The "left hand side" is probably the Sidebar, and I am assuming that you're opening those websites from a bookmark that you saved.

Right-click that bookmark and select Properties, then un-check the preference for Load this bookmark in the sidebar, and then click Save.

Using JavaScript buttons on web pages for "Bookmark this Page" causes that preference to be selected when saving the bookmark in that manner. So, don't use those buttons, use the "Bookmark this Page" feature that is built into Firefox instead.

Other things that need attention:

Your above posted system details show outdated plugin(s) with known security and stability risks that you should update.

• Java Plug-in 1.6.0_11 for Netscape Navigator (DLL Helper)

Update the Java plugin to the latest version.

• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html (Java Platform: Download JRE)

Thanks, that worked

Thanks, I downloaded Java and that helped.