FF sometimes scrolls when a link is clicked

[adb64]

On some sites, when loaded for the first time, FF will scroll a few centimetres when a link is clicked, meaning you actually will not click on it. When clicking a second time or more no problems then. Also when returning to the site later during the same session, no more problems.
This does not happen on all sites, it happens to me a few times a day.
I use FF 1.5, but a collegue with FF 2 has the same problem.
Do other people also experience this and what can be done about it?

[tomda]

No problem for me (both 1.2 and 1.5).
Do you have any extension installed?

[adb64]

Yes, the following extensions are installed:

IE Tab, Web Developer and Live HTTP Headers

If it is caused by an extension then it must be Web Developer, as I have the problem on several PCs and Web Developer is the only one installed on all PCs on which I experience the problem.

I can try to disable it and see if the problem is gone then.

[LunaC]

I had the same problem when I middle clicked a link after I changed my mouse. For me it was a setting in the mouse controls, I had to change it to being a "generic button". Scrolling still works fine and no more jumping when opening a link in new tab.

Maybe check your mouse settings and see if that fixes it.

[adb64]

I've disabled Web Developer and Live HTTP Headers and the problem still occurs. IETab won't be it as I have the problem on several PCs and on only one of them IETab is installed.
It indeed could be mouse related, only I have it when a link is clicked with the LMB and not the MMB. But then it only happens in FF, I've never experienced it with IE or any other program. (I have to check if it ever happens with sites opened with the IETab within FF, don't know that yet).
It can happen at any site, here at WW, my own, Google, etc and even simple HTML files stored locally on my HD. There is no CSS relation as it also happens on pages without any local or included CSS.

Will keep you informed when I have more info.

[jomaxx]

I have the same problem, or something very close to what you describe. With me it's definitely the mouse; it started right after I switched to an ergonomic wireless mouse.

I guess I could experiment with changing the drivers/settings, but it's a fairly minor annoyance. My only real concern is that I could accidentally click one of my AdSense ads.

[LunaC]

I don't know if you still have this problem, but I ran into what might be the answer on another forum.

Try hitting F7, that turns off "caret browsing" which causes the jumpiness for some people.

If that doesn't work, try starting up Firefox in safe mode to see if it could be a misbehaving extension.

If you've deleted that icon, just add -safe-mode after the path in the properties, ie.

"C:\Program Files\FireFox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

or whatever your path is.

[adb64]

I've removed all installed extension and the jumping still happens.
I didn't know about the F7 trick, but it is off with me.
I also tried safe mode for a while and then the problems seems solved. But I have to try longer to be sure.
Are there more differences between safe mode and normal mode with no extensions installed?

Will keep you updated.

[LunaC]

I'm pretty sure safe mode in 1.5 disables all changes. So it would remove extensions, themes, user preferences (including any user.js, userchrome.css and usercontent.css changes), resets toolbars and any other preferences. In 2.0 there's a screen before startup in safe mode that lets you choose which to reset, but I don't recall seeing that in 1.5.

To be sure what is changed, you could make a clean profile (keeping yours as well, you don't need to delete it), then slowly add your changes to the new one.. a bit annoying if you've customized a lot though.

If you go with a new profile, here's the profile manager if you've deleted the link (you'll probably need to change your path):

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla\firefox.exe" -ProfileManager

[adb64]

Ok, today I used FF the whole day in safe mode and the problem still happens. So not related to any extension I guess. The whole thing drives me crazy.
But well, today is my last day here in the clients office. So when returning home tomorrow and back at my own employers office I hope I will never see the problem again. Keep my fingers crossed.

Thank you all for your support.

[tedster]

here in the clients office

Is the computer on an office network? Do they run monitoring software of some kind?