Right click the Back / Forward buttons to get a list of sites visited.

You can also install this add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/backforward-dropmarker/

Thank you, but right clicking on back simply takes me back to page at the top of the list, it doesn't solve the problem. Appreciate the response, however.

Hold down ALT while you press the left arrow key. It should take you to the same spot where you were when you clicked the link.

If it doesn't work, try running Firefox in Diagnose Firefox issues using Troubleshoot Mode. If it functions properly in that configuration, then one of your add-ons is the culprit.

Incidentally, you need to update to the latest version of Adobe Flash via http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

See this Adobe security advisory: http://www.adobe.com/support/security/advisories/apsa11-02.html

Using ALT and back doesn't work. Still takes me to the top of the page. Also, I mentioned in my original post that the problem exists when running in safe mode.

Thanks, Xircal - I very much appreciate you trying to help and also the pointer on the Adobe Flash issue.

Try creating a new Profile. See Profiles - Where Firefox stores your bookmarks, passwords and other user data and Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles

Rather then creating a new profile I just tested this on an entirely different computer (a netbook with FF 3.x). The problem is there as well. These profiles share no information whatsoever. Strange. I can't be the only person that is being slowly insane by this ;)

Thanks again Xircal - you are a gentleman and a scholar for trying to help me!

Please go to the Add-ons manager, then Plugins and disable Kapersky URL Advisor. Then try again. You can re-enable it if it doesn't make any difference.

While you're in there, please disable all the Java Consoles prior to the latest version which is 1.6.0_25. Older plugins are a security risk, though probably not the cause of your current problem.

Kaspersky is listed as an extension, not a plugin. Already disabled. No joy. :(

Jave consoles removed - thanks for that tip. :)

Sorry, I meant Extensions.

But I notice what I think might be the culprit in the form of your Skype installation. The version you have installed at the moment which is 5.0.0.6778 is on Mozilla's Blocklist: https://www.mozilla.com/en-US/blocklist/ (7th from the top).

Could you try updating that and see what happens?

The Skype plugin is already disabled. Question: Do you have this problem?

No, that's why I've suggested doing the above. When I use ALT+left arrow, it takes me back to where I left off.

Same goes for right clicking the back button and selecting from the list. Or using Backspace even.

Perhaps what might be a good idea is to download the free version of Malwarebytes from http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free and run a full system scan to eliminate malware as the culprit as is often the case.

No malware detected but I didn't think this was the case as the problem appears on two different machines I use.

Well, I'm at a loss. Short of removing each and every addin or plugin I'm using I don't know what else to try, save creating a VM and testing an install in that. Lotta work just to fix a browser problem like this. Interestingly, this is the same reason I went away from FF many years ago to go to Opera. But Opera has (had) its issues as well. Anyway, I thank you again, Xircal for all your help to try and isolate this problem. If you've got any other ideas, I am happy to hear them. Maybe someone will stumble in who has this problem and knows how to fix it.

I'll give the addin you suggested way back in post 01 and see how that works.

Much appreciate your help, sir (ma'am?).

Interesting addendum to this tale of woe: I just tried the same thing using the latest rev of Opera (11.11) and guess what - same thing happens.

If I were a more paranoid person, I'd think this was a purposely coded "feature" introduced by the bastids, I mean, people at Google to get people to use Chrome.

Strange.

Same exact problem exists in IE 8.x. Even more peculiar.

I seem to have stumbled on a "solution" although why this works I have no idea.

By choosing the settings wheel in the upper far right corner of the Google home page then setting Google Instant to "Do not use Google Instant" this seems to fix the problem.

It's a crappy solution as I clear settings, cache, history and cookies when I leave FF so it's something I need to reset every time I come into FF.

Incidentally, I also tested with Google Chrome and got the same problem.

I disabled every addon I have (and removed the ones I'm not using) and this also did not fix the problem.

I guess I'll live with this for now, but if anyone has a more permanent solution that would be great.

Thanks again Xircal - appreciate all your efforts to help me with this.

cat

Hi cat, you can do the following to disable Google Instant (I hate too).

1. To set your home page:
   
   
2. Go to http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0&hl=en
   
   
3. Click the Firefox button, go to Options | Options | General.
   
   
4. Make sure it says "Show My Home Page" in the menu at the top.
   
   
5. Click the button "Use Current Pages".

To reset the google search (for when you just type in a word in the location bar and hit Enter), do the following.

• In the location bar, type about:config and hit Enter.
  
  
• In the filter at the top, type: keyword.URL
  
  
• Double click it and remove whatever's in there and replace it with http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0&hl=en/search?q=
  
  

The URL to add in "keyword.URL" becomes a link in this post, so right click it and choose "Copy Link Location" to copy it to the Windows clipboard. Then hit CTRL+V to paste it. Saves you having to type the whole thing.

Now it won't matter whether you clear cookies or not: you won't see Google Instant again :)

Xircal,

Excellent. I had to tweak your suggestion just slightly as I use Tab Mix Plus to open new pages.

I copied your URL:

http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=0&hl=en/search?q=

and pasted this in Tab Mix Plus options "Events, New Tabs, Location" and voila - no more pesky Instant On and the back button issue is now history. :)

Muchos gracious for that link! :)

You're welcome.

You have to go back two times. Right-click the back button and select the second page from the list.

This is a problem of Google's search results page where instead of linking directly to the web pages it uses a redirecting page. This problem is the same for other browsers too.