Firefox 1.5 (#5): Fixes for problems with text input boxes

Over the past several days we've been covering an issue where text input boxes become unresponsive in Firefox 1.5.

Users have reported some simple workarounds.

One reader suggest simply clearing the Firefox cache (accomplished by accessing "Preferences" in the "File" menu, clicking on the "Privacy" icon then the "Cache" tab) for some instances of the problem:

B.Y. Low writes:

"Another way to overcome the text input problem is to clear the cache in Firefox's preferences. Then you should be able to type as normal."

Another reader reports that simply opening a new window resolves the issue in his case:

"Interesting work around I've found. The bug affects the current window only. If you open a new window (not tab) and use that, the new window does not have the problem. This bug generally happens, I've noticed, only after Java is loaded and you navigate away from the page that ran the JavaScript. All of a sudden your keyboard stops working in that particular Firefox window."

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

Previous coverage

• Firefox 1.5 (#4): More on problems with text input boxes; Able to access new Yahoo Mail beta
• Firefox 1.5 (#3): Modifying the address bar; Crashes; more
• Firefox 1.5 (#2): Address Bar changes; Problems after visiting pages with Java; more
• Firefox 1.5: Trouble scrolling; Java problems, solutions; Common solution: Startup in safe mode and check plug-ins; more

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