I upgraded to Firefox 3.0.6, which is essentially the same as what you've got. I've never had the problem you're describing. Does this only happen when you're typing something online? Might be a weird setting in View / Character Encoding. Mine is set to Unicode (UTF-8). What about you?

I also have very little trouble with pop-ups. You do have Ad Block Plus enabled, correct?

you do not have the latest update version I would go remove the one you have that is having the problem and go back to this download page and get it from there.
Firefox

The characters that are weird are not the ones I typed in, they are what I am reading on the forum. My character coding is set at Western (ISO-8859-1). I changed to Unicode (UTF-8) and get the same thing. I don't have Ad Block installed. I never had it with FF version 2 and very, very seldom had pop ups on any site, nor did I see any ads in here as long as I was signed in.

When I checked for updates, it automatically installed the 3.0.5. Should I remove FF 3.5 from add/remove before installing 3.0.6?
I have my bookmarks on backup. Anything else I should do if I go this route?

In addition, some pages have the text garbled, ie text over text. I tried changing my font size and didn't help.

Since updating my FF it has found it "Necessary to close" over 20 times in 3 days. Yet Opera and IE hum along merrily. Meet the new full time Opera user.

Just downloaded Opera. Another thing I have noticed with this version of FF, when I click on "download", it doesn't give me the option to "open this file"...just "save this file".

Anything I should know before I install it?
Will Opera try to install any extra junk, such as tool bars?

Jean

Opera is a very good browser, which I also use sometimes because it has a couple of unique features that are helpful. I have never heard of it doing any stealth installs of stuff you don't want. And if you also want to install the newest Firefox, you can install it right on top of your existing Firefox. However, it may be better to remove the old one completely and do a clean install of the newest version.

I have four browsers installed on my computers: IE7, FF, Opera, and Google Chrome. I use IE only for those sites that require it. I use FF occasionally, but mostly I use Opera and Chrome. I keep Opera as my default browser. One reason I like Opera is that it has many of the features that are "add ons" in FF without all the hassle of adding and updating these things.

One reason I like Opera is that it has many of the features that are "add ons" in FF without all the hassle of adding and updating these things.

I completely agree ! I use Opera about 90% of the time and only use FF for sites that require it. And Opera has the nice feature where you can right-click at any site, go to "open with" in the pop-up menu, and choose to open an un-cooperative site using IE or FF. IOW, you don't have to open IE or FF from scratch and navigate your way to an uncooperative site. Opera will do it for you via the above procedure. Saves time and trouble. :-) And Opera is very customizable.

About the only problem I have with FF is that the number of add-ons I need to customize it to my liking slows it down considerably, which is why I choose to use it less often.

I have the latest FF and haven't had a problem.

Jean,

In the Character Encoding do you have the Auto-Detect turned off?

Of course I do not wish any problems or negativity for any user, but I do chuckle that the anointed savior of all browsers is having a concern, again.

My point is nothing is perfect.

DA

You are exactly right, DA, turning Character Encoding "ON" will correct the problem Jean is seeing in the thread she mentioned in Hot Topics.

I changed the Auto-Detect to "Universal" and that took care of some of the weird characters.

I dumped my cache and restarted FF. The one with the � are still showing.

Will install the latest FF and Opera also.

"Of course I do not wish any problems or negativity for any user, but I do chuckle that the anointed savior of all browsers is having a concern, again."

Now, now... ;-)

Jean

I can't get Auto Detect on. Its on off. I'm having the same problem as Jean with weird characters.

Jane, I tried clicking on the "off" option, thinking it would changed to "on"..but I had to choose one of the options. I chose "universal" and that took care of some of them.

BTW...FF just found it necessary to close... :-)

Installed Opera...upgraded to FF 3.0.6 and still getting the ASCII codes in the hot topics forum. Will someone check out the message and see if you see it? It's about the 3rd response, maddie_athome. Maybe it's not FF after all.

Jean

Here is a link that might be useful: hot topcs

No problem with firefox there for me.

I don't see anything wrong on that thread...I've got Firefox 3.0.6

Hope you don't mind me popping in here. I read here a lot, just seldom respond. Jean, I also see what you see. It's the only subject line in that thread that has that. I have FF 2.0.0.20. I just tried it with IE 6 and it reads the same as FF.

Kat

Kat,
I'm wondering if it might be some setting on my computer. I can live with it, but it still makes my wonder what is going on. Probably something simple. It shows the same in the source page.
I'm like you, I read several times a day and usually find an answer to one of my problems. I don't know what I would do if it wasn't for everyone who contributes to this forum.

My heartfelt thanks to all..
Jean

Jean are you still having a lot of pop ups also?
Have you run a malwarebytes scan recently? if not give that a try you may have some strange malware that has gotten on your system causing this problem.
Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.

* Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
* At the end, be sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish.
* If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
* Once the program has loaded, select Perform full scan, then click Scan.
* When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
* Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected.
* When completed, a log will open in Notepad. Please save it to a convenient location. The log can also be found here: C:\Documents and Settings\Username\Application Data\Malwarebytes\Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware\Logs\log-date.txt
* Please post contents of that file in your next reply.

this might give us some answers.

Raven,
Haven't had any more pop ups.

I ran the Malwarebytes....:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.34
Database version: 1815
Windows 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2

3/3/2009 2:12:38 PM
mbam-log-2009-03-03 (14-12-38).txt

Scan type: Full Scan (C:\:)
Objects scanned: 129448
Time elapsed: 18 minute(s), 18 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 0
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 7
Registry Values Infected: 0
Registry Data Items Infected: 1
Folders Infected: 0
Files Infected: 1

Memory Processes Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\cpbrkpie.coupon6ctrl.1 (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\(9522b3fb-7a2b-4646-8af6-36e7f593073c) (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Ext\Stats\(9522b3fb-7a2b-4646-8af6-36e7f593073c) (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\(a85a5e6a-de2c-4f4e-99dc-f469df5a0eec) (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\TypeLib\(87255c51-cd7d-4506-b9ad-97606daf53f3) (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\(6e780f0b-bcd6-40cb-b2db-7af47ab4d4a4) (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Interface\(a138be8b-f051-4802-9a3f-a750a6d862d4) (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Data Items Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Start_ShowMyDocs (Hijack.StartMenu) -> Bad: (0) Good: (1) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Folders Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Files Infected:
C:\WINDOWS\CouponPrinter.ocx (Adware.Coupons) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

ok good that could have been one of your problems the adware, that sometimes will pop up or cause weird stuff.

Lets hope all is well now!

I've been getting frequent 'server error.' Never had that before. I'm wondering if some of the add ons are not working well with the new version.

I saw more weird characters at another forum here at gardenweb. Seems like this is the only site that I see them.

Can't remember which forum or message they were in. (my CRSS seems to be getting worse :-)) They were like the ones in the first image that I posted in my original message. That is about the only problems I seem to be having with this latest version. Time will tell if there are any more.

Jean

I see those weird characters from time to time, and I have been seeing them for a long time, long before any of the current updates happened. As a matter of fact, I also see them in printed material, such as the newspaper on occassion, more often than I do on the computer. I saw some this morning in a crossword puzzle I was working. I always thought it was caused by some glitch in the other users machine. I see them at other sites too, not just here at GW.

Is it something I should be concerned about on my computer?

I have seen these from time to time both here and on other sites with any browser I might be using at the time. I think I have mine all set to Unicode (UTF-8), too, so I have no idea what causes it and decided it wasn't worth the effort to worry about it.