Black lines across my Firefox browser

May 9, 2007 8:24 AM

I'm seeing black lines on my screen when I use Firefox. Make it stop!

I'm using version 2.0.0.3 on a Windows PC running XP Pro. The lines will randomly appear when I scroll down a page. I can switch windows, and the lines will disappear when I switch back, only to reappear for no apparent reason. Also, sometimes while typing in a text box, my text appears underlined (like right now). When I hover over a link, it's underlined with a black line.

I've checked for virii, spyware, etc. I've disabled all my add-ons. I've checked to make sure I have the latest FF updates.

I can't bear the thought of switching back to IE, but I'm going to have to because I can't even read a full page of text with all these lines going through it.

posted by desjardins to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

1. Create a new user on your computer.
2. Log out and log in as the new user.
3. Launch Firefox.

If the problem still exists, you have deeper issues. I have a feeling the problem will not exist, in which case the problem lies in your main user's firefox profile.
posted by pmbuko at 8:36 AM on May 9, 2007

You may want to try updating your display drivers; when I've seen this in the past, it's been due to a problem with the video card (the display buffer gets munged).

Also, you may want to try running firefox in safe mode, with all extensions and add-ons disabled- you may have added / modified one that creates problems.

Safe Mode: http://kb.mozillazine.org/Safe_mode

If those don't work, check that your video card isn't overheating- maybe blow some canned air across it, and make sure the little fan on it is working (if you have one).

Good luck!
posted by jenkinsEar at 8:36 AM on May 9, 2007

There's a workaround here.
posted by essexjan at 8:41 AM on May 9, 2007

pmbuko's solution is overkill for creating a new FF profile. Instead, just use winkey+r and put in the path for firefox (usually c:\program files\mozilla firefox\firefox.exe) followed by -p. That'll give you the profile manager where you can create new profiles to your heart's content.

However, I really agree with jenkinsEar, more likely to be a video card issue, you might try rolling -back- your vid. drivers, if you've updated them recently.
posted by anaelith at 9:19 AM on May 9, 2007

You might also try turning off Smooth Scrolling (under the Advanced section of the Prefs) and see if that fixes it. Just a hunch.
posted by boaz at 1:41 PM on May 9, 2007

I've updated my video driver (the video card is fresh out of the box, but a newer driver had been released). I've run FF in safe mode. I've deleted my old profile and started anew. Nothing has worked for more than 20 minutes. Alas, I am now using IE. *sniffles*
posted by desjardins at 10:51 AM on May 11, 2007