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Black bar covering upper right window controls

  • 17 replies
  • 11 have this problem
  • 40 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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Ever since I "refreshed" Firefox 36, a small black bar has appeared in the extreme upper right corner of the Firefox screen that exactly covers the Minimize/Resize/Exit buttons. Although the controls work properly when I click in the left/center/right area of the black bar, why is the bar there, in that exact spot, in the first place? And how do I get rid of it?

Ever since I "refreshed" Firefox 36, a small black bar has appeared in the extreme upper right corner of the Firefox screen that exactly covers the Minimize/Resize/Exit buttons. Although the controls work properly when I click in the left/center/right area of the black bar, why is the bar there, in that exact spot, in the first place? And how do I get rid of it?

Chosen solution

I am not a computer technician. I do not know what the Safe Mode is or what an extension is. I am just a simple user. I will try to reload Firefox and if I do not get a version without these problems which I cannot cope with I will start using another browser.

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All Replies (17)

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window

You can try to disable hardware acceleration in Firefox.

  • Tools > Options > Advanced > General > Browsing: "Use hardware acceleration when available"

You need to close and restart Firefox after toggling this setting.

You can try a different Windows theme to see if that helps.

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I tried those same steps to alleviate other problems I have with recent versions of Firefox (such as Flash Player crashing) before I sent this inquiry. I've also re-installed Firefox. The only theme that's available with my copy of Firefox is the default theme.

When I saw the option to "refresh" Firefox, I thought it might alleviate my other problems, but instead, it added this new problem.

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My suggestion wasn't about themes in Firefox, but about the theme that you are using in Windows 8.

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I'm using the default theme in Windows 8.

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You can still try as different Windows theme.

Modified by cor-el

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Okay...so I tried several Windows themes and the black bar is still there. Any other ideas?

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Did you try a different wallpaper as well?

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Changed wallpaper. Black bar still there.

I really don't think this problem is being caused by Windows. It began when I refreshed Firefox. As soon as Firefox came back up after the refresh, the black bar was there and it's been there ever since.

Modified by corockymtnhi

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This problem was solved when my other problem (see my question about Flash Player) was solved.

Thanks to all who helped.

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Chosen Solution

I am not a computer technician. I do not know what the Safe Mode is or what an extension is. I am just a simple user. I will try to reload Firefox and if I do not get a version without these problems which I cannot cope with I will start using another browser.

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Safe Mode is a troubleshooting mode that temporarily turns off hardware acceleration, resets some settings, and disables add-ons (extensions and themes). If the problem goes away, that tells us one thing. If it does not, that tells us something else.

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How does one turn on the Safe mode? What is necessary? Do you just need to turn it on and then turn it off again? I am only a simple computer user and I do not know how to repair computers or defective software.

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Safe Mode is turned on when Firefox starts, IF you choose Safe Mode. Firefox stays in Safe Mode until you fully close the browser.

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How do you choose safe mode?

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode {web Link} by holding down the <Shift>
(Mac Options)
key, and then starting Firefox. Is the problem still there?

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Had fixed this problem earlier, NOW, had to update Firefox and the stinking problem is back and I can't find the solution that I used before.

I am disabled and have memory issues so need to be able to find stuff easily.

1. I need to see these buttons in the upper right hand corner 2. Why can't there be easy access to previous problems reported so they can be easily accessed?

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Go to the top of any support.mozilla.org web page and press your user name to see your Mozilla profile. Including your questions and answers.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/search?esab=a&q=upper%20right

Some have found Tab Mix Plus was the problem.