Firefox won't display the PF page until I change magnification

Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a technical issue experienced by users of Firefox, specifically regarding the browser intermittently failing to display content on the Physics Forums page until the magnification is adjusted. Participants explore potential causes, solutions, and alternatives, with references to browser updates and user experiences.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants report that Firefox 59 intermittently displays only part of the content on the Physics Forums page, requiring a change in magnification to fully load the content.
  • Others note that the issue does not occur in Chrome, suggesting a browser-specific problem.
  • A participant questions whether maximizing the window affects the issue, confirming that it does not resolve the missing content problem.
  • Some suggest checking the "text only" zoom setting, noting that toggling this option has a similar effect to changing the magnification.
  • One participant proposes that the issue may be due to a corrupted browser and suggests reinstalling Firefox as a potential solution.
  • Concerns are raised about losing passwords and bookmarks during reinstallation, with suggestions to update Firefox or check for Windows updates as possible causes of the issue.
  • Another participant shares experiences with Firefox updates, indicating that major updates can lead to compatibility issues and recommending caution with automatic updates.
  • Some participants express frustration with the situation, considering switching to Chrome as a more reliable option.
  • Humor is introduced in the discussion regarding password management, with one participant joking about using "incorrect" as a universal password.
  • Another participant suggests using a password manager to simplify password management and enhance security.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of opinions on the issue, with no consensus on a definitive solution. Some agree that the problem is likely related to Firefox, while others suggest various troubleshooting methods without a clear resolution.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention potential limitations related to browser updates and user settings, as well as concerns about data loss during reinstallation. The discussion reflects a variety of user experiences and technical challenges without resolving the underlying issue.

Who May Find This Useful

Users experiencing similar issues with Firefox, those interested in browser compatibility problems, and individuals looking for password management solutions may find this discussion relevant.

jim hardy
Science Advisor
Homework Helper
Dearly Missed
Messages
9,864
Reaction score
4,896
Firefox 59
intermittently displays only part of content on a page
if i click menu bar and change magnification up or down one setting, ie from 100% to 90 or 110 it finishes
but if change back to initial magnification it disappears again

windows 7
firefox 59.0.1

anybody else seen that ?

old jim
 
Computer science news on Phys.org
doesn't seem to happen with Chrome (yet) .

but about 80% of the time on Firefox. Hate to switch got to find probably twenty passwords...
 
Last edited:
Does it still happen if you maximize the window with PF in it?
 
berkeman said:
Does it still happen if you maximize the window with PF in it?

maximize... with this ?
upload_2018-3-19_13-1-41.png
yes, it doesn't change missing content.

change the % magnification here and immediately fills the blanks...
upload_2018-3-19_13-4-45.png


heres an example
upload_2018-3-19_13-7-17.png


same part of screen after changing magnification from 119 to 100.
Makes no difference what is magnification when load page, takes a change either direction to make it fill.
upload_2018-3-19_13-8-54.png


.......

curious, eh ?
 

Attachments

  • upload_2018-3-19_13-1-41.png
    upload_2018-3-19_13-1-41.png
    25.6 KB · Views: 770
  • upload_2018-3-19_13-4-45.png
    upload_2018-3-19_13-4-45.png
    4.4 KB · Views: 691
  • upload_2018-3-19_13-7-17.png
    upload_2018-3-19_13-7-17.png
    12.4 KB · Views: 712
  • upload_2018-3-19_13-8-54.png
    upload_2018-3-19_13-8-54.png
    14.8 KB · Views: 679
I am not 100% sure if this will help...

press alt to open up the "old style toolbar"
go to view, go to zoom, ensure "text only" is unchecked.

If you want to see what it does, check and uncheck it and zoom in and out.
 
donpacino said:
I am not 100% sure if this will help...

press alt to open up the "old style toolbar"
go to view, go to zoom, ensure "text only" is unchecked.

If you want to see what it does, check and uncheck it and zoom in and out.
That's really curious. Found it unchecked.
Changing status of 'zoom text only' has same effect as changing magnification. Seems indifferent to whether it's checked or unchecked, missing text appears at random.and changing status of Zoom Text Only toggles whether the page is complete.

I'll leave it unchecked.

Thanks !
 
Sounds to me like a corrupted browser. You might think about re-installing it.
 
Uninstall and reinstall. I'm not sure if it'll save all of your cookies and passwords during that procedure though :/ Have you tried simply updating firefox first? It's possible that Windows updated and broke something. Click on your Start Button and type "Windows Update." You'll get a window that'll show you the last time Windows updated itself, does that date correspond to the time this started happening?
 
newjerseyrunner said:
Uninstall and reinstall. I'm not sure if it'll save all of your cookies and passwords during that procedure though :/ Have you tried simply updating firefox first?
My concern exactly, got to find all those passwords , bookmarks, and so on.

It seems to have started after a recent Firefox update.

If i have to drop that 'tail ' of history I've built up I'll just switch to Chrome. Google is going to take over the planet anyway,

I'll give Firefox a while longer. Surely I'm not the only one.

42, y'all, see my signature... .

old jim
 
  • #10
jim hardy said:
My concern exactly, got to find all those passwords , bookmarks, and so on.
.
im sure you can export those for later
 
  • #11
There was quite recently a series of posts about FF updates but I don't remember what thread they were in. Anyhow, I recently updated from v18 to v43 and all bookmarks were carried over. However crossing thru v52(?) could be problematic as Mozilla did a major rewrite and a _lot_ of stuff won't work. The Mozilla site at least used to have most or all older versions available so developers could download them to test compatibility. You have to dig a bit to find them though. That's probably your best bet -- and remember to turn off automatic updates! Regardless of the program, they seem to be the major source of problems. Let others do the "New Release" debugging.

search - search -search[/size]
Ahh! Found the thread, FF conversation is somewhat interspersed, here's a place to start:
https://www.physicsforums.com/threa...-to-reach-the-site.941296/page-4#post-5957970
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: jim hardy and donpacino
  • #12
Going back sounds great. Will give it a try.
..............
couldn't find a success path to 'go back'
so tried "REFRESH FIREFOX" to no avail.

Found Chrome quite willing to import bookmarls, passwords, history...
scary that it's that easy to find and read them... that's why i won't enable online banking .

Anyhow Chrome is now my default browser and " ain't misbehavin' ".. Might uninstall firefox., like Windows it's dying from update poisoning.
Thanks guys - old jim
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Greg Bernhardt
  • #13
jim hardy said:
like Windows it's dying from update poisoning.
:thumbup:
 
  • #14
jim hardy said:
My concern exactly, got to find all those passwords
Jim, I've found a fix for this. I just use the word "incorrect" for my password on everything. That way if I forget it and type the wrong thing, the site will remind me what it is.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Imager, jim hardy and david2
  • #15
phinds said:
I just use the word "incorrect" for my password on everything.
Hmm... do you use it here too?

Just tried it. Apparently not!
 
  • #16
Tom.G said:
Hmm... do you use it here too?

Just tried it. Apparently not!
You need to work on your sense of humor.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Tom.G
  • #17
I suggest using a password manager. Remember 1 hard to crack password.
Then let the machine choose crazy long and impossible to remember passwords.

This way you remove 2 problems. Remembing passwords and having weak passwords.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
7K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
4K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K