Firefox Fubar.

Shryke

Hey guys. I've been draughted in again to look at the old computer at my folks house. I've run scans with AVG Free and Malware bytes and nothing. The problem exists only in Firefox. Once the appication is open and you try and type a letter into say, the google toolbar you get about five letters appearing like hex or something. Ok I think. This is new. Press backspace... and everything shuts down and the computer turns itself off. It's late, I'm tired and I'm going to bed. I'll see about it tomorrow but in the interim if anybody knows what this problem might be I'd appreciate it.

Verres

Have you tried reinstalling Firefox?

Also - you can figure out if it's Hex or not using this:

http://home2.paulschou.net/tools/xlate/

Just make a note of what Key you're pressing and check the output from the Address bar in FF against the output from the Hex field in the webpage above.

Shryke

Well I don't believe it's hex. It seems to be random strings of letters. Other things are also occuring depending on the key I press. I tapped a certain letter while trying to type something into google and it opened a new tab etc.
I haven't had another chance to look at this thing until now. Internet Explorer is behaving in the same way. I haven't been using this computer but start up does seem unusually sluggish.

Verres

That "press a key, new tab opens" sounds like some sort of accessibility option has been turned on. Check your Accessibility settings.

Other than that, I hate to say it, but - rebuild?