Ubuntu
firefox-3.0 package

Firefox/Gnome - Firefox fills whole screen and cannot be resized

Asked by Merlinpilot

When I open FIrefox (Ubuntu 8.10), it takes up the whole screen, the minimise, maximise and close buttons are not in view, it is not possible to drag the edges or resize in any way, the File, Edit, View, etc text at the top disappear when the mouse pointer is over them and the only way I can get to anything else on the desktop is to close Firefox using the File/Quit drop down command.

This problem has occurred occasionally before, but now seems to be permanent (and very inconvenient).

Any suggestions gratefully received, thank you.

Question information

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Status:
Solved
For:
Ubuntu firefox-3.0 Edit question
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Solved by:
marcobra (Marco Braida)
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Revision history for this message
Merlinpilot (nigel-talbot) said : 		#1

Resolved problem mostly, but don't really know how - using the F11 button selects Full Screen, pressing it again restored Firefox to more or less normal.

Only remaining problem is that the File, Edit, View ....etc at the top still disappear with mouse over?

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Muelli (ubuntu-bugs-auftrags-killer) said : 		#2

Can you provide a screenshot of your problem?

Did you actually changed the windowmanagers theme? Check in System->Preferences->Appearance

Revision history for this message
Merlinpilot (nigel-talbot) said : 		#3

Thank you - I have a screenshot - how do I append it to a message for you or is there another way to send it?

I did not change any settings before the problem arose.

Thank you

Revision history for this message
Steve Kunzer (steve-kunzer) said : 		#4

I have the same problem.
Ubuntu 8.10
Gnome 2.24.1
Firefox 3.0.5

Screenshot here: http://lh3.ggpht.com/_IDYtTR5rOXI/SWtM6m3tlhI/AAAAAAAAAXA/WevnYP42PKo/s800/Screenshot.png

It looks like a cut down shot but it isn't - what you can see fills the entire screen area. All other apps behave normally including SeaMonkey (which I'm using to post this).

If I hit F11, then F11 again, I get my top Ubuntu menu bar back, along with the top window/title bar of Firefox, but the window/title bar is grayed out, like it's not selectable, but it is and you can close the app this way. It's a workaround way of closing it though, not acceptable behaviour.

I didn't do any particular installs or upgrades, other than the Canonical recommended ones (!) recently, and made no system config changes that would be likely to cause this.

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#5

Seems like this https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/firefox-3.0/+question/53582

Hope this link similar problem with probability common solution

Revision history for this message
Steve Kunzer (steve-kunzer) said : 		#6

In the Compiz Settings Manager, under Workarounds, I un-selected "Legacy Fullscreen Support", and Firefox is behaving completely normally now. It was clearly (after a bit of googling) a Compiz problem, certainly solved for me.

Revision history for this message
Merlinpilot (nigel-talbot) said : 		#7

My Firefox has worked almost correctly since I used the F11 x2 fix. The problem I am left with is the Menu Bar text (File, Edit, View etc) disappear (individually) when I mouse over them to select - the function still works, it's just that the text disappears. This only happens with Firefox.

I have tried the "Legacy Fullscreen Support" suggestions as above but this has not made any difference, and I have also change the theme, but again no effect.

Not sure what to do next.

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Gergely Máté (sportember) said : 		#8

What happens if you disable compiz completely?

Revision history for this message
Merlinpilot (nigel-talbot) said : 		#9

Thank you for the suggestion - I have removed compiz using the
Add/Remove function. This has made no difference and the Menu Bar Text
still disappears with mouse over.

Revision history for this message
Merlinpilot (nigel-talbot) said : 		#10

Thank you for the suggestion - I have removed compiz using the
Add/Remove function. This has made no difference and the Menu Bar Text
still disappears with mouse over.

On Fri, 2009-01-16 at 12:22 +0000, Gergely Máté wrote:
> Your question #57092 on firefox-3.0 in ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/firefox-3.0/+question/57092
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Gergely Máté requested for more information:
> What happens if you disable compiz completely?
>

Revision history for this message
Best marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#11

Clean firefox mozilla profile

Close all opened Firefox and try to delete your Firefox user setting open a terminal from applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:
mv .mozilla .mozilla_old
and restart Firefox.

If you have a lot of bookmarks please export them before move your setting directory, then import them again from saved file into Firefox.
Also take note of your installed Firefox extensions, to reinstall them.

if this works then delete the .mozilla_old directory, from terminal, type:
rm -fr .mozilla_old

hope this helps

Revision history for this message
Merlinpilot (nigel-talbot) said : 		#12

Dear Marcobra,

Thank you very much indeed, this has solved the problem - your support is much appreciated.

Best wishes,

Merlinpilot