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I downgraded from 10 back to 9.0.1 but now everything is totally messed up! No fonts just square symbols everywhere.

  • 7 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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I went to FF website to upgrade back to 10 again but it said download FF v.10 and I just want to upgrade and not lose all my bookmarks. Please help! Thanks.

I went to FF website to upgrade back to 10 again but it said download FF v.10 and I just want to upgrade and not lose all my bookmarks. Please help! Thanks.

Chosen solution

Do a clean (re)install and delete the Firefox program folder (C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\).

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible.

  • Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall the current version or you lose your bookmarks and other data because all profile folders will be removed.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by a reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.

If you still have the problem then try a new profile.

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:


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All Replies (7)

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Are you having an issue with FF10? If so please post that question as we would like you to use the latest version. Thanks

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I was using v.10, but my cursor disappeared - clearing cache & cookies only temporarily fixed that. That's why I wanted to downgrade. How do I upgrade back to 10 then?

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Try to set the Boolean pref gfx.font_rendering.directwrite.use_gdi_table_loading to false on the about:config page.

To open the about:config page, type about:config in the location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key, just like you type the url of a website to open a website.
If you see a warning then you can confirm that you want to access the about:config page.

  • Use the Filter bar at the top of the about:config page to locate a preference more easily.
  • Preferences that have been modified show as bold (user set).
  • Preferences can be reset to the default via the right-click context menu if they are user set
  • Preferences can be changed via the right-click context menu: Modify (String or Integer) or Toggle (Boolean) or by double-clicking the line with the pref

Did you try to update via Help > About Firefox?

You can find the latest Firefox release in all languages and for all Operating Systems here:

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I upgraded back to v.10 just fine but I am still seeing the square symbols. Though I can now read the upper tool bar menu names as well as their contents which I wasn't able to before but the symbols are showing up in a few other places. So I followed your instructions to a tee. I opened about:config in a new tab and as soon as I made the change to "false" by double clicking on the line, I then closed out of that tab window. Then to test it I went to my bookmarks, which is one place the symbols are still showing up, and they are still there - just in the "folder" box window and some of the "folder" drop down menu items. No text, just symbols. Now what? Thanks!

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Chosen Solution

Do a clean (re)install and delete the Firefox program folder (C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\).

Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.

Uninstall your current Firefox version, if possible.

  • Do NOT remove personal data when you uninstall the current version or you lose your bookmarks and other data because all profile folders will be removed.

Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.

Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by a reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.

If you still have the problem then try a new profile.

See "Basic Troubleshooting: Make a new profile":

If that new profile works then you can transfer some files from the old profile to that new profile, but be careful not to copy corrupted files.

See:


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The symbols are no longer showing up. I didn't do anything, I just noticed later on everything was back to normal again.

Now if the disappearing cursor problem that started with this new upgrade can be resolved, I'll be a happy FF user once again.

Thank you so much cor-el for all of your help! :)

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Problems with the cursor can be caused by plugins that are running in other tabs, so make sure that all plugins, especially Java and Flash, are up to date.


See also: