outline:red solid 0.1em !important;font-weight:bold !important;text-decoration:underline !important} /* a:link{cursor:pointer !important;font-weight:bold !important;text-decoration:underline !important} a:visited{cursor:pointer !important;font-weight:bold !important;text-decoration:underline !important}

• /

Here is '/usr/share/webapp-manager/firefox/profile/user.js' user_pref("browser.cache.disk.enable", false); user_pref("browser.cache.disk.capacity", 0); user_pref("browser.cache.disk.filesystem_reported", 1); user_pref("browser.cache.disk.smart_size.enabled", false); user_pref("browser.cache.disk.smart_size.first_run", false); user_pref("browser.cache.disk.smart_size.use_old_max", false); user_pref("browser.ctrlTab.previews", true); user_pref("browser.tabs.warnOnClose", false); user_pref("plugin.state.flash", 2); user_pref("toolkit.legacyUserProfileCustomizations.stylesheets", true); user_pref("browser.tabs.drawInTitlebar", false); user_pref("browser.tabs.inTitlebar", 0); user_pref("browser.contentblocking.category", "strict"); user_pref("privacy.clearOnShutdown.offlineApps", false); user_pref("privacy.sanitize.sanitizeOnShutdown", false); user_pref("privacy.sanitize.timeSpan", 1);

I searched 'about:config' with 'Show only modified preferences' and found no suspects. What a train wreck.

You can try Firefox from the official Mozilla server if you currently use a version from the repositories of your Linux distribution to see if it behaves differently.

• https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/all/#product-desktop-release

You can check for problems with preferences. You can delete possible user.js and numbered prefs-##.js files and rename/remove the prefs.js file to reset all prefs to the default value including prefs set via user.js and prefs that are no longer supported in current Firefox releases.

I have no idea what you're 'talking' about. Can you be more specific with actual file paths and names?

You can use the button on the "Help -> More Troubleshooting Information" (about:support) page to go to the current Firefox profile folder or use the about:profiles page (Root directory).

• Help -> More Troubleshooting Information -> Profile Folder/Directory:
  Windows: Open Folder; Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder
• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profiles-where-firefox-stores-user-data

My profile is here: /media/mark/FFox profile/ckls0yge.default-release It is a virtual disk attached to the Linux VM running in Win7 SP1. The only thing that has changed is the update to FFox 119.0 (64-bit).

Thanks folks. I'm not angry. I'm frustrated beyond words.

zeroknight said

Remember search and form history can be found in the History section of settings.

Forms is not my problem.

"Form and search history" is the source of the suggestions in the search bar drop-down that have a little clock icon.

Mark Filipak said

zeroknight said

Remember search and form history can be found in the History section of settings.

Forms is not my problem.

"Form and search history" is the source of the suggestions in the search bar drop-down that have a little clock icon.

I never noticed that before. How would that prevent new settings being accepted and surviving an FFox restart -- You see, the symptoms have changed. The symptoms are much more serious than simply banishing the drop-downs.

edit: last lines were "I don't recall ever seeing that."

There is an old article on prefs.js -- the file in your profile folder that stores the changes you make through about:config -- not updating:

How to fix preferences that won't save

But updated packaging designs could add new/different wrinkles.

There is an old article on prefs.js -- the file in your profile folder that stores the changes you make through about:config -- not updating: How to fix preferences that won't save But updated packaging designs could add new/different wrinkles.

'about:config', now 'prefs.js', this is rather ridiculous, don't you think? Ah, well, in my 'prefs.js', below, what do you suggest I change?

Change of Course: I've deleted the 'prefs.js' listing -- it was only partial, anyways.

You said "My problem, I've only recently discovered in the course of this thread, is that none of the settings and changes I make survive restarting FFox."

Changes you make in about:config, and most settings changes you make on the Settings/Preferences page, should be written to the prefs.js file relatively promptly, within 30 seconds. You see the pattern in the file:

user_pref(preference.name, value);

So you should be able to tell whether changes you make in about:config are getting saved in the file (in alphabetical order by preference name).

You said "My problem, I've only recently discovered in the course of this thread, is that none of the settings and changes I make survive restarting FFox."

I have big news. And I'm glad you're a pro. :-) prefs.js was corrupt. I archived it. 1 - I quit the Linux VM. 2 - I mounted 'FFox profile.vhd' (the FFox profile virtual disk) in Windows Drive Management. 3 - I ran the 'chkdsk' command on it and found errors. 4 - I archived the bad file (=prefs.js) to my main Windows drive. 5 - I copied the original 'prefs.js' in place. 6 - I unmounted 'FFox profile.vhd'. 7 - I launched the Linux VM. 8 - I launched FFox. FFox opened like it was just created. I recovered my bookmarks but I'm having difficulties with the rest. Will you help me? I have two older backup copies of 'FFox profile.vhd' - from 25 days ago, - from 7 months ago. I favor just copying the 'prefs.js' from 25 days ago, but you may have a thought.

Thanks for helping. If I can help explain what happened to the corrupt version of 'prefs.js' that I have archived, I will do that of course. I'm a retired scientist-engineer and am well qualified to help troubleshoot. Due to the nature of the corruption, I suspect the most recent update of Linux Mint.

PS: My saved logins are there.