Does that also happen if you go to the main Google site?

• http://www.google.com

No, the main google page is fine.

Clear the cache and the cookies from sites that cause problems.

"Clear the Cache":

• Tools > Options > Advanced > Network > Offline Storage (Cache): "Clear Now"

"Remove Cookies" from sites causing problems:

• Tools > Options > Privacy > Cookies: "Show Cookies"

Nope, didn't help. When I do a ctrl-f5 refresh, the page is fine for about a second, then the text box vanishes.

I am suspecting javascript, but I am unable to trace the problem any deeper.

Start Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode

Restarting in safe mode had no impact on the 1 pixel wide text box.

Have you tried to change your home page to about:home. That is the new built-in/local home page to replace the one that you indicated in your original question Firefox Google homepage which is no longer being maintained.

• See --> http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/How+to+set+the+home+page

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Not related to your question, but...

You may need to update some plug-ins. Check your plug-ins and update as necessary:

• Plug-in check --> http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/plugincheck/
• Adobe Shockwave for Director Netscape plug-in: Installing (or Updating) the Shockwave plugin with Firefox
• Adobe PDF Plug-In For Firefox and Netscape: Installing/Updating Adobe Reader in Firefox
• Shockwave Flash (Adobe Flash or Flash): Updating Flash in Firefox
• Next Generation Java Plug-in for Mozilla browsers: Installing or Updating Java in Firefox

I'm not terribly fond of the new one, honestly. It's why I've kept the old one.

Do not count on that old page being around in the future. Note that it takes you to a Google web page and Google could remove/deactivate that page at any time now that Firefox has a built-in/local page.

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