Sorry, but if you are automatically starting up in private browsing mode, this is a bug that has been tracked down and is scheduled to be fixed in the next version of Firefox. More info: Themes no longer function since auto update to firefox 20.

Thank you. This did solve my problem, although I certainly hope that the next version of Firefox doesn't have this bug as well; I like to keep my browser clean and not cluttered with entries and suggestions. I'm new to the Firefox experience, so sometimes navigating can be difficult for me. Again: thank you for your help!

Now if only my problem could be solved so simply...

I haven't used private browsing and didn't accidentally set it. I followed your directions and checked.

I am actually writing from my regular computer. The issue is from a desktop computer, a refurbished HP Desktop model running XP Professional, Service Pack 3.

It is slow, low on memory, and I only really use it for some storage access that it is easier to do with an XP box. (My other computer was a MacBook, this one is a Toshiba on Win 7)

In any case although the update to FF 20 and FF21 worked easily on this Toshiba, when I booted up FF to see about installing something, I noted that the theme Walnut 2 wasn't working.

I went to the Addons Appearance sidebar and there is no way to set any of the themes as enabled!

The theme works quite well with FF21. I don't use private browsing. I haven't changed my Addons, though of course some might have updated themselves.

I'll include a screen capture. BTW I normally use it through remote desktop, however this has never been an issue. The only issue I have ever had with that was trying to play videos as sound doesn't synch right. But... that is not what I need in any case. I suspect one of the files messed up and has to be reloaded. But I don't want to lose the addons at this time as Synch is giving me problems on all three of my computers. (MacBook running OS X Snow Leapard, Toshiba laptop running Windows 7 and of course the HP Desktop)

Thanks I'll appreciate any help. I wanted to set up the SETI screen saver since as I virtually am using it as a drive server much of the time it just has to be on.

DWPenner

Hi DWPenner, your screenshot is novel to me! It appears you are using the All-in-One Sidebar extension, and the layout of your add-ons page is a throwback to a much earlier version of Firefox. I'm not sure I can say exactly what is going on there.

If you type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter, do you get a different Appearance section with Enable buttons, or is that wired up to the same modified panel?

No, if I use about:addons I get the same thing, just in a tab instead of the sidebar. Since I use the all in one sidebar I figured I should show it the way I use it rather than show the addons as the pop-up window or the tab. I'd go redo the screen shot right now, but that computer is very slow and is tending to freeze up a lot since FF19 for some reason. I think actually since 18 or so perhaps the more recent versions just aren't friendly to older slower machines with smaller memories.

(I do plan on increasing the memory but disability issues keep me from cracking her open. I have the ram strips in another desktop that has a blown CPU. The HP is too cramped a case to add any drives to it other than the single drive and the floppy and CDROM burner that is in it.)

If it makes a difference, here's a copy of the about:addons tab you are more familiar with. Personally I consider the sidebar version more useful. But... not sure when i started using it... could it be a holdover from the old Netscape days...?

Anyway, you'll see the same basic thing going on. When I started in safe mode it was very similar. Also when I started in a pop-up listing of the addons it also looked very much the same... I also tried reloading Walnut and that didn't help.

BTW... short answer, yes it is wired up to the same panel. LOL Sometimes I get lost in details.

I don't know if it makes any difference but I am entering this post from the computer in question.

Hi DWPenner, it's odd because three themes seem to be enabled. Typically all but one should indicate (disabled), right? (I do not use themes except for testing, so I don't have personal experience with how things can go wrong with them.) You do have the latest version, so updating probably won't help. Hopefully another volunteer will have a suggestion.

Hi DWPenner, on the old theory of turning it off and on again, could you enable one of your disabled themes, restart Firefox, then try switching back to Walnut2 and restart Firefox again?

Sorry, didn't help. I had The Lava Fox Green after restarting, but then after the next start had the same problem except it showed that it might be possible to install Walnut and that Default and Lava Fox Green were both in that limbo state.

I currently reinstalled FF 21 to see if that might clear up things, but don't want to go through the process of a reset until the Synch problem is fixed. None of my three firefoxes are synching. (OS X SnowLeopard, Win7 Premium Home, WinXP Pro

I am still seeing if the reinstall of FF21 helps.... though I didn't do an uninstall first. Things haven't looked too hopeful too far, but it is very slow at loading and I am going to bed so perhaps it will have loaded and surprised me when I get up.. (I run SETI at Home and of course there's no monitor on the system, just the desktop box.)

LOL, well we got Walnut 2... but now it shows both that and Lava Fox Green as being installed... I guess? That was with reinstalling Firefox 20.

I'm going to look into this further. I think there is something wrong with how FF installed on my computer. It shouldn't be showing two themes installed at a time and just bumping them up FIFO style.

Firefox maintains a database file to keep track of various data regarding extensions and themes. In case this file has become corrupted, you can rename it and have Firefox re-generate it. Here's how:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using

Help > Troubleshooting Information > "Show Folder" button

Switch back to Firefox and Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename 'extensions.sqlite to something like extensions.old. Also, check for and remove the following files which are no longer used in Firefox 21, but which Firefox might use as a shortcut instead of doing a clean re-build: extensions.ini. extensions.cache, and extensions.rdf.

Restart Firefox. Hopefully now you can select a theme, one theme, and have the others properly show as disabled.