what settings to change to fix this basic problem?

[firefoxfix]

a new tab opens

moz-extension://(some scrambled numbers letters)/blank-page.html

i dont know why its doing this, been like this for a long while

[DanRaisch]

Change the selected target for the new tab site -- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1162532

[Happy112]

Just in case the above doesn't do the trick :

Go to the 3-bar menu (or 'Tools' ) => Add-ons => Extensions and cast a critical eye over the extensions that are listed there.
If any of them (assuming you have any) look unfamiliar or suspicious : disable or remove them.

[therube]

Does (some scrambled numbers letters) correspond to any extensions (shown in Addons Manager)?

[Brummelchen]

no longer - one item of critics to mozilla

[firefoxfix]

Change the selected target for the new tab site -- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1162532

the link says 'The browser.newtab.url pref is no longer supported in Firefox (41+),'

so guessing this doesnt work?

[DanRaisch]

Right, but did you look at the suggested extension suggested in that same article?

[firefoxfix]

Does (some scrambled numbers letters) correspond to any extensions (shown in Addons Manager)?

* i dont understand what you mean

* can you explain this in ELI5?

* what's an 'addon manager'?

[firefoxfix]

no longer - one item of critics to mozilla

????????????????

[DanRaisch]

* what's an 'addon manager'?

Menu path Tools->Addons->Extensions.
If you don't have the menus displayed, press Alt+T to display the Tools menu.

[firefoxfix]

Right, but did you look at the suggested extension suggested in that same article?

the page has too much noise and clutter and is confusing

basically why did you link this?

or how is it helpful?

or why is it that it would be helpful? what's going on?

[firefoxfix]

* what's an 'addon manager'?

Menu path Tools->Addons->Extensions.
If you don't have the menus displayed, press Alt+T to display the Tools menu.

there's no long numbers on this page

i had already checked this page

[DanRaisch]

OK, enough. I'm done here.

[Happy112]

Take a look at this thread on the Mozilla support forum:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1182921

[malliz]

If the OP is going to cross post on two different forums how are we supposed to help? Not doing this again

OK, enough. I'm done here.

X2