Resolved No return to Back Arrow

HI All, ............ I'm using Firefox 3.5.2. to review posts in this forum. When I click on any link that may be included in the post and then the X in the upper right hand corner, I'm returned to my desktop. This means that I have to reload Windowsbbs and Firefox, TB, and SM and start over. This is not my first post on this subject and Ramona recommended a change in Tools, Options to the Tab tab. At this point it doesn't seem to make any difference how the choices are made, I tried them all under Tab and the no-back arrow condition still exists. I completely removed Firefox using the uninstall process and Regseeker to clean the registry of any remaining bits and pieces of Firefox that might be hanging on. Then I reinstalled Firefox 3.5.2, the annoying condition still persists. Am I missing something?

 

I would expect that.

Why? Are you going to tell me that TB and SM were open, and closing Firefox, closed them? They are totally different programs. I either don't understand what you do, or you are not telling the full story.
And, why would you expect the back arrow to return when you reopen FF? If you had another post, please provide a link. I don't see what Tab have to do with this issue.
I am using 3.5.2 now, and the back arrow shows up as I reply to your post.

 

The X problem is probably because you don't have it set to prompt you when you have multiple links open. I had that problem and don't remember where I went to fix it. Senior moment I guess. I will think of it when I am not thinking about it.

 

Mr.Bill,
I don't consider that it is a problem, whether you check the box in Options|Tabs|Warn me when closing multiple tabs or not. I never use the X to exit, but rather File|Exit, but I don't think that it matters. The results are the same, and, surely do not represent what is, originally, posted.

 

X or Exit in File gives the same results.

 

Westside,

"Please provide a link. "

http://www.WindowsBBS.com/firefox-thunderbird-seamonkey/63605-losing-back-arrow.html

You will notice that you have contributed to this post and the one it references. As I said in my reply, I don't use tabs and my recent mention of tabs was only in reference to Ramona's reply.

Maybe the quickest way to help is for you to go to rgm88's post, MSM homepage, in this forum and click on the link in your reply. If after opening the MSN screen and then closing it by either clicking on the upper right-hand corner X or Exit in the drop down from the toolbar File you still are connected to to this forum, you may better understand my condition. Because when I try to close out a screen generated by a link everything is closed and I end up back on my desktop.

 

derfsch:

I suppose you have tried right click on the toolbar and select customize and drag the back and forward arrows to the toolbar?

 

Bill, .......... I have used the Customize Toolbar in the past to modify the toolbar but I opened it again and looked for the Back-Forward offerings, they weren't there. That may not be important since I do have these icons as part of my tool bars now and they are functional except when I use a link from a post on this and other forums. For example, I open four forum web sites in sequence, open a page in each forum, then consecutively click the Back icon and return to my starting page. Midway in these steps, the Forward icon is also functional.

On closer observations I noticed that the Green Back icon becomes grayed out when I click a link, that is, becomes non-functional. However, if I follow the Ramona's instructions and right click a link and select: Open Link in a New Window, the Back icon is grayed out but the X in the upper right-hand corner allows a return to the previous screen. In the past two years it has not been necessary to use Ramona's method and the present situation appeared after installing Firefox 3.5.2.

 

derfsch,
I looked at the link which was provided, and don't see that I participated to that thread. 8 posts, none is mine. As for the rgm88's post, I don't see any link.
I have problems understanding the issue. You say that the problem came up with FF3.5.2, but the original post dealt with 2.0.3. The color of the icon is irrelevant, as it changes from Theme to Theme. I use Tabs, you do not want them.As far back as I remember, even before Firefox came out, if I clicked on the X, or File|Exit, I close the browser, and when I reopened the back arrows are gone. Unless you have saved the desired website, somehow, you will not be able to hit a back arrow, or any other way. You are comparing with IE, but I, hardly ever, use it. At this point, I have no idea what you would like to happen.

 

derfsch...Are you using the same profile from the beginning of the versions of Firefox?

What I have in mind is a corrupted profile causing your problems.

Here's what I would do:

Make a fresh profile and name it something like "Back arrow test" so you could easily tell the difference from your default. I would even create the test profile on another drive or at least in another folder.

Then open the new profile and see if you can get the results you wish. If so then "Bob's your uncle" as they say and you can copy your bookmarks and such to the new profile.

If not, you are back to square one but with the knowledge the prob is not in your profile.

In the past I have had some really weird things happen that could only be fixed with a fresh profile.....

 

Westside, .............. You requested a link.

I complied and in that discussion Ramona references a link back to robfwoods entitled Tabs Closing .You have five responses in that reference link. Of course the discussion concerns Firefox 2.0.3 those posts are over two years old.

I can't help you here: there is only one response from you and in it you include a link which brings up the MSN Homepage.

I'm not sure where this came from. As far as I know there are no mentions of IE, but we are in agreements about its use. I rarely use it.

 

Use and hold down shiftkey when clicking on a link. This should open the link in a new firefox browser window. When done close the window without losing original.

Is this what you wish to do?

 

Derfsch,
I was referring to the original message, in the link you provided. So said:

As for rgm88's post, it does not mean that because I provided an answer, that I would be able to fish it out. I will wait for a reply from you to goddez1's post. I, simply, do not understand what you want.
I think that I got what goddez1 said. in a slightly different way. I right click on the link, or shortcut, and select Open in new window. When I do this, I can close the window, by clicking in the X, and get back to the original. I get, in a slightly different way, the same behavior with Google Chrome.

 

Bill, .........

Yes. I thought you might be on to something because I have been carrying the same profile from way back every time I add a new version of Firefox. Unfortunately when I made a new profile the results were the same. I think goddez1 has an answer I can live with. I intend to reply to her post after checking back with Westside. Thank you for your interest.

 

Westside, ...........

I'm sorry we have so much trouble communicating. Again I say that I have never mentioned IE in any of my posts. In any case goddez1 appears to have a solution and I'll reply to her tomorrow. Thank you for your continued interest.

 

goddez1,

Yes and no. But for the present you response gets around the problem of not being able to return to a previously operating window. The idea of a "new Firefox browser window" is exactly right. I tend to think of this new window opening on top of the original, whether this is true or not is not important for the present discussion. Getting back to the original linked window is important.

For the sake of completeness, and looking to close these threads as solved, I would like to review how my Thunderbird 2.0.0.22 works when an e-mail has a link included. I left-click the link and a new window opens. After reviewing the contents of the new window, I click either the X in the upper right-hand corner or Exit from the drop down from the toolbar File to close that window and I am returned to the original e-mail window. If I try a similar method in Firefox I'm taken to my desktop and have to start by reloading the Firefox browser and each subsequent step to get back to the thread I had been reviewing. Your recommendation avoids these excess steps but I wonder if something might be missing in Firefox which could make even the Shift hold down superfluous. In any case I sincerely appreciate your contribution to solving my problem. Thank you, Ann.

 

Lets try an option setting:

From Firefox's toolbar:
>select tools
>options
>click on the tab button
>uncheck: make sure the option to "open new window in a new tab" is unchecked

Apply and okay yourself out.

 

Ann,

Apparently two of your attributes are Patience and Perseverance. Once again you have provided a solution. But not without another question. In my first post I mentioned a dialog with Ramona. I would like to include part of it here.

Am I wrong in thinking yours and Ramona's are opposite in terms of the Tab setting? I had a check mark in the first line of the Tab settings for the past couple of years. Your latest post has me unchecking that first line and I have no trouble leaving it unchecked--it works. Thank you again for your help. Also for your P and P.

 

I read all posts and came to the conclusion that you do not want to use "tabbed browsing" method but prefer old school "new window browsing ". Reason being you could never get used to using the tabs x to close or exit the tabbed window but always managed to use the upper right hand exit x for Firefox session. This lead to shutting down Firefox all together.

Ramona's original directions where assuming you wanted to open links in a new tab, she later corrected herself in the post by providing you with instructions to use a right click option on a link which would give you the option to "open in a new window ".

If it were me I would still use the right click method which gives you both options, but your not me and must use what makes you comfortable.

I must say that I, as Ramona, love tabs, it may take a wee bit of goofs on the closing or exiting but after a few you learn and adjust. In addition Firefox does have the option to warn you when you have multiple tabs open and try to exit, offers to save all tabbed links so they open on the current sites, even will open or reopen recently closed tabs should you really goof and close a tab you wished you hadn't. Just something to think on....

Your most welcome and thank you for keeping this post updated.

 

I feel the same way. I love tabs, but I keep them to a minimum. My Home Group has three tabs, and I use File|New Tab, to get an additional Tab. And each Tab has an X of its own, so why bother with the X on the upper right? Until this thread came up, I could not even remember the "Open in a new window ". I find that the use of Tabs is much cleaner.